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Sabres Central

Sabres bag Bruins
By Rick Anderson
October 8, 2005
Ryan Miller kicks out a shot by Bruins center Joe Thornton in third period action. Miller made 35 saves in preserving a 4-1 win over Boston
[AP Photo/Don Heupel]

It’s only two games, but the Buffalo Sabres are looking mighty fine these days. This couldn’t come at a better time as Buffalo sports fans are in depression over the state of their beloved Buffalo Bills.

The Sabres continued their fast start by trouncing the Boston Bruins 4-1. The Sabres dominated the second period taking a 2-0 lead with goals by J.P. Dumont and Mike Grier. The other Sabres goal scorers were Maxim Afinogenov and Ales Kotalik.

Ryan Miller played his best game as an NHL goalie in stopping 35 shots, helping the Sabres beat the pesky Bruins 4 -1. Before this game, the Bruins had beaten Buffalo in 5 out of the last 6 games.

Miller was on his way to recording his first NHL shutout when he was beaten by a hard shot by Glen Murray in the final period, but he didn't let that phase him as in the past. Miller has a horrid history of allowing a goal and then melting down. After a couple years in the AHL, Miller is proving that he finally belongs in the NHL. Maybe the Buffalo Bills could learn a thing from watching how the Sabres have handled Miller's career so far. By rushing JP Losman into duty, it could be hindering his career.

Miller has had a stormy career thus far with the Sabres, even to the point of having a tantrum in the locker room after one particularly brutal meltdown in goal a couple years ago. Losman's ego is fragile right now and the Bills would be wise to follow the Sabres path in developing a young star.

Miller may want to brief Losman about the trials and tribulations of breaking into the big leagues.

"I was trying not to think too much," said Miller about the frantic third period. "I just wanted to play hockey, get out there, do my job, be aware of where the puck's at. Not just rely on my defense to make plays."

"It's a lot of fun right now," Miller went on. "It feels good and it's quite a rush. It's definitely something I want to keep going, but I don't want to get too far ahead of myself."

The Sabres rookie Thomas Vanek has yet to score a regular season goal after leading the NHL in the preseason, but he certainly has made his mark setting up two goals in two games. On Wednesday, he fed a perfect pass to Mad Max, who slammed it home. Friday night, he threaded the needle to Dumont.

"The play that Thomas made there was a superstar play," lauded Dumont. "It's the kind of play you don't teach."

Vanek, who turned heads during the preseason, will certainly start lighting the light himself with consistency, is happy just to set up others to score the goals. The day is coming that Vanek will be considered one of the top guns in the NHL and he could give Sidney Crosby a run for his money in the Rookie of the Year award.

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