Sabres notebook
Tallinder, Max start road to redemption
Maxim Afinogenov and Henrik Tallinder were back Wednesday. It’s up to them to stay back.
The Buffalo Sabres’ longest-tenured player and their former No. 1 defenseman returned to the lineup against Boston after getting scratched for two straight games. Neither was happy with the experience, and they say they know what it will take to avoid another trip to the press box.
“I’m back in the lineup,” Tallinder said. “I just have to prove that I belong there.”
Lindy Ruff had a talk with Tallinder, and the coach said he wants more competitiveness from the defenseman. Tallinder was benched following a ghastly giveaway last week against the Bruins. As part of the talk, he learned he shouldn’t worry about another one giving him a one-way ticket to the showers. Playing in fear of mistakes is no way to play, so Tallinder won’t.
“You can’t be too worried too much about it,” Tallinder said. “I’ve just got to play my game. That’s what brought me here and made me successful. It’s too much to worry about mistakes.”
Afinogenov’s journey to the sidelines was a simple matter of production, or lack thereof. He scored just once in his opening 18 games, and he scored just once in the final 15 games of last year.
The ninth-year Sabre was furious with the benching and said he and Ruff had not discussed it.
“I’m not happy at all,” Afinogenov said. “It’s definitely bad. I want to be there, especially at home in front of fans. They give me special spark, and I’m not happy not being in the lineup.
“I play better when I’m happy. . . . Extra minutes will help me.”
Ruff wants Afinogenov to use less of the dipsy-doodle plays he’s known for and try more of a driving- toward-the-net game.
“By the time you turn back or end up going east-west in a game, you get run over by back-checkers in this league,” Ruff said.
•••
Afinogenov played with center Clarke MacArthur and fellow winger Marc Mancari. The other lines had center Derek Roy reunited with Thomas Vanek and Drew Stafford; Jochen Hecht in the middle of Paul Gaustad and Jason Pominville; and Adam Mair centering Andrew Peters and Patrick Kaleta.
Ruff expects good things out of Gaustad while playing with Hecht and Pominville. Gaustad recorded just two assists in his first 11 games.
“I’ve liked him on the wing,” Ruff said. “It’s easier for him to get in on the forecheck. He can be the first guy more often and let him use his size around the net.”
•••
The Sabres scratched defenseman Nathan Paetsch and winger Daniel Paille.
“Danny has battled the flu,” Ruff said. “I’ve found that a couple guys that I put back in the lineup when they were battling it didn’t play very well. I don’t want any excuses.”
•••
The Portland Pirates, in their first year as the Sabres’ minor-league affiliate, will play one game in Buffalo. Tickets for the Feb. 10 contest against Albany go on sale at 10 a. m. Friday. Prices range from $15 to $25. Groups of 15 or more receive $5 off.
•••
The Sabres will hold an “ornament surprise” for fans Friday when Pittsburgh visits HSBC Arena. For $20, fans can purchase a wrapped Christmas ornament autographed by a player.
Log into MyBuffalo to post a comment
MyBuffalo is the new social network from Buffalo.com. Your MyBuffalo account lets you comment on and rate stories at buffalonews.com. You can also head over to mybuffalo.com to share your blog posts, stories, photos, and videos with the community. Join now or learn more.
Reader comments