The very Senators who humiliated the Sabres in Ottawa Sunday, came to Buffalo full of confidence that they could easily handle them on foreign ice. However, it was the Sabres who played with passion as they beat the Senators 4-3. The Sens were battling for first overall in the Eastern Conference, the Sabres were just fighting for pride. Pride won out on this night.

The Sabres have gotten back to 8 points behind the New York Islanders for the 8th and final playoff berth in the East. However, their odds are still extremely slim of making the post season. But the team hasn't given up, as their big win over the Sens proves.

"It was important for us because we had two very bad games," said Miroslav Satan, who scored the winning goal. "Nobody wants to participate in those kind of games. We definitely wanted to turn it around and get back on the winning track."

The Sabres came out, scoring first on a Chris Drury goal and took a 2-1 lead after one period when Drury scored his second straight. Drury, who was made captain for the month of March, seemed to get recharged by wearing the "C" on his jersey.

"Us coming down to make-or-break time with the standings, and whether I had the `C' or not, I was hoping to have a good game and it was nice,'' reflected Drury. "As long as we're still in it, we're going to keep fighting and clawing."

Meanwhile, the Sens have always had trouble winning in Buffalo. They ended their season series 1-3-2 against the Sabres, losing 2 and tying one in Buffalo.

"We've always had a tough time against these guys," said Wade Redden about the Sabres rivalry. "We have to realize that it's not going to get any easier for us the rest of the way."

The Senators came back in the second period and took a 3-2 lead. But the Sabres answered with a goal by Maxim Afinogenov, who wowed the small crowd with moves that would have made Gil Perreault proud. He got past the last defender and zeroed in on Patrick Lalime, sneaking a puck between Lalime's right pad and the goal post, tying up the game.

In the later stages of the third stanza, Jochen Hecht and Satan tore down into the Senators zone and Hecht slipped a nice pass to Satan skating in the right circle. Satan's shot hit Redden in the skate and it deflected past a bewildered Lalime with 7:45 remaining.

Sabres Martin Biron, played a solid game, making 31 saves and was particularly stellar in the late going when the Sens were pressing for that tying goal. It was a good sign that one of the goalies finally played a consistent game. Both Biron and Mika Noronen had been shaky in the Sabres 4-game losing streak.

Satan leaving for hotter lands?

There have been rumors flying into the NHL trading deadline that Satan could be heading out. The $4.75 million-a-year sniper got his 25^th goal of the season against the Sens. It not only was the winning goal, but he was also named the game's first star. When he came out on the ice when his first star selection was announced, he gave the crowd a curious waive, as if he were leaving the team.

Satan capped his night with a curious wave to the fans after he was named the game's first star.

"What can I say?" Satan responded about his waive. "Whatever happens, happens. `There might be a chance that it could be my last game. There's a lot of rumors going around and they're probably trying to do something, so whatever."

There had been a posting on the Sabres official web site that Satan had been to the New York Rangers for Alex Kovalev Sunday. Someone on the site must have been preparing for such a trade, but it was quickly removed when the Sabres front office got wind of it.

"I find that bizarre," replied Larry Quinn, the managing partner of the Sabres. "That was never even something we even talked about."

"We've talked about a lot of players, but we've never offered Miro to the Rangers," continued Quinn. "Quite frankly, that's not what they're looking to do anyway. They're looking, from what I understand, for prospects and draft picks and things like that. Why would they be interested in a guy like Miro?"

Satan talked about the shock of hearing about this incident.

"That's what doesn't make sense to me," Satan said. "That's why I don't want to say anything about it. I don't even know what I should say. But it's interesting."

Satan wouldn't rule out a real trade sending him shuffling out of Buffalo.

"I'm hearing things," said Satan "It's part of the business."

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