The Sabres played one of their best weeks in recent memory to start the New Year, winning four of five (and earning nine of ten available points), and earning the “w” in every possible way.  Buffalo showed resiliency in a three goal comeback against the Thrashers, defensive prowess when they shut out the Canadiens 1-0 at the Bell Center and explosive offense when the team scored the fastest opening three goals in Sabres’ history and prevailed 5-3.  Thursday against the Toronto Maple Leafs was the Ryan Miller show, as the best goaltender in the league made forty eight saves despite Toronto’s best effort to crash the crease.  Buffalo ended the week at home against the Avalanche, and again displayed their resilience, coming back from a two goal third period deficit, although they could not prevail in an eleven round shootout.

The biggest plus of the week without a doubt has to go to the varied ways in which the team managed to rack up points.  From comebacks to shutouts to blowouts, the Sabres were able to do it all; and extend their lead in the Northeast Division to ten points over the beleaguered Boston Bruins.  They don’t have the complete game of the 05/06 team yet, or the star power of the 06/07 President’s Trophy winning squad, but this current version of the Sabres is finally starting to shed its losing baggage and carve out a niche for itself as a team that just gets the job done.

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