BUFFALO – How rare is the Sabres’ current streak of 40 or more shots on goal in three straight games? Well, before pumping 40 on New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist in Sunday’s 3-1 road loss, they hadn’t done it since March 2009.
Prior to Sunday, they generated 41 shots in Saturday afternoon’s 9-2 win against the Ottawa Senators and a season-high 48 in last Thursday’s 4-2 loss in Ottawa.
So in Thursday’s road tilt against the Montreal Canadiens, the Sabres can make a little history. If they hit the 40-shot mark, it will be only the second time they’ve ever done it in four consecutive games, according to researcher Mike Haim.
The Sabres peppered 40 shots on net in four straight contests from Jan. 19 to 26 in 1975, according to Haim, about halfway through the first season they reached the Stanley Cup final.
Thanks to Haim for the research.
In other news, Sabres coach Phil Housley said defenseman Nathan Beaulieu will return Thursday after sitting out three straight games as a healthy scratch.
Beaulieu, who played for the Canadiens, practiced beside rookie Rasmus Dahlin today.
“His attitude and his work level has risen the last week,” Housley said of Beaulieu. “That’s why he’s getting an opportunity.”
Casey Nelson was the odd defenseman out.