The Buffalo Sabres continued their stellar play last Friday and Saturday, winning twice to regain the top spot in the NHL standings. The victories came despite Buffalo's liberal use of call-ups from their AHL affiliate, the Rochester Americans, a measure taken to compensate for a recent rash of injuries that left the team without eight regulars.
On Friday, the team traveled to Montreal and handled the Canadiens by the score of 8-5. Michael Ryan, recalled from Rochester just weeks earlier, scored the first two goals of his NHL career to pace the Sabres. Thomas Vanek contributed two goals of his own, and goalie Ryan Miller recorded 27 saves in the win.
Buffalo returned home the following night to take on the Toronto Maple Leafs, emerging victorious by the count of 3-1. Toni Lydman, Drew Stafford and Nathan Paetsch each scored. The tally by Paetsch, another Rochester call-up, marked the first NHL goal of his young career.
The two weekend wins moved Buffalo back into the top overall spot in the league standings, one point ahead of the Nashville Predators.