Two line changes expected for Sabres

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The Sabres will host the Flyers for Game Three tonight with two new looks on the forward lines. Brad Boyes is expected to drop down from his spot as the second-line center to play with Cody McCormick and Mike Grier; both McCormick and Boyes can play center and wing. Rob Niedermayer is moving up to play center for left wing Tyler Ennis and right wing Drew Stafford.

"The guys that I?m looking to be going with, it?s going to be good," said Boyes, who hasn't scored in 13 games. "We?re going to get it in, forecheck and play in their zone. It?s more meat-and-potatoes, which is nice."

Coach Lindy Ruff said following today's morning skate that Boyes needs to get inside more. Boyes says the new linemates will drive him there.

"It will force me to go there, put pucks at the net," Boyes said. "That?s where they?re going to put the puck, and it?s a simple game. That?s good sometimes. You need that just to get back to basics if things aren?t going well. You want to keep it simple, and this will be a good line to do that.

"I feel I can definitely chip in, get things going, and I think tonight?s the night, for myself, that I?m looking to do that."

The Sabres, of course, are looking forward to facing the Flyers in front of the Buffalo fans.

"We know that they?re going to be excited, just as we are," Niedermayer said. "We?ve just got to control our emotions early on in the game, and hopefully that works for us."

 

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Boucher in goal for Flyers, Bobrovsky No. 3


No surprise that Brian Boucher was the first goalie off the ice for the Flyers following their pregame skate and he will get the call tonight after getting the win in Game Two in relief. What was a surprise was that Michael Leighton had a stall in the locker room and Sergei Bobrovsky was basically relegated to the closet.

That means that Leighton, who stopped the Flyers to the Stanley Cup finals last year, will be the backup tonight and Bobrovsky is the No. 3 man and will not dress. Coach Peter Laviolette confirmed Boucher was his starter but would not comment on his backup.

"I thought Brian came in his last couple times and has done a really nice job for us in there," Laviolette said. "He's on top of his game, in charge of his net, bailed us out of a couple situations and I really feel he deserves to play."

GM Paul Holmgren said Andreas Nodl (facial injury) is out tonight and it's expected Nikolay Zhredev will be his replacement.