Sure, Tyler Myers admitted, he gets a little tired out there. He gets more ice time than every Buffalo Sabre not named Ryan Miller. There are bound to be moments of fatigue.

The rookie defenseman picks his spots to rest, but he's aware he won't get many tonight.

The Chicago Blackhawks, one of the NHL's more exciting teams, will make their only visit to HSBC Arena. They boast all-world players such as Patrick Kane, Marian Hossa, Jonathan Toews, Duncan Keith and old friend Brian Campbell. The game has the potential to be fun for fans, but it's sure to be a lot of work for Myers.

The defenseman has been drawing the opponents' most feared players, a trend that will continue. With so many to choose from tonight, Myers can expect to play around 40 percent of the game.

It's nothing new. He topped 25 minutes of ice time during the past two games. He hasn't played fewer than 20 minutes since Oct. 17, a span of 22 games.

It's a lot to ask of a 19-year-old, but Myers has done it before. He said he played 23 to 25 minutes a night for his junior team down the stretch last season. It was a learning experience from which the Sabres are benefiting.

"Last year I learned how to handle that kind of minutes," Myers said Thursday. "There's different ways to play. You can conserve energy and still be effective on the ice. I've just been trying to do that when I feel a little fatigued or a little tired out there.

"The intensity's a lot higher here, so it's tougher. But I'm getting used to it."

Adrenaline helps. Fans get revved up to see big names, and the players do, too.

"It's an exciting challenge," Sabres center Matt Ellis said. "It gives you that extra little bit of a buzz. You really have to focus a little more and know when those dangerous players are on the ice."

. . .

There's a 50-50 chance Miller will give way to backup Patrick Lalime, but the former Blackhawks netminder hinted the odds may be higher than that.

"It's always a little extra juice, if you want to put it that way, to play against

ex-teammates," Lalime said.

Lalime, who spent two seasons in Chicago before joining the Sabres last season, hasn't played an NHL game since Nov. 21 but had a two-game conditioning stint in Portland last weekend. He is 0-2 this season and 1-6-1 in his last eight decisions.

Coach Lindy Ruff said Lalime will start either tonight or Saturday, when the Sabres visit the New York Rangers.

"It was good preparation to go down last week," Lalime said. "I'm just looking forward to getting in there."

. . .

The words echoed from one stall to the next a week ago. This is an important homestand. It's a chance to make a statement.

All that's left is a chance to be above .500. The Sabres are 2-2 on their five-game stay that ends tonight. They beat Washington and Montreal, and lost to New Jersey and the Rangers.

"We've played some good teams," Ruff said. "It's been a homestand that's really tested us, and we're going to be tested again."

. . .

Center Paul Gaustad skated with the Sabres on Thursday, his first appearance since injuring his right knee Nov. 27 in Philadelphia. There is still no timetable for his return.

"It feels good to be on the ice," Gaustad said. "We're just kind of taking it a day at a time, I guess. The doctors cleared me to skate a little bit and see how it goes."

Tim Connolly left practice early with a sore hip, but Ruff expects the forward to play tonight. Ruff added that forward Mike Grier, who will miss his third game to assist his ill mother, likely will rejoin the team Saturday in New York.

. . .

Broadcaster Rick Jeanneret will sign bricks from Memorial Auditorium in front of the Sabres Store from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., with proceeds of the $49 and $69 sale going to the team's foundation. ... The Sabres' winter clothing drive — in which fans are asked to donate new or slightly used jackets, gloves, hats and sweaters — continues during this and every December home game. ... The team will conduct its annual Christmas ornament sale, which also benefits the foundation. Each $20 ornament is signed by a Sabres player.