On Wednesday I declared the 6-0 win over the Bruins could be the game fans look back at to point to when the comeback started. However last nights game might be another one of those games. Kari Lehtonen stood on his head for 40 minutes and early in the 3rd Dallas increase their lead to 2-0. Buffalo appeared to be on the path to a frustrating L however, minutes Radek Dvorak took an awful penalty hauling down Vanek in the neutral zone. Vanek would capitalize on a nice tip on the PP. The score would stay 2-1 until the 19:20 mark of the 3rd. With the goalie pulled Derek Roy put away a rebound to tie the game at 2. Late in OT Lehtonen would again shine by stoning Vanek on a wide open net with seconds remaining.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10wkAf9stxo

The game would go to a shootout where Nathan Gerbe would use a sick back hand to beat Lehtonen and give the Sabres 2 points. http://video.nhl.com...vidchn-shootout

As the standings sit Buffalo is 8 points behind 8th place Toronto with a game in hand and 9 behind Ottawa with 3 games in hand. Buffalo wins the games in hand and head to head games left they catch both teams. (Currently watching the Oil vs Sens on the Iphone headed for a 3pt game. Hate them!)

Tonight the Sabres host the Tampa Bay Lightning looking to keep it going. Buffalo has not lost at home since December 10th. The FN Center is becoming known as a hard place to win for road teams. Love it.

Some big news today with Luke Adam being sent down to Rochester and Zack Kassian being called up. Kassian will played tonight for the injured Cody McCormick, who sustained an upper body injury last night. Adam who has 10 goals and 10 assists this season needs to play big minutes. He has not scored since early December and needs to get his confidence back. When Kassian returns to Rochester I'm sure you'll the Kassian-Adam-Foligno lined reunited that dominated Traverse City in the Prospects Tourney.

Tampa has played well of late, but their style might play into Buffalo's hand tonight. The Sabres played last night and could feature some fatigue however Tampa is not a team known to press. Could help the Sabres stay in the game. The lightning bolts have won both prior meetings this season one in Buffalo and the other in St. Pete.

The mystery surrounding tonight's game is who will be in goal for Buffalo. Miller or Enroth. With no pregame skate it will be unknown until game time. Ride the hot hand or give some rest? Buffalo doesn't play again until Valentine's Day against NJ at home.

Projected lineup:

Leino-Roy-Pominville

Vanek-Ennis-Stafford

Gerbe-Gaustad-Kaleta

Kassian-Boyes-Ellis

Ehrhoff-Myers

Regher-Leopold

Weber-Sekera

Miller (Ride the hot hand is my guess)

(Enroth)

Projection: Tough game it will be a lower scoring battle. 2-1 Tampa in OT/SO