Patrick Lalime will get the nod in net as Buffalo will take on their second-straight Western Conference opponent. Paul Gaustad is not quite ready to return to game action and will miss Friday's game against Minnesota, while Chris Butler will be a healthy scratch.
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The Minnesota Wild don't allow many shots on goal, but it doesn't seem to matter much to the success of Friday's visitors to HSBC Arena (7:30 p.m.).
Sitting in 12th place in the West, the Wild have allowed the fourth-fewest shots on goal in the league -- generally a recipe for success -- but Minnesota's backstops have thrown up a 90.0 save percentage, the NHL's fourth-worst mark.
Backstrom was given a $6 million-per-year contract a few years back, but has had trouble replicating his career numbers in 2009-10. The undrafted Finn goalie's goals against average is 2.65 (2.34 career) and his save percentage is .904 (.919). Heralded back-up Josh Harding hasn't fared so well, either: a 5-9 mark to go with a 2.93 goals against average.
Minnesota has points in two of their last four games, but has lost all four contests and may be without their hottest player, former Canadiens forward Guillaume Latendresse. He has 21 goals in 43 games since coming over to Minnesota in a trade for Benoit Pouliot. Latendresse had scored just two goals in 21 games for Montreal earlier this season.
The Sabres are looking for win No. 4 and there's a question who'll man the net for Buffalo. Ryan Miller did not practice Thursday, and is not hurt. Buffalo takes on Detroit on Saturday in the Motor City, and Miller is from nearby East Lansing.
Tyler Myers is coming off a four-point performance in Wednesday's 5-3 win over Dallas, raising his assist total to 27, good for a tie for third on the Sabres. His 36 points are 17th amonst all defensemen.
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The Minnesota Wild don't allow many shots on goal, but it doesn't seem to matter much to the success of Friday's visitors to HSBC Arena (7:30 p.m.).
Sitting in 12th place in the West, the Wild have allowed the fourth-fewest shots on goal in the league -- generally a recipe for success -- but Minnesota's backstops have thrown up a 90.0 save percentage, the NHL's fourth-worst mark.
Backstrom was given a $6 million-per-year contract a few years back, but has had trouble replicating his career numbers in 2009-10. The undrafted Finn goalie's goals against average is 2.65 (2.34 career) and his save percentage is .904 (.919). Heralded back-up Josh Harding hasn't fared so well, either: a 5-9 mark to go with a 2.93 goals against average.
Minnesota has points in two of their last four games, but has lost all four contests and may be without their hottest player, former Canadiens forward Guillaume Latendresse. He has 21 goals in 43 games since coming over to Minnesota in a trade for Benoit Pouliot. Latendresse had scored just two goals in 21 games for Montreal earlier this season.
The Sabres are looking for win No. 4 and there's a question who'll man the net for Buffalo. Ryan Miller did not practice Thursday, and is not hurt. Buffalo takes on Detroit on Saturday in the Motor City, and Miller is from nearby East Lansing.
Tyler Myers is coming off a four-point performance in Wednesday's 5-3 win over Dallas, raising his assist total to 27, good for a tie for third on the Sabres. His 36 points are 17th amonst all defensemen.
