Maxim Afinogenov can still inspire the fans. Twice in the Buffalo Sabres’ last game, he had the home folks breathless in anticipation.

Once, he picked up the puck unmolested along the boards. The crowd started buzzing, having seen the nine-year veteran do special things in situations like that before. Afinogenov skated into the zone and . . . nothing happened.

The second time, the winger got the puck behind the net. Fans saw he had the goaltender down and quickly gasped. Afinogenov circled the cage, attempted to stuff the puck in and . . . nothing happened.

Yes, Afinogenov can still take fans’ breath away. It’s just good they aren’t holding it in until he scores.

Afinogenov’s struggles continue, as the winger enters tonight’s game against Los Angeles in HSBC Arena in a slump that’s lasted for more than half a season. Since returning from a groin injury Feb. 29, Afinogenov has played in 43 games. His goal total in that span? Two. He has just one goal in 28 games this year.

“Every hockey player probably goes through some bad stuff,” Afinogenov said Thursday. “Right now it’s my turn, and I need to just get out from that and be strong. Do my job on the ice, and that’s it.”

For a look at how far his production has fallen, here’s a comparison of guys in his peer group now compared to when he averaged more than a point per game in 2005 to ’07.

Back in his heyday, Afinogenov was alongside the likes of Vincent Lecavalier, Daniel and Henrik Sedin, Brendan Shanahan, Ryan Smyth and Mats Sundin. Now his stats have him ranked with Marcel Goc, Joel Ward, Colin Fraser, Cody McCormick and Tomas Kopecky.

And none of them is making $3.5 million.

“I feel pretty much the same,” Afinogenov said. “The [calendar] year is finished almost, and hopefully the new year is going to be better. I hope so. But I’m still the same. I work the same, try to play the same, and we’ll see what happens.”

“It’s been awhile,” coach Lindy Ruff said of the hard times. “It hasn’t been just part of this season. It’s a big part of last season. It’s tough.”

Still, Afinogenov keeps skating. He keeps shooting. The goals just never come.

He’s taken 60 shots, which ranks sixth on the Sabres. But he’s scoring on just 1.7 percent of his attempts, which ranks 551st out of the 759 skaters who have played in the NHL this season.

Things also have a tendency to fall apart. He was playing a solid game, creating those chances Wednesday, but he still finished at minus-2. The most grievous mistake came late, when he didn’t get the puck out then waved at two New Jersey Devils who went by him to combine for a goal.

The goals against dropped Afinogenov to minus-14 this season, tied for fifth worst in the NHL. He is minus- 20 in the half season since his injury.

“He’s in a tough place. Nothing wants to go in, then he tries too much,” Ruff said. “I really believe this: He’s going to have to score some goals by driving the net. It won’t be from just winding up and going down the perimeter.”

Those are the moments the fans love, though. When Afinogenov starts skating, the fans believe good things will happen. He hopes to reward that faith.

“That’s what’s important for me, is the fans believing in me,” Afinogenov said. “People on the streets stopping me and saying good things, helping me a lot. It’s meant a lot for me because I’m playing for them.

“Right now I need to just go through my bad time, and hopefully it’ll change to good.”