Sabres' Afinogenov hasn't been sharp

He's on edge with Buffalo struggling

BUFFALO - There no doubt is a place for Maxim Afinogenov in the NHL, and maybe it's with the Sabres, the team with which he made his NHL debut in 1999. He is fast. He can be mesmerizing with the puck. At his best, he is among the game's most thrilling, entertaining attackers, fast on his skates and devilishly clever with his stick.

But when he's not producing (sound familiar, Sergei Samsonov fans?), he can be the focal point of the club's frustration. The Sabres were winless in their last five games leading up to last night's game, and Afinogenov had only one goal to show for his 2008-09 résumé. In his last 33 games, including the end of last season, he has had only two goals. Welcome to the epicenter of western New York frustration, wearing No. 61 in Sabre blue.

Sabres coach Lindy Ruff, following the club's morning workout, noted Afinogenov's dip in production. When the puck dropped last night, no fewer than a dozen scouts, representing more than one-third of NHL's 30 clubs, watched from the press box.

What does it mean? Perhaps nothing. Afinogenov was in the lineup against the Bruins, making his return after being told to sit out the last two games. He did not factor in last night's scoresheet, landing three shots in 15:08 of ice time and finishing a minus-1, one of only three Sabres to finish in minus territory. He will be an unrestricted free agent July 1, at which point he can sign with any other club, leaving the Sabres with nothing in return. The Sabres lived that walkaway nightmare with talented forwards Chris Drury and Daniel Briere, and general manager Darcy Regier isn't likely to live through that kind of scenario again.

Guidolin, 82, dies

Former Bruins coach Armand "Bep" Guidolin died in a Barrie, Ont., hospital Monday. He was 82. Obituary B13.

Guidolin, who coached the Bruins from 1972 to 1974, in November 1942 became the NHL's youngest player ever, suiting up at 16 years 11 months. He played nine seasons with the Bruins, Red Wings, and Blackhawks.

"The entire Bruins family is deeply saddened by the passing of Bep Guidolin," said the club's executive vice president, Charlie Jacobs. "Bep contributed to the rich Bruins history both as a player and a coach. Everyone in the Bruins organization will be keeping the Guidolin family in their thoughts during this difficult time."

Guidolin succeeded Tom Johnson behind the Boston bench. His death came almost one year after Johnson died of a heart attack at his home in Falmouth.

Guidolin also coached in the WHA with the Edmonton Oilers, for whom he was also the general manager.

Body work

Milan Lucic, who last week became the league's top-hitting forward, added nine more bodyslams to his total. Patrick Kaleta pitched in with eight for the Sabres . . . Prior to scoring his second goal in the first period, Derek Roy looked to have another when it appeared Tim Thomas snared his shot behind the goal line. A two-minute review of videotape had referee Kerry Fraser ruling it no goal. "My arm definitely was over the line," said Thomas. "But I think my glove was in front of the line. Then there is the netting in the glove, and how much it stretches . . . I don't know, it was a close one. Remember, it has to be totally over the line." . . . Michael Ryder finished with only one shot and was a minus-2. The ex-Hab stands only 3-8 -11 after 22 games, with only one goal in his last 12 games . . . Ever since posting his Nov. 6 hat trick, rookie Blake Wheeler has gone 0-1 -1 in the last nine games . . . The Bruins will skate at 11 a.m. today on Causeway Street. Look for Manny Fernandez to get the nod in net for tomorrow's noon matinee vs. the Islanders, and for Thomas to face the Red Wings Saturday night. According to team spokesman Matt Chmura, both games will be sellouts. Average attendance at that point will be north of 16,000.

Resting up

Forward P.J. Axelsson and defenseman Shane Hnidy took advantage of the morning optional workout and chose to remain sans sweaters and skates. Both were in uniform when the puck dropped last night. Not on the trip: Marco Sturm, who will miss his fourth straight game because of a lower-body injury; and Andrew Ference, expected to be out through December following surgery for a fractured right tibia. Bruins coach Claude Julien left the morning on-ice chores to his three assistant coaches, and joined GM Peter Chiarelli to watch the workout.

Necessary changes

The Sabres were given the day off Tuesday, a slight deviation from their standard work schedule. "Trying to shake up our rhythm and routine," said Ruff. "We're trying to get out of a funk." In their five-game winless skid, the Sabres were outscored, 25-9. Over their last seven games (1-6-0), they were a measly 3 for 27 on the power play. The recent dip is in sharp contrast to Buffalo's start in October (6-0-2). "I'm trying everything I can," said Ruff, who tried natural center Paul Gaustad at a wing position, at least for a few shifts. "That will allow him to get in faster on the forecheck."

Aud and end

The old Aud, the Sabres home from the inception of the franchise in 1970-71, is in the early stages of demolition. The outer "skin" has been removed, affording an eerie look into its structural bones. Asbestos has been removed. Just yesterday, a new demolition company took charge of the project. The contractor enlisted for the project bowed out because of a recent rollback in the value of scrap metal.

Kevin Paul Dupont can be reached at dupont@globe.com.