nossagog

Buffalo Sabres
vs.
Atlanta Thrashers
4/1/09

Associated Press
Ryan Miller's return is already paying dividends for the Buffalo Sabres. They hope he can help them avoid suffering a season sweep to the Atlanta Thrashers for the first time when they visit Philips Arena on Wednesday night.

Miller has been solid in consecutive starts since missing 13 games with a left ankle sprain. The goaltender made 32 saves plus six more in the shootout to help Buffalo (37-30-8) to a 4-3 win at Montreal on Saturday. That performance came a night after he stopped 33 shots in a 5-3 win over Toronto.

The Sabres went 4-7-2 without him.

"We need all the positives we can get right now, but we also need to prove we can battle through adversity," Miller said. "During the season, I don't think we handled it as well as we could and now is a good time to figure it out.

"There's still a lot of hockey left to play. It's a race to 82 games, so there are points to be had and we know we're in a battle. We feel we can compete, even if we're down. Those types of games are going to be good for us."

The Sabres have seven regular-season games left and are 10th in the Eastern Conference, chasing the Canadiens and Florida for the eighth and final playoff spot.

Full Game Preview

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Penguins Fan living in Sabreland

nossagog

Needless to say, its critical for the Sabres to win this game against a team that is playoff dead. Both the Panthers and the Canadians won last night, so time is running out. The Sabres almost have to run the table at this point.

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Penguins Fan living in Sabreland

rbochan

Unfortunately, Atlanta's had the Sabres number all season.

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...Rob

The American Dream isn't an SUV and a house in the suburbs;
it's Don't Tread On Me.

nossagog

Wow, a shocking ending to ot for the Sabres. Losing that point(or any point now) is a real blow to them. I'm not sure they have much of a chance at the playoffs now.

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Penguins Fan living in Sabreland