Tonight the Dallas Stars make a visit to the First Niagara Center. Of course with Dallas in town the famous "No Goal" from the 99 cup final must be mentioned. Brett Hull scored the game winning goal in game 6 while his foot was in the crease. Therefore should have been no goal. However the NHL did not (proven fact) review the goal. So in typical Buffalo sports heartbreaking fashion "No goal" falls in with "Wide Right" and "Music City Miracle".

Anyways onto tonights big game. Dallas is coming off a 4-2 win last night in Columbus. Kari Lethonen played in goal, so therefore Richard Bachman will guard the cage for the Stars tonight. Sheldon Souray and Brendan Morrow will also not participate in tonight's game due to injuries. On the other side of things however the Sabres are again fully healthy with a opening night lineup. Thomas Vanek will return to the lineup, resulting in Luke Adam to be scratched. Adam should be in Rochester by Monday if their are no other injuries.

Dallas has not won in Buffalo since the "no goal game". Their last regular season victory in Buffalo came back in 1997. Lindy Ruff's first home game as head coach. Long time ago.

I'm excited to get to take a look at Loui Eriksson and Jamie Benn in action tonight. Benn has my full respect for pulling the anti-Ovechkin in the all-star game. He got his appendix removed days before the game and still showed up and played. Eriksson has sick skill and speed, he's always been one of my most underrated player choices. His skill is hidden in Dallas. The Stars will come hard tonight for 2 points they sit 9th right now in the West and need the points.

Buffalo needs this game just as bad. First off because the Lightning are already in Buffalo waiting for their matchup tomorrow night. Also they need to capitalize on this game in hand which they have 4 on Ottawa and 3 on the Jets.

James Patrick will be the head coach again tonight and for the near future with Lindy Ruff being in contact with the bench from the press box.

Ryan Miller in goal sporting a 4-0-1 record with 2 shutouts in his last 5. Only allowing 4 goals in that time.

A little bit of an eyebrow raiser came out of Ruff's pregame comments. He stated that Leino will stay on a line with Pominville and Roy. 29 and 26 have been linemates all season. However I'm all for this idea with Leino coming to life on that line and Vanek struggling before he was hurt. Change is good, we will see how long it lasts tonight. If I were Ruff I'd put Vanek in with Ennis and Gerbe. We will see.

Projected Lineup:

Leino-Roy-Pominville

Gerbe-Ennis-Vanek

Boyes-Gaustad-Kaleta

Stafford (I don't know where he fits?)-McCormick-Ellis

Ehrhoff-Myers

Leopold-Regher

Sekera-Weber

Miller

(Enroth)

Prediction: Sabres are rolling and Dallas is 0-8-1 in the 2nd game of back to back games. 4-2 Buffalo.