Mike Harrington of the Buffalo News dropped a bomb on the Eastern Conference bubble tonight: Goalie Ryan Miller of the Buffalo Sabres, who has started 24 of the Sabres' last 27 games, will miss their critical game against the New York Rangers tonight with an upper body injury.
WGR Sportsradio 550 also reported Miller won't start, as Jhonas Enroth gets the nod and Patrick Lalime is the backup.
From Harrington:
There is no word on the nature or severity of the injury but it's believed to be an upper-body situation.
Miller did take a slapshot from Dion Phaneuf to the collarbone area with 14:48 left in the third period of Tuesday night's 4-3 loss at Toronto. He also took a Brian Rolston slapshot directly on the mask in the first period of Saturday's 2-0 win over New Jersey.
The Sabres are 5-7-1 without Miller. The Carolina Hurricanes trail Buffalo by three points and are in action tonight against the Montreal Canadiens. More on this as it comes in.