[Block M]

Block 5 Update: 24-21-5, 10th in EC

Jochen Hecht is out for the rest of the regular season injured. Thanks For Playing BUFFALO, NY - The struggling Buffalo Sabres were dealt another blow when second line center Jochen Hecht left the game against the Toronto Maple Leafs on January 13th. The Sabres would go on to win 4-1 but the news turned sour when they found out Hecht had a concussion and will be kept out the remainder of the regular season. The 34-year-old Hecht is in the final year of his current contract and could have played his last game in a Sabres uniform if the Buffalo does not reach the playoffs. With Hecht out of the lineup Cody Hodgson will step into the second line center role the rest of the year and Corey Tropp will begin to see playing time on the fourth line. As the Sabres dealt with the adjustments the chase for the playoffs continued as the team went 5-5 in the fifth block of the season. The Sabres had a big chance to pull closer to the eight seed in their most recent game Montreal, who currently holds that spot, but fell 4-2 and are now four points outside of the playoff picture. Highlight of the Block: The 4-1 victory of Toronto. The Maple Leafs have dominated Buffalo so far this season so despite losing center Jochen Hecht getting a win over a team that has had Buffalo's number shows signs of promise. Needs Improvement: Winning the key games. Six teams sit in the East with 53-54 points and Buffalo is one of them. Winning over Montreal in their last game would have not only put Buffalo ahead of this pack but also would have kept Buffalo within two points of the eight seed but the Sabres never had a chance in this big matchup. NHL Standings February 1st, 2012    Team Points    Team Points 1 73 64 2 64 64 3 59 56 4 61 64 5 55 58 6 54 57 7 53 57 8 52 57 9 52 54 10 52 53 11 50 53 12 50 53 13 49 53 14 48 53 15 46 33 NHL Stat Leaders February 1st, 2012 Goals Steven Stamkos, Tampa Bay 37 Assists Johnathan Toews, Chicago 42 Points Steven Stamkos, Tampa Bay 65 GAA Ondrej Pavelec, Winnipeg 1.95 Save % Ondrej Pavelec, Winnipeg .935 Wins Nicklas Backstrom 29 Shutouts Ryan Miller, Buffalo 7

January 7th, 2012 F Winnipeg Jets (23-15-3) 0 Buffalo Sabres (20-16-5) 3 Goal Scorers Derek Roy (13) Sekera, Vanek Thomas Vanek (14) Roy Jason Pominville (10) Ehrhoff, Kaleta Shutout Ryan Miller (7) Win Ryan Miller (20-17)	January 10th, 2012 F Buffalo Sabres (20-17-5) 0 Toronto Maple Leafs (26-14-2) 2 Goal Scorers N/A Loss Ryan Miller (20-18)
January 13th, 2012 F Toronto Maple Leafs (26-15-2) 1 Buffalo Sabres (21-17-5) 4 Goal Scorers Thomas Vanek (15) Ehrhoff Cody Hodgson (5) Stafford Derek Roy (14) Pominville, Vanek Derek Roy (15) Vanek, Ehrhoff Win Ryan Miller (21-18)	January 14th, 2012 F Buffalo Sabres (21-18-5) 2 New York Islanders (10-27-4) 5 Goal Scorers Thomas Vanek (16) Ehrhoff, Pominville Tyler Ennis (8) Ehrhoff, Pominville Loss Ryan Miller (21-19)
January 16th, 2012 F Buffalo Sabres (22-18-5) 1 Detroit Red Wings (21-21-3) 0 Goal Scorers Jason Pominville (8) Leopold, Roy Shutout Jhonas Enroth (1) Win Jhonas Enroth (1-4)	January 18th, 2012 F Buffalo Sabres (23-18-5) 3 Chicago Blackhawks (28-15-4) 1 Goal Scorers Nathan Gerbe (3) Ennis, Regehr Drew Stafford (5) Hodgson, Ennis Nathan Gerbe (4) Ehrhoff Win Jhonas Enroth (2-4)
January 19th, 2012 - OT F Buffalo Sabres (24-18-5) 4 Winnipeg Jets (26-16-5) 3 Goal Scorers Drew Stafford (6) Ehrhoff, Ennis Brad Boyes (4) Leino, Myers Tyler Ennis (9) Sekera, Gerbe Cody McCormick (6) Roy, Myers Win Jhonas Enroth (3-4)	January 21st, 2012 F Buffalo Sabres (24-19-5) 2 St. Louis Blues (28-16-3) 5 Goal Scorers Derek Roy (16) Pominville, Sekera Tyler Myers (5) Hodgson Loss Jhonas Enroth (3-5)
January 24th, 2012 F Buffalo Sabres (24-20-5) 1 New Jersey Devils (26-19-4) 4 Goal Scorers Cody Hodgson (6) Ennis, Stafford Loss Ryan Miller (21-20)	January 31st, 2012 F Buffalo Sabres (24-21-5) 2 Montreal Canadiens (25-18-7) 4 Goal Scorers Nathan Gerbe (5) Kaleta, Ehrhoff Cody McCormick (7) Pominville Loss Ryan Miller (21-21)