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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Buffalo Sabres backup goalie Martin
Biron did his best Dominik Hasek impression.
Biron made 29 saves for his second consecutive shutout, and
Chris Gratton and Stu Barnes scored to lead the Sabres to a 2-0
victory over the Nashville Predators on Saturday night.
Biron, in his first game since Dec. 30, got his seventh career
shutout and second of the year for Buffalo, which is 1-0-2 in its
last three.
It got Sabres coach Lindy Ruff thinking of using Biron more
often. His save percentage and goals-against average are both now
better than Hasek's.
"Back-to-back shutouts, obviously we have to give it more
thought now," Ruff said.
"Biron played pretty solid tonight," Nashville forward Scott
Hartnell said. "To have a backup like that behind Dominik Hasek is
a pretty good punch."
But Biron knows, and accepts, his status on the Sabres.
"Dominik's the starting goalie," Biron said. "That's a
no-brainer."
Gratton gave Buffalo a 1-0 lead on a deflection with his first
goal in 14 games. Gratton was at the edge of the crease when he
tipped Richard Smehlik's wrist shot from the high slot past Mike
Dunham's glove at 10:25 of the first.
Barnes scored on his own rebound to give the Sabres a 2-0 lead
at 19:16 of the second. Dunham stopped Barnes' backhand shot from
the left circle, but Barnes poked the rebound by the goalie's stick
on the forehand.
Dunham, who beat St. Louis on Thursday, started his seventh
consecutive game.
"We did a good job creating some chances," Dunham said.
"Their goalie played really well. They got some timely goals, and
they kind of let their goaltender make some saves and clear some
pucks out of there."
Buffalo got a break at 16:55 of the first period, when an
apparent tying goal by Scott Hartnell was waved off by referee Greg
Kimmerly. Kimmerly appeared to have lost sight of the puck after
Biron made the initial stop on Richard Lintner's slap shot.
"I think it might have been a quick whistle," Hartnell said.
Biron made a pad save on Scott Walker at 12:29 of the second.
Walker, who was riding a six-game point streak, had his slap shot
stopped by Biron from the left circle.
Sabres defenseman James Patrick broke up a Nashville 3-on-1
later in the period. He went down on the ice and deflected Cliff
Ronning's pass to Walker with his stick.
After no penalties were called in the first two periods,
Nashville failed to convert on either of four power plays in the
third. Biron stopped Hartnell in close in the closing minutes.
"That was a really big effort," Ruff said. "In the second
period, we came out and dominated. Biron made a few key saves, but
overall it was a heck of an effort. We didn't give them too much on
transition."
Biron didn't act as if he plans to replace Hasek anytime soon.
"You've got Dom, the best goaltender in the world, and me,
trying to make a name for myself," Biron said. "But I can't deny
I'm enjoying it. Maybe because I play less, I'm fresher when I do
get in."
Game notes
Veteran Sabres defenseman Jason Woolley was a healthy
scratch. Center Chris Taylor was called up from AHL Rochester and
was in the Buffalo lineup. ... Nashville's 19 points against
Eastern Conference teams tie the Predators with Calgary and San
Jose for the most in the NHL against clubs from the other
conference. ... Hasek leads all goalies in penalty minutes with 16,
which already ties his career high. ... Both teams head to the West
Coast next. The Sabres visit San Jose, Los Angeles, and Anaheim in
their next three games, while the Predators go to Vancouver,
Edmonton, Calgary, and San Jose for their next four. Nashville is
two games over .500 on the road, but remains one of the five worst
teams in the league at home. The Sabres are eight games over .500
at home.
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NHL Scoreboard
Buffalo Clubhouse
Nashville Clubhouse
RECAPS
New Jersey 5
NY Rangers 5
Colorado 2
Carolina 2
Phoenix 2
NY Islanders 1
Ottawa 4
Montreal 3
Atlanta 2
Philadelphia 2
Washington 3
Toronto 2
Dallas 4
Boston 0
Buffalo 2
Nashville 0
St. Louis 5
Minnesota 1
Los Angeles 5
Calgary 0
Vancouver 4
Columbus 3
San Jose 3
Florida 1
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