Sabres Hockey

ika Noronen sat on the bench for most of Thursday’s pre-game skate, biding his time before finally getting some shots in late in practice.

There are only two nets on a sheet of ice, and Martin Biron and Ryan Miller were filling them.

At least Noronen had his equipment on. He was resigned to watching yet another game from the press box Thursday night when his red-hot Buffalo Sabres took on the Toronto Maple Leafs at Air Canada Centre.

Such is life these days for the 26-year-old Finn, a spare part waiting patiently while Sabres GM Darcy Regier decides whether or not to pull the trigger on a deal that would alleviate a crowded crease.

“It’s a bad situation,” Noronen said after the skate. “I’m just hoping they can figure out something and make a move. It’s not good for anybody, especially for me because I’m not even in the lineup and I’m not playing. It’s almost Jan. 1 and I just want something to happen because I want to play this game again.”

Noronen, who has appeared in only 168 minutes of action this season, would have to clear waivers if the Sabres tried to sneak him to Rochester of the AHL, and you can bet he’d be snatched up in a New York minute if that happened. So he continues to wait.

Miller carried the bulk of the action in October before getting hurt, and Biron took over in November and December and didn’t miss a beat as the Sabres rocketed up the Eastern Conference standings.

So Noronen is trying to keep a good attitude, especially because he likes both goalies that are playing ahead of him.

“Yeah, those are good guys, I’m really happy for them right now,” he said. “They’re playing well and I have to be happy for them. But at the same time, I can’t be happy for myself. I’m just hoping something will happen.”

Biron, 28, would have probably welcomed a trade in October, when he sat on the bench and watched the 25-year-old Miller start the first 10 games of the season before finally getting in on Oct. 29 following Miller’s thumb injury.

“The thing is, at the beginning of the season in the first month, it was a totally different situation than it was now,” said Biron, who got the nod for Thursday’s game. “I hadn’t played any games.”

After a rough start, he lost four straight, Biron won 16 of his next 20 games, including winning 13 straight starts. Now, despite all the interest from other GMs, he’s having too much fun to leave.

“Can I be part of this? Definitely,” said Biron. “Do I want to be having a bigger part than I was having earlier this season? Yes. But time will tell what will happen. All I can say is that it’s been good, this team is awesome. This is as much fun as I’ve been having playing with this organization.

“I was here when we went into bankruptcy, I was here when we went 15 games under .500 with nobody in the stands. We saw people doing the wave at a game recently. When’s the last time you saw the wave in Buffalo?”

On other teams, this could be a problem, two No. 1 goalies competing for ice time. But Miller and Biron get along and understand the situation.

Miller was in net for Monday’s 6-3 win over the New York Islanders. Biron got the start Thursday night. Head coach Lindy Ruff hasn’t told either goalie what the plan is going forward.

“He hasn’t mentioned a whole lot,” said Miller. “He’s the kind of guy that goes for feel. We have both stepped up this season and played big games so you just have to be ready when you’re tapped on the shoulder. That’s been my approach pretty much for the last four years. Just be ready to play any time and support the other guy when he’s in there.

“And I think all three of us, Mika included, we have a great relationship. We talk a lot, encourage each other. I think it’s unique. You don’t often find three guys with great personalities who get along.”

Regier has gone on record saying he didn’t think he’d carry all three goalies all season long. A move has to be made at some point. But Miller’s injury changed the landscape for a while.

Now Regier wants to make sure Miller is 100 per cent and rediscovers the same groove and confidence that saw him win six of his first eight starts in October. Since his return, Miller has gone 3-0-0 and allowed only five goals in those games.

“I’m trying to come off it (the injury) but not put too much pressure on myself,” said Miller. “Because Marty has been playing well, the team has been playing well.”

Why is Biron likely the odd man out? Because he’s got more trade value than Noronen, having played in the league longer, and because he’s earning $2.1 million US this season, more than Miller ($501,600) and Noronen ($665,000).

And Miller can’t become an unrestricted free agent until July 2008 at the earliest, while Biron can do so one year earlier.

Biron insists he won’t let it become a distraction. If he ends up in Vancouver, Colorado or Edmonton or anywhere else, he’ll accept it. But for now he’s happy as a clam.

“I’ve always said things that are meant to happen will happen,” said Biron. “I was patient at the beginning of the season and working hard and had good talks with Darcy and Lindy and then I got a chance to play. When you have an opportunity, you have to be able to make the best out of it. If you just pout and get off the ice (in practice) when everybody else is still working, when you get that opportunity it’s going to blow by you.

“That’s what keeps you going, not the trade rumours, not your name being mentioned here and there, it’s the chance to play and win some games. That’s what matters.”