Sabres notebook
Leafs' Stempniak opens up his wallet
Being a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs brings Lee Stempniak home a lot more. It costs him a lot more, too.
Stempniak, the West Seneca native traded from St. Louis to Toronto last spring, used to visit Buffalo once every other season or so with the Blues. Because the Leafs are a Northeast Division rival, he'll be coming to town three times a year.
The first trip Friday taught him a lesson about the Sabres' variable pricing plan. Stempniak purchases tickets for his immediate family when he visits HSBC Arena, and his game with the Blues last season was a value game. The appearances by the Leafs fall in the gold or platinum range, which costs the 26-year-old two or three times as much per ducat.
Still, the right winger is pleased to be playing close to home.
"It's always fun," Stempniak said. "It's nicer now being in Toronto getting to play them six times. Before I didn't get to come around very often."
Like the rest of the Leafs, he wishes he made the latest trip with a more impressive record. Toronto started the season 0-7-1 and entered Friday's matchup just 1-7-2.
"It was definitely not the start I'd envisioned for us," Stempniak said. "We've got a really good team, and I certainly think we're better than our record indicates. It's one of those things where we just couldn't find a way to win that first game."
The Leafs were much better in their two outings prior to coming to Buffalo, due in no small part to Stempniak. He had two goals and three assists in the two games, bringing his season totals to three goals and three assists.
"I feel like I'm playing well, starting to get some chances, and they're going in," he said.
Sabres goaltender Ryan Miller isn't putting much thought into February's Olympic Games. The Michigan native just wants to establish himself as one of the NHL's best goalies, and if Team USA isn't impressed by that, then there's nothing else he can do.
The American braintrust is impressed.
"I'm very aware of how well he's played up to this point," said Toronto coach Ron Wilson, who will coach the United States in Vancouver. "We expect him to be one of our goalies, if not the starting goalie based on what he's done over the past couple of years. I just hope Buffalo doesn't wear him out."
Miller started for the ninth time in 10 games Friday. It was his first start this season against Leafs and Team USA General Manager Brian Burke.
"I know Brian and Ron are watching irregardless," Miller said. "There's enough eyes on us every night it doesn't make a difference."
Sabres center Paul Gaustad missed his first game, getting scratched with flu-like symptoms. Defenseman Toni Lydman missed his third straight game with a groin ailment.
Nathan Paetsch remained in the lineup in Lydman's place, while Adam Mair skated with Matt Ellis and Patrick Kaleta for Gaustad. It was just the second game of the season for Mair, who played at least 72 games in each of the past three years.
"He's been an absolute model citizen," Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said. "He understands the team has gone well."
The Sabres walked into their dressing room Friday morning and spent time staring at the new additions. Twelve large pictures have been placed above the locker stalls, each depicting a moment or member of the Sabres' past.
Included are shots of Dominik Hasek making a save; Pat LaFontaine and Alexander Mogilny celebrating a goal; Derek Plante scoring on Ottawa's Ron Tugnutt to end Game Seven during the 1997 playoffs; and the team lifting Gilbert Perreault after he scored his 500th goal.
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