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Lightning vs. Sabres

 
Published Dec. 5, 2006

When/where: 7:30 (Dave Andreychuk ceremony is at 7:15); St. Pete Times Forum, Tampa.

TV/radio: Sun Sports; 620-AM.

Season series: Sabres 1-0.

Storylines: Lightning players shouldn't need any motivation other than the recollection of last month's embarrassing 7-2 loss in Buffalo. ... Marc Denis, the Lightning's goalie in that game, has something to prove too. Denis hasn't won since Oct. 26 and has lost six straight starts, including one in overtime and one shootout, while trying for his 100th NHL victory.

Who's hot: Sabres right wing Maxim Afinogenov has points in eight of 10 games and is scoreless this season in just five.

Who's not: Lightning wings Vinny Prospal and Ruslan Fedotenko have one goal each in their past 17 games.

Stat watch: The Sabres are the No. 1 team in the East with a league-high 113 goals, only 28 of which were scored on the power play. ... Buffalo is a league-best 11-2-0 on the road and 5-1-1 against the Southeast. ... Tampa Bay is 1-5-2 against the Northeast. ... Tampa Bay has lost three straight, including a shootout. ... Left wing Tomas Vanek entered Monday seventh in the league with 33 points and leads the Sabres with 17 goals.