Sabres demolish top D’s in league back to backs

There is no game where you’re looking forward to playing against Dion Phaneuf or Chris Pronger.

This back to back series against arguably the best blueline in the Western Conference – and indisputably the best in the East – challenged the Sabres to prove that their record is for real, and they answered the bell.

Buffalo outskated – and more impressively – outhit the Calgary Flames, carried to a shootout victory by Ryan Miller’s spectacular play, a surprising Henrik Tallinder’s great defensive play, and the goalscoring of Derek Roy. Roy notched two goals, one in regulation and one in the shootout, help carry Buffalo to a win. Jason Pominville scored the shootout winner, and Ryan Miller stopped Rene Bourque to clinch the victory after allowing a soft goal by Olli Jokinen.

Beating the Flames was impressive enough. They came into HSBC hot, with a goaltender performing as phenomenally as Miller and a defense among the best in the league. But they were outplayed by the Sabres on every level, showing just how good this year’s team is.

The more impressive feat was the win against Philadelphia last night.

Despite playing the second of back to back games on the road – with the same goaltender starting both – and with Drew Stafford out with a hip flexor injury – the Sabres came out of the gate matching a rested Flyer squad in physicality and speed, netting three goals (including the first of AHL call-up and 1st round draft pick Tyler Ennis) and denying multiple scoring chances to grind out a 3-2 victory over the Flyers.

The Sabres netted goals from Vanek, the aforementioned NHL first for Ennis, and a deflection by Gaustad off of a Myers point shot.

With 17 games played, Buffalo has a comfortable 5 point lead in the Northeast division, despite being tied for the 2nd fewest games played in the Eastern Conference. They also are tied with New Jersey for the lowest goals against in the NHL.

The Sabres have a relatively easy schedule next week, facing Florida at home on Wednesday and Boston on Friday before heading to Ottawa to take on the Senators.

We’ll see whether their play continues.

- C.

p.s. My apologies for the breakdown of the live game feed during the Calgary game — technical issues (i.e. my computer is terrible) prevented me from continuing. I’ll have a live one running for Saturday’s road game against Ottawa.