Trouble in Buffalo Things are getting ugly in Buffalo, where the Sabres continue to struggle. Ryan Miller was pulled twice in the same game last weekend against Pittsburgh. He gave up five goals on 15 shots and now has a 3.12 goals-against average and .904 save percentage.

After the 8-3 loss, owner Terry Pegula took a swipe at Miller, telling reporters, "We saw some great goaltending tonight, didn't we?"

Peer pressure Elder Chicago Blackhawks statesman Andrew Brunette looked odd in a poorly fitting toque when he visited the Wild two weeks ago. "I'm just trying to fit in with all our young stars," quipped Brunette.

Skating with the stars First, Michael Buble practices with the Vancouver Canucks, then Justin Bieber with former Minnetonka defenseman Jake Gardiner and the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Wild needs to get a local celeb to skate. How about Stiffler, Seann William Scott?

Vote of confidence in Columbus There have been six coaches fired this season, but not the coach of the last-place team in the NHL -- Columbus' Scott Arniel. "Coaching is not an issue on this team," said GM Scott Howson.

'The next step is walking' Edmonton's Taylor Fedun, close to making the Oilers in training camp, continues his rehab from a broken femur suffered at Xcel Energy Center in September when he was tripped on an icing by former Wild player Eric Nystrom.

"I did a leg squat the other day. That was significant. The next step is walking," said Fedun. "This is a nine months-to-a-year-long thing."

Memorable New Year's Eve for Espo On Dec. 31, the Lightning will unveil a life-size statue of team founder Phil Esposito inside St. Pete Times Forum. "I'm not a crier, but I'll be emotional. This will be there forever," Esposito said.