The Buffalo Sabres lost their sixth game in a row tonight. Potentially more problematic, though, they lost their starting goaltender to injury in the first period.

Sabres defenseman Jamie McBain bumped Canadiens forward Brandon Gallagher into Jhonas Enroth with 3:51 remaining in the second period. The goaltender suffered what the team is calling a "lower body injury" as the net was knocked off its moorings in the play. Enroth did eventually skate off the ice.

Enroth had given up two goals prior to his early departure — the first to Dale Weise at 14:41 of the first period and the second to Brendan Gallagher less than a minute and a half later.

Nathan Lieuwen, who was brought up from Rochester this morning to serve as Enroth's backup, filled in for the rest of the game, allowing no goals on 10 shots.

The Sabres played a Thomas Vanek highlight reel during the game in honor of Vanek's first game in Buffalo since he was traded to New York in October.

With the loss, the Sabres sixth in a row, the team is now 19-41-8. Their next game is Tuesday night at Calgary, the first of a five-game road trip.

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