BUFFALO — After failing to score in the team’s first 11 games, Derek Roy didn’t seem to have any weight lifted off his shoulders after his goal proved the game winner in Wednesday’s 3-0 victory over the New York Islanders at HSBC Arena.
But for Roy, a slow start is nothing new. Aside from a four-goal October in 2007-08, Roy has typically struggled to light the lamp early each season. He scored just once in his first month of 2005-06, just twice in 11 October games the following year, and just once in 10 games during the season’s opening month last year.
The centerman started the scoring on the power-play 8:27 into the first period when he snapped a shot from the half-wall that beat former Sabre goalie Martin Biron high on the stick side. Thomas Vanek was screening Biron on the play.
“I just let it go,” said Roy, who entered the game as one of just five players in the league with eight or more assists and no goals. “We moved it around really well (on the power play). Marty made some great saves, but we still got two. We still missed a couple opportunities, too.”
•••
Patrick Kaleta got a bear hug from a former teammate midway through the first period when Biron jumped on him after an altercation in front of the Islanders’ net.
Kaleta had gotten flipped up ice and took a shot at Frans Nielsen as he circled back in front of Biron.
As Kaleta skated away, Biron jumped on his back and the two wrestled for a while.
“That was a stupid play,” Biron said. “He hits our guy into me just to try to hurt somebody and it’s a stupid play, so sometimes you have to act stupid when those things happen. We got the power play out of it and that’s what we wanted.”
Biron got two minutes from roughing, but Kaleta took two for interference and two for roughing.
•••
Tyler Myers limped off the ice in the second period after a Mark Streit shot caught him on the ankle.
Myers laid on the ice in front of the crease with the puck underneath him for a bit, taking a few stabs from Islander forwards. After gingerly leaving, however, he didn’t miss a single shift.
“It was just a stinger and after a couple minutes it settled down,” said Myers, who logged 21 minutes and 23 seconds of ice time, second only to Chris Butler.
Myers has certainly been comfortable in the Sabres lineup, and he’s hoping to get more comfortable when he has family in town this weekend.
“I’m still in a hotel,” the rookie defenseman said. “I’m in there through the end of November. But we’re going to look for a place.”
•••
The Sabres have stayed true to their mantra of throwing as many pucks on the net as possible.
Coming into Wednesday’s action, Buffalo led the NHL with an average of over 35 shots per game. They finished above that average against the Islanders, hitting Biron with a total of 39 shots, just three shy of their season high.
Surprisingly, the team’s only two losses have come when they outshot their opponent. Buffalo is 4-0-0 when getting outshot.
Contact sports editor Tim Schmitt at 282-2311, ext. 2266.
Sabres
SABRES NOTEBOOK: Roy finally lights the lamp
- Sabres
-
-
Miller, Sabres blank the Bruins
With Buffalo Sabres coach Lindy Ruff nursing three broken ribs and watching from the press box, goalie Ryan Miller made 36 saves to earn his second shutout in three games in a 6-0 win over the Boston Bruins on Wednesday night.
-
Ruff stuff
As if the Buffalo Sabres haven't endured enough injuries already this season. Add coach Lindy Ruff to the list.
-
Rangers top Sabres in a shootout
Henrik Lundqvist came out on top in a duel of goalies, stopping 34 shots through overtime and four of five in a shootout in the New York Rangers’ 1-0 win over Ryan Miller and the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday night.
-
Gaustad leads visiting Sabres to 3-1 win over Canadiens
Paul Gaustad had a goal and two assists to lead the Buffalo Sabres to a 3-1 win over the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday night.
-
Chara opens All-Star draft by picking Datsyuk
Daniel Alfredsson stuck close to home — both his native Sweden and his adopted home of Ottawa — in making his selections in the NHL All-Star draft on Thursday night.
-
Sabres snap 12-game road skid
Jason Pominvile and Nathan Gerbe scored in a shootout and Ryan Miller made 27 saves as the Buffalo Sabres snapped a 12-game losing streak on the road with a 2-1 victory over the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday night.
-
Losipeg
Ondrej Pavelec made 25 saves and the Winnipeg Jets beat Buffalo 4-1 on Thursday night, extending the Sabres’ franchise-record road losing streak to 11 games.
-
Blackhawks blow out Sabres, 6-2
Jonathan Toews had two goals, rookies Andrew Shaw and Jimmy Hayes also scored, and the Chicago Blackhawks handed the Buffalo Sabres their 10th straight road loss, 6-2 on Wednesday night.
-
Rough Road
Home ice has never been more of an advantage to the Red Wings than it has over the last 2 1-2 months.
-
Leafs overturned
Jason Pominville scored the go-ahead goal with 5:47 left in the second period, and the Buffalo Sabres held on for a 3-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Friday night.
- More Sabres Headlines
-










