Sabres notebook
Tiny town earns host’s role
TORONTO — Predawn flights and lengthy bus rides won’t ruin the fun. The Buffalo Sabres know one game can make a town’s year, and for Roberval, Quebec, that game is today.
The Sabres and Montreal Canadiens face off tonight in Roberval for “Hockeyville 2008,” an annual event that rewards small towns in Canada that show their love of hockey. The 11,000 residents of Roberval helped secure more than 2 million votes in the contest, and that in turn secured a visit by the NHL.
The Canadiens were a natural fit because of their Quebec home. The Sabres, meanwhile, are naturals, too. The Buffalo community went crazy last season for the Winter Classic on New Year’s Day, so the Sabres can appreciate the energy in Roberval.
“We’re looking at that almost like our Winter Classic game, where it’s a treat for this town to have an NHL game,” coach Lindy Ruff said Monday. “We’re going up there to play a game and at the same time make sure it’s a nice experience for all the people.”
The natives of Roberval, 270 miles north of Montreal, have turned the exhibition game into the toughest ticket in the league. Only 1,200 fans can fit in Benoit Levesque Arena, so those left out will watch on a big screen outside. Buffalonians can watch the game live at 7 tonight on the NHL Network.
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The Sabres, who started the preseason Monday in Toronto against the Maple Leafs, have seven exhibitions. It’s one more than last season, which gives Ruff a chance to see more players. It’s also changed his approach regarding goaltenders. Ryan Miller played half the game Monday before giving way to Jhonas Enroth. Patrick Lalime and Adam Dennis will share the crease tonight.
Ruff has yet to decide whether any players will dress in every game. Last year, Jaroslav Spacek shouldered the workload, and he responded with a bounceback season.
“There may be guys that play all of them,” Ruff said in Air Canada Centre. “That may be based on play. It might be based on poor play. It might be based on good play.”
