Taro Tsujimoto
Registered User
December 23, 2013 - Never Forget.
SABRES (13-18-3) at RED WINGS (17-8-9)
TV: MSG-B, BELL TV, FS-D
Season series: Zemgus Girgensons scored in the third round of a shootout and Michal Neuvirth stopped Henrik Zetterberg to seal a 3-2 win for the Buffalo Sabres against the Detroit Red Wings on Nov. 2 in Buffalo. The Red Wings had won seven straight against the Sabres; Buffalo's previous victory against Detroit was a 6-2 win Oct. 13, 2009.
Sabres team scope: The Sabres canceled practice in Detroit on Monday, mostly because coach Ted Nolan wants to make sure a flu bug that already has affected forwards Patrick Kaleta and Matt Moulson doesn't spread any further. Their status for Tuesday is unknown, as is the status of captain Brian Gionta. Gionta sustained a hard hit from the Boston Bruins' Matt Bartkowski at 14:08 of the first period and did not return to the game because of an upper-body injury. In addition, Marcus Foligno sustained an upper-body injury fighting Bartkowski after the hit on Gionta and did not return to the game. If the Sabres decide to recall a forward from Rochester of the American Hockey League, it might not be in time for the morning skate Tuesday.
Red Wings team scope: Goaltender Jimmy Howard practiced Monday, but his status for Tuesday remains unknown. Howard injured his groin in the first period of a 2-1 loss to the New York Islanders on Friday and left about halfway through practice Monday, according to MLive.com. "I was surprised [Howard] was out there on his own, then I was surprised he was in the net," coach Mike Babcock said Monday, according to MLive.com. "I gave him the boot out of the one net to say are you starting tomorrow. I don't know if he is. We'll know tomorrow morning." Petr Mrazek will start if Howard can't, but Howard told MLive he's feeling positive he'll be able to go. "There's a chance, but I don't know. I'll probably have to talk a little bit more to [the training staff] to see what's best for myself and for the team. It's responded every single day with treatments. It felt good out there on the ice today, so hopefully tomorrow, another good work day, and you never know."
Not even going to bother posting a lineup given all of the recent injuries and illnesses.