Ryan Miller posted his second shutout of the
season with 24 saves, and Thomas Vanek picked up a goal and an assist, as the
Buffalo Sabres notched a 3-0 win to defeat the streaking New York Islanders.
Derek Roy pocketed his first goal of the year and Paul Gaustad his third for
Buffalo, which had a four-game win streak snapped Saturday on Long Island in a
5-0 setback to the Isles. It was just the second regulation loss of the season
for the Northeast Division-leading Sabres.
Miller was pulled in Saturday's setback after allowing three goals on 16
shots but recorded his 14th career blanking in a successful encore.
New York had won four in a row to match a season-high win streak from last
year and was aiming for its longest winning stretch since a six-game tear from
February 12-21, 2008.
The Islanders had just one win on the season prior to putting together the
streak.
Former Sabre Martin Biron, who made 38 saves for his 200th career win on
Saturday, was back in net for New York and was beaten three times on 39 shots.
Buffalo scored just six seconds after gaining its first man advantage of the
game, as Roy snapped off a shot from the top of the left circle through a
screen 8:27 into the first.
The Sabres scored again on the power play late in the second for a two-goal
edge. Drew Stafford slipped a backhand pass in front of Biron from the lower
left side, and after a couple whacks at the puck, Vanek swatted it over the
goal line with 2:47 to go in the period.
Miller only had to face 15 shots over the first 40 minutes. New York threw
nine shots at the Buffalo netminder in the third but came away empty, and a
reviewed Gaustad score was upheld with under four minutes to play.
Game Notes
Wednesday's contest marks the third meeting between the Isles and Sabres this
year, as Buffalo kicked off the season series with a 6-3 home win on October
16. The Sabres have taken six of nine overall from New York...The Sabres are
5-1-1 as the host this year and will also welcome Philadelphia on Friday to
complete a brief two-game homestand...New York travels to play New Jersey
Friday, concluding a short two-game road trip...Buffalo was 2-for-5 on the
power play while New York ended 0-for-3...It was Vanek's fifth goal of the
season.
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