BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The Buffalo Sabres have narrowed their general manager search to four candidates, including Bruins assistant GM Jim Benning and Senators assistant GM Tim Murray, a person familiar with the process told The Associated Press on Tuesday. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the Sabres have not revealed their list of candidates to succeed Darcy Regier, who was fired in November. The search is led by newly hired team president Pat LaFontaine. The finalists are still being interviewed, and no timetable has yet been set for when the position will be filled, the person said. The two other finalists were not revealed. Candidates linked to the job include Pittsburgh Penguins assistant GM Jason Botterill and Toronto Maple Leafs assistant GM Claude Loiselle. Benning, a former NHL defenceman, spent 12 seasons as a Sabres scout, including eight as the teams director of amateur scouting before being hired by the Bruins in 2006. In Buffalo, Benning had a hand in the Sabres drafting the core of the team that lost the Eastern Conference finals in 2006 and 07. It was a group that included goalie Ryan Miller, forwards Thomas Vanek and Jason Pominville and defenceman Brian Campbell. Murray is in his seventh season as the Senators assistant general manager. He began his NHL scouting career with Detroit in 1993, and is the nephew of Senators general manager Bryan Murray. Murray has also spent time as a scout with Florida, Anaheim and the New York Rangers. LaFontaine has been patient in conducting his search since taking over after the Sabres fired both Regier and coach Ron Rolston. The purge happened after the Sabres got off to a franchise-worst start and stuck at the bottom of the NHL standings with a 4-15-1 record. LaFontaine was initially offered the GMs post by Sabres owner Terry Pegula, but instead turned it down because he felt he didnt have enough experience. LaFontaines first move was bringing back former Sabres coach Ted Nolan to serve as interim coach with the chance to retain the job once a new general manager is in place. Under Nolan, the Sabres (12-26-4) have gone 8-11-3 and have won five straight at home entering their home game against Carolina on Tuesday night. Though still last in the standings, the Sabres general managers job is considered attractive because the team has stockpiled high draft picks as part of a youth movement that began under Regier last season. The Sabres could have as many as two first-round and three second-round selections in this years draft. The Sabres also have a solid group of prospects in their farm system. They include defencemen Rasmus Ristolainen and Nikita Zadorov, who were both drafted in the first round in June. The next Sabres general managers most immediate priority will be determining whether to re-sign Miller, who is in the final year of his contract. Adam Thielen Jersey . "Last year we were in a ton of situations, late-game situations we couldnt pull out. Wed kind of fold under the pressure, get frustrated or let a big shot frustrate us," guard DeMar DeRozan said. Adam Thielen Youth Jersey . No, the San Antonio star didnt announce retirement plans during an off day at the NBA Finals on Wednesday. http://www.authenticvikingspro.com/Cris-carter-vikings-jersey/ . -- Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Sidney Rice tweeted an apparent goodbye after a report about his pending release. Chuck Foreman Vikings Jersey . These teams will see plenty of each other in the next few weeks as three of the Canucks next nine games are against the Wild (after today they meet February 9th in Minnesota and again February 16th at Rogers Arena). Kirk Cousins Youth Jersey .Mack, a reserve guard who came in averaging 3.8 points, made all six of his 3-pointers as the Hawks went 16 for 28 from behind the arc.Trailing 50-38 midway through the second quarter, Atlanta outscored Cleveland 89-48 the rest of the way and sent the Cavaliers to their largest loss of the season.PITTSBURGH -- Wandy Rodriguez has been shut down for the remainder of the season by the Pittsburgh Pirates because of continuing pain in the left-handers pitching arm. Rodriguez has been on the disabled list since June 6 with stiffness in his left forearm, though he was also found to have arthritis in his elbow when examined by orthoopedist James Andrews last month.dddddddddddd. The Pirates made the move Saturday. Rodriguez made 12 starts for the Pirates this season, going 6-4 with a 3.59 ERA. The 34-year-old Rodriguez can become a free agent at the end of the season but also holds a $14 million player option in his contract to return in 2014. ' ' '