Sabres notebook
Pominville, Hecht split up by Ruff
WASHINGTON — Jason Pominville and Jochen Hecht aren’t quite Ernie and Bert or Abbott and Costello, but it was tough to find one without the other the past three seasons. That changed Friday.
In attempt to shake both players out of prolonged slumps, Buffalo Sabres coach Lindy Ruff split up the longtime tandem. Pominville had just one goal in 16 games heading into Friday’s game against Washington, while Hecht had scored once in 13 games.
“Jochen and Pommer going together hasn’t produced enough,” Ruff said in Verizon Center.
Neither figured into the scoring during the Sabres’ 3-2 loss to the Capitals on Friday night.
Pominville has been Hecht’s right winger since the Sabres let J. P. Dumont go prior to the 2006-07 season. But the Sabres count on the linemates to score, and they hadn’t been doing it.
“Obviously, playing with Jochen for so long, we’re probably both going to have to adjust a bit,” Pominville said. “Hopefully, it’ll benefit the team.”
Pominville’s new line certainly has the potential for offensive explosions. He joined center Derek Roy and left wing Thomas Vanek, a combination that features the Sabres’ top three scorers from this season and last.
“Sometimes I think you get a fresh look and it breathes a little life into you,” Ruff said.
Pominville acknowledged the offensive talent the trio possesses, but he quickly said it’ll be important for the players to show their defensive skills, too.
“It’s not only the offensive side of it,” Pominville said. “We’ve got to be a line that’s reliable defensively, that can play against other teams’ top lines.’
Hecht’s new linemates are left wing Clarke MacArthur and right wing Drew Stafford. The lines of Adam Mair centering for Daniel Paille and Ales Kotalik, and Matt Ellis in the middle of Andrew Peters and Maxim Afinogenov remained intact.
“The Mair line did a good job last game [with six points in the 4-3 overtime loss to Pittsburgh on Monday], and if we can light a little spark with those other guys it should beneficial,” Ruff said.
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Defenseman Craig Rivet, who missed his seventh straight game with a shoulder injury, was the only banged-up Sabre to make the trip to Washington. Ruff said Rivet will be evaluated by team doctors today.
Forwards Nathan Gerbe (upper body), Patrick Kaleta (neck/head), Paul Gaustad (upper body) and Tim Connolly (rib) did not come for the Sabres’ morning skate.
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Ruff was worried the game against the Capitals could be a ragged affair since both teams were off for two days because of the league-mandated Christmas break. The teams, though, were ready from the drop of the puck. Even if they hadn’t been, Ruff said the break is worth it.
“Christmas is a special time,” he said. “It’s a great opportunity to spend time with family. We don’t get many two-day breaks, and I look at it as a good thing.”
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The Sabres host the New York Islanders tonight in HSBC Arena. It is the eighth time Buffalo has played on consecutive nights, and the second night hasn’t been pretty. The Sabres are just 1-4-2 so far in Game Two.
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