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Sabres' Miller shuts out Blue Jackets

Dec 4, 2010 - 5:37 AM Buffalo, NY (Sports Network) - Ryan Miller turned away 19 shots to record his first shutout of the season, as the Buffalo Sabres downed the Columbus Blue Jackets, 5-0, at HSBC Arena.

Drew Stafford, back in the lineup after missing the last 11 games with an upper-body injury, scored a goal and set up another for the Sabres.

Thomas Vanek and Tyler Ennis both registered a goal and two assists in Buffalo's first victory over the Blue Jackets since March 29, 2004. Columbus had outscored the Sabres 16-3 in taking the previous four meetings.

"That was one of our better overall efforts this year," Miller said.

Mathieu Garon finished with 32 saves for Columbus, which has dropped four straight on the heels of a five-game winning streak.

"We're in a tough time. We've got to stick together and get out of it," said Columbus captain Rick Nash.

Blue Jackets winger R.J. Umberger saw his career-high and franchise-record points streak come to an end at 10 games.

The Sabres led 2-0 after a first period in which they held a 14-5 shot advantage.

Mike Grier sent a pass to Ennis streaking on a partial breakaway down the left wing. Garon made a diving pokecheck, but the puck sat in the blue paint before Jochen Hecht pushed it across the goal line at the 5:58 mark.

Jason Pominville struck just under nine minutes later, this time on a power play.

Columbus had two goals waved off in the middle frame.

One was ruled to have been tipped in by a high stick and the second because of goaltender interference. On the subsequent power play, Stafford lit the lamp off a nifty backhand pass by Derek Roy at 12:01.

Ennis made it 4-0 with 4:29 remaining in the third period before Vanek's power-play marker capped the scoring inside the final minute.

Game Notes

Miller notched his 18th career shutout...Columbus suffered its first loss in five games against Eastern Conference teams this season...Buffalo center Tim Connolly sat out his fourth straight game with a groin injury...Umberger amassed three goals and 10 assists during his run.