Last night the Sabres skated to a 2-0 win over the surging Ducks. The first 30 to 40 minutes of this game belonged to the Sabres. However in the 3rd period it was the Ryan Miller show. Miller stoned Perry, Getzlaf, Ryan, and others on numerous occassions. Turning away 20 shots in the 3rd and 43 in total on his way to his 4th shutout this season. You can see some of the saves on NHL.com here...http://video.nhl.com/videocenter/console?intcmpid=nhl-hp-vidchn-highlts.

Sabres goals were scored by Roy and Boyes. Roy has suddenly turned red hot now with 9 points in 8 games. Ville Leino surprisingly went back to the center position to take the spot of Gaustad between Gerbe and Kaleta. Leino was good in his own zone and fit in well with Gerbe and Kaleta. If he plays that game and adds secondary scoring his contract won't be that bad.

Cody Hodgson had a good showing in his Sabres debut. He was a +1 with 4 shots and playing 15 minutes. Hodgson looked dangerous a few times just missing on putting the puck in the back of the net twice. I loved seeing Hodgson in front of the net multiple times battling for pucks. Not afraid of the dirty zone. I think this was the debut that Sabres fans hoped for. He looked to mesh well with Ennis and Stafford. Could be a very dangerous and interesting line to watch for the rest of the season. CoHo also got his first close up look at Ryan Miller. Hodgson summed it up by saying "he's unreal".

The Sabres defense cannot be given their credit for the run they are making. The defense is healthy for the first time pretty much all season. In Feburary Miller sported a 1.91 GAA with a .967 save % and 3 shutouts, two against the top two teams in the East. The defense is a huge factor in this. Miller can now concentrate on the shot and not worry about people in his crease or somone pounding a rebound home back door. Also I have said a few times as Tyler Myers go so go the Sabres. Buffalo has picked up points in their last six games. In those six games Myers is a +8 and even better in those six games not one team has scored when Myers is on the ice during 5 on 5 play.

Tonight the Sabres head to Northern California for a date with the Sharks. This game is big with Vancouver coming up Saturday and Winnipeg Monday. Buffalo needs to get at least 2 of the next 3. I can see Miller playing tonight to push for the W and Enroth going Saturday. I can see Saturday's game as a "give it your best shot" game. With a win tonight and a Jets loss Buffalo will leap over Tampa and Toronto, they will only sit 3 behind Washington. Big game in SJ.

Projected Lineup:

Vanek-Roy-Pominville

Ennis-Hodgson-Stafford

Gerbe-Leino-Kaleta

Ellis-Boyes-Tropp

Ehrhoff-Myers

Regehr-Leopold

Sekera-Weber

Miller

(Enroth)

Prediction: Miller is rolling and the Sabres are gaining steam. I think they go out hard for two points in this game. 3-2/OT Buffalo.