Every meeting between these two teams has had a little extra spice to it ever since Milan Lucic barreled over Buffalo goalie Ryan Miller, but the Sabres haven't had that same bite in the rest of their games this season.
Since the Lucic-Miller collision, the Sabres have been in a bit of a free fall. Considered a dark horse for a deep playoff run before the season started, instead they're instead nearly a dozen points out of a playoff spot.
There's plenty of possible excuses for the team's struggles this year. Miller hasn't been his usual self, posting a 2.88 GAA, a .905 save percentage and a 14-15-3 record. His backup, Jhonas Enroth, has been a little better statistically, but not by much.
They've also had to battle through injuries. Tyler Myers, Mike Weber and Jordan Leopold have all missed time, and even their coach, Lindy Ruff, suffered broken ribs after an accident during the team's practice. Maybe they're just unlucky.
What has been the biggest factor in the Buffalo Sabres' struggles this season?
