Audette Is Shadowed by Sabres

Donald Audette had plenty of company Saturday night. He went nowhere on the Marine Midland Arena ice without an escort provided by former teammates.

Audette, who became a King in December, traded by Buffalo because it wouldn’t pay him enough to sign him, was run over by Jason Woolley in the first period, massaged by a couple of Sabres later in the period and, in the second, took on goalie Dominik Hasek.

Before Audette scored the Kings’ only goal, in the second period, he and Hasek had drawn penalties for antisocial behavior.

In this case, it was roughing, when the two exchanged unpleasantries and shoves. Hasek was assessed two extra minutes for unsportsmanlike conduct, in this case falling down on purpose.

“I think that was good acting by Dominik,� Audette said. “It was stupid, because it put me out of there for two minutes. I’m not going to back down, but I’m not useful to my team in the penalty box.�

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The Kings scratched center Olli Jokinen for the second game in a row and moved defenseman Mark Visheau to wing, playing on a line with Ian Laperriere and Matt Johnson. . . . Ray Ferraro drew an assist on Audette’s goal, the second night in a row in which Ferraro had at least one point. . . . Buffalo General Manager Darcy Regier is looking to peddle underachieving winger Matthew Barnaby, perhaps next week, when the league’s GMs gather at Palm Springs.