Game 57: Sabres @ Penguins Scouting Report; Fleury to start in goal

Game 57

Buffalo Sabres -- 32-14-7 (71 points)

1st Northeast

at

Pittsburgh Penguins -- 34-21-1 (69 points)

2nd Atlantic

Buffalo is in first place in the Northeast division and Pittsburgh appears to be firmly planted in playoff position with less than 30 games left. Tonight’s game is a matchup of teams who may be squaring off again this spring.

Ryan Miller has been nothing short of Vezina-worthy this year, but it’s backup and former Penguin Patrick Lalime who continues to give Pittsburgh fits.

Pens Win, 2-1

Goals: Kunitz, Letang (SO)

December 29, 2009. HSBC Arena

Penguins lose, 4-3

Goals: Staal, Guerin, Kunitz

The last time these teams met, Pittsburgh jumped Ryan Miller to the tune of three straight goals, chasing him from the goal and bringing in veteran Patrick Lalime in relief.

Lalime stymied the Pens from that point on, and Buffalo scored four unanswered to beat the Pens at home.

Now just three points back of Buffalo, Pittsburgh has a chance to avenge December 29’s meltdown in Buffalo with a second-straight home win.

This is the first time this season Buffalo and Pittsburgh meet at Mellon Arena, where Pittsburgh has yet to record back-to-back wins since December 12th and 15th.

They’ll have the chance to get on track at home tonight, playing the second of back-to-back games. Buffalo last played Friday, a 2-1 win over the Boston Bruins.

Overall, the Pens are 16-10-1 at home this season. The Sabres are 14-9-2 on the road. Prior to winning their last two, the Sabres lost the final four of a seven-game road swing through the West.

The Mellon Arena came alive Sunday against Detroit like it hasn’t all season. Playing a strong, fast game against an infamous opponent, the home crowd was treated to one of the most complete games the team has played all year.

The Penguins have won three of their last four. In those three wins, the Penguins played a back-and-forth yet defensively sound game with playoff-type intensity. An issue with Pittsburgh of late has been putting together a 60 minute game. It will take a "Detroit" sort of effort to take out a very good Buffalo team.

Ryan Miller has struggled against the Pens recently, but don’t be surprised if he pulls out a big game Monday night. Beating Miller (and all elite goaltenders) takes a certain number of rebound chances, secondary shots and hard drives to the net.

The Penguins landed 47 shots on Jimmy Howard Sunday. Miller is more than capable of stealing a game, but an effort like fans saw from the Pens Sunday ought to yield more than one goal.