COLUMBUS, Ohio — Backup goaltender Patrick Lalime had played just 10 minutes in the

Buffalo Sabres' last 12 games. He finally got his turn Saturday night in Nationwide Arena.

Lalime had some nice saves sprinkled in his 21 stops. There wasn't anything he could do on

two, maybe three of the Columbus Blue Jackets' goals. But as for the first one? Killer.

Lalime was victimized by a crazy ricochet off the glass and it turned into a Milan Jurcina

goal from center ice that sent the Jackets on their way to a 4-0 win over the Buffalo Sabres.

Jurcina's goal at 2:17 of the second period was his first since Dec. 16, 2008, when he was

with a member ofthe Washington Capitals.

Lalime said he had noticed some freaky bounces off the glass and was keeping a keen eye on

the puck. But even this shot was a surprise, as it came directly at the net and went in off

his left leg.

"It's probably the first time I saw it coming from behind the net that hard," he said. "I

knew the glass was bad and I was looking up for it too. It just surprised me. Almost went all

the way around and came out and hit me. It was like a shot from behind the net."

Lalime is stuck at 199 career wins, having taken two losses in his last three starts and

giving up four first-period goals before getting pulled Jan. 19 in Anaheim.

"It's a fine line between winning and losing sometimes," he said. "I don't think our record

shows from the last few games. We just have to make sure everybody is ready to give a little

more and look in the mirror."

That makes too iffy outings in a row for Lalime, who had been 3-0-2 in his previous five

with a .949 save percentage and 1.67 goals-against average. With a day off before each game

next week, Lalime could be done until after the Olympics.

"We've worked hard to try to keep him ready," coach Lindy Ruff said. "He understands the

position he's in. That mentality is tough, a tougher mentality to have. I understand that but

it's also an opportunity to step in."

Ryan Miller, meanwhile, has ghastly numbers in his last three starts: 12 goals, a 4.04 GAA

and .874 save percentage. Miller had played 12 straight games and started 11 of them until

Saturday.

. . .

Tim Kennedy, who was minus-5 in the last two games, was a healthy scratch and Matt Ellis

was returned to the Buffalo lineup. In addition to Kennedy's struggles, third-/fourth-liners

Mike Grier, Paul Gaustad, Adam Mair and Clarke MacArthur all totaled minus-3 in the losses to

Ottawa and Carolina.

Steve Montador, who was limited to less than seven minutes Friday after moving from defense

to wing on the fourth line, played just 2:32 Saturday before leaving with an undetermined

injury following a second-period fight with Jared Boll.

. . .

While the Ottawa Senators have been streaking to the top of the Northeast Division, the

defending champion Boston Bruins have been skidding to the bottom and out of the playoff race.

The Bruins suffered their 10th straight loss with Saturday's 3-2 shootout defeat to

visiting Vancouver and are 12th in the East.

They play today at Montreal trying to avoid an 11th straight loss, which would tie their

all-time record set in their 1924-25 inaugural season. If they lose that one, they could set

the mark Tuesday night in HSBC Arena.

. . .

The Sabres' second goal in Friday's 4-3 loss to Carolina has been changed to give Derek Roy

the credit on a deflection of Drew Stafford's shot. That leaves both Roy and Stafford with 13

goals.