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After 17 days of Olympic hockey, the NHL returns to action tonight with a make-up game between the Buffalo Sabres and Carolina Hurricanes. And theres plenty of intrigue surrounding the game as all eyes are focused on what the Sabres may or may not do with goaltender Ryan Miller going into the trade deadline. Miller, who kept his habit of not talking to reporters after the game day skate, is in the final year of his contract and could opt to leave Buffalo via free agency over the summer. The 33-year-old served as backup to Jonathan Quick for Team USA in February and he could make the difference for a playoff hopeful team down the stretch. The rebuilding club is mulling over whether or not to deal the star netminder - or perhaps even re-sign him - before March 5. Like Miller, Sabres forward Steve Ott is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent over the summer, and, unless Buffalo is able to sign Ott to an extension, his days in Buffalo could be numbered as well. "Obviously I told them I want to be here," Ott recently told his clubs official web site. "Well see where it all goes. Im professional enough to know the business side of things as well and what the situation is here as well. Well see how it all plays out in the next two weeks or so." Buffalo ended its pre-Olympic schedule on a four-game losing streak and it will try to halt that 0-4-0 stretch tonight. With its win last month in Buffalo, the Hurricanes have won two straight and four of their past five games in western New York. Carolina has claimed four in a row and five of six in the series overall. Buffalo is beginning a three-game homestand tonight, but that is hardly a consolation for a club that has lost eight straight as the host. All told, the Sabres are 9-17-5 as the home team this season. The Sabres also will be in action on Wednesday night when they host the Boston Bruins. This contest was originally scheduled for Jan. 7 before wintry weather forced that meeting to be postponed until tonight. The clubs met once after that postponement when the Hurricanes notched a 5-3 win in Buffalo on Jan. 23. Alexander Semin had two goals in Carolinas triumph, while Anton Khudobin -- the NHLs First Star for January -- turned aside 26-of-29 shots. Khudobin could hold the key to getting Carolina back to the postseason for the first time since the spring of 2009. The 27-year-old Russian is turning heads in his first season in Raleigh and has clearly outplayed longtime No. 1 backstop Cam Ward in 2013-14. Khudobin entered the Olympic break with a 19-13-6 record, 2.14 goals against average and a .927 save percentage. Ward, meanwhile, is 6-7-5 with a 3.15 GAA and .895 save percentage. Carolina enters tonight three points out of a playoff berth in the Eastern Conference, and Khudobin could make a positive difference for the club down the stretch. Although Khudobin helped the Canes win six of their last nine games before the break, the club did find itself on the losing end in three of its final five tests prior to the Olympics. "Its a restart button for everybody," said Hurricanes head coach Kirk Muller of the time off. "Its a great opportunity for everyone to take a deep breath and use this break mentally and physically. Our goal is to make the playoffs, and were going to need everybody." Carolina was 2-2-0 on a four-game homestand that completed the teams pre- Olympics schedule and the club will emerge from the hiatus to begin a five- game road trip. The Hurricanes are just 11-10-4 as the visiting team this season. Cheap Nike Air Max 95 . There are surprises among the Vezina candidates, but most of the others are standard top-tier performers, even if the two Hart Trophy runners-ups have never been quite as good as they have been through the first half of the season. Cheap Air Max 95 Free Shipping . Then youve got to worry about the other up and coming teams in the two weaker divisions in the "Junior Circuit". http://www.cheapnikeairmax95.com/ . The Philadelphia left fielder clubbed a tiebreaking, solo home run in the seventh inning, and the Phillies edged the Red Sox, 2-1, in the middle test of a three-game interleague series at Citizens Bank Park. Nike Air Max 95 Sale Cheap . Altidore strained his left hamstring in the Americans opener against Ghana on June 16 and didnt play in their next two games. "We dont know how much because we need to see how hes going, but hes available," U. Cheap Air Max 95 Wholesale . -- Canadian freestyle skier Roz Groenewoud isnt letting surgery to both of her knees deter her expectations for the Sochi Olympics.SAN FRANCISCO - The reliable southpaw is getting the ball for another important Game 1.Left-hander Madison Bumgarner will pitch the World Series opener for the San Francisco Giants at Kansas City on Tuesday.Manager Bruce Bochy made the expected announcement Saturday as his team worked out under sunny skies, one day before travelling. Bumgarner, an 18-game winner, was voted NL Championship Series MVP as the Giants beat the St. Louis Cardinals in five games.Despite MadBums high innings, Bochy wasnt worried about the 18-game winner. Bumgarner didnt get a decision in the pennant clincher against the Cardinals on Thursday night.I think I wouldve insulted him if I checked with him, Bochy said. Hes a big, strong guy. His last game I thought he had great stuff. Its not like hes thrown 120-130 pitches. His workload has been under control.Bochy is keeping his rotation the same as the first two rounds of the post-season. Right-hander Jake Peavy will pitch Game 2 on Wednesday, followed by 39-year-old right-hander Tim Hudson in his World Series debut Thursday at AT&T Park and then righty Ryan Vogelsong.Yusmeiro Petit, who has twice provided a huge lift as a long man, will stay in his role as Bochy stuck with Vogelsong in the rotation.Petit in the job hes done in that role that weve had him in, you go back to Washington and without Petit its hard to say what would have happened, Bochy said. In St. Louis he went out there and gave us three big innings.dddddddddddd Hes a great swingman. Vogey, he threw a great game against Washington. He had a little bit of a hiccup but no, I didnt think about changing.Unused two-time NL Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum will make the roster. Bochy didnt expect to make any changes from the 25 players used in the NLCS.Lincecum pitched the Game 5 World Series clincher at Texas in 2010, then held a key role as a reliever in the 2012 championship run. Lincecum pitched his second no-hitter June 25 against San Diego but hasnt pitched since Sept. 28.Ive been thinking about Timmy, trust me, Bochy said. Timmys done a lot for us, and we know that.Lincecum was undergoing treatment for a a problem that developed overnight.Timmys got a stiff neck right now but we talked about him throwing to hitters today, Bochy said. Hell be back tomorrow, but hes still on the roster. I dont think its serious. ... Im pretty sure at some point hell be in the game.Bochy didnt announce a designated hitter, though Michael Morse is the obvious candidate. He has been unable to play left field and hasnt started since late August because of an oblique injury, but hit a tying pinch homer in the 6-3 Game 5 NLCS win.I havent got the order set, DH, Bochy said. Right now we dont have any plans to change our roster. Now that doesnt mean we cant change our mind as we look at this further. 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