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Vanek scores shootout clincher as Sabres top Canadiens

Dec 10, 2006 - 3:09 AM MONTREAL (Ticker) -- Buffalo Sabres coach Lindy Ruff's team seems to be more effective following a loss.

Thomas Vanek netted the clincher in the shootout and Jiri Novotny and Derek Roy scored in regulation to lead the Sabres to their fourth win in six games, a 3-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens.

Coming off Thursday's 3-1 setback to Florida, Buffalo has won all seven games after a loss this season and outscored the opposition, 30-16, in those contests.

"That group in there is very determined," Ruff said. "I told them, if they want to live by the motto of not going to lose two (in a row), then we've got a battle. It's a tough league to go out every night and not lose two."

Both teams scored in the first round of the shootout before Vanek fired a slap shot that beat goaltender Cristobal Huet high to the stick side.

"Nothing Thomas does surprises me," Ruff said. "I thought he might have faked it, but I've seen other guys in the league do it. I think the odd time, it catches the goalie off-guard. It was a terrific shot in the right spot."

Sergei Samsonov failed to convert against netminder Ryan Miller on Montreal's final chance, sealing the win for Buffalo.

After scoring in overtime to defeat help Buffalo on November 24, defenseman Sheldon Souray forged a 2-2 tie at 2:52 of the third period with a power-play goal, a wrist shot from the left faceoff circle over Miller's right shoulder.

Miller made 31 saves in raising his record to 15-3-2 for the Sabres, who have won 13 of 16 road games and lead the Eastern Conference with 46 points.

"I think one of my best assets is my ability to skate," Miller said. "I can skate with anyone in the league, at least backwards. I'll make them make their move, make them change their mind and do something they don't want to do."

Buffalo opened the scoring during a 4-on-4 situation at 6:12 of the second period, when Novotny knocked the rebound of Maxim Afinogenov's shot from the slot between Huet's pad for his sixth tally.

The Canadiens tied the contest three minutes later with a power-play tally that almost turned out to be costly.

Souray's shot from the left faceoff circle hit teammate Saku Koivu in the ankle, knocking him to the ice, before Michael Ryder put the rebound past Miller's right pad for his eighth goal.

"Finally, one went in," Ryder said. "I managed to get the rebound and throw it in. ... The way we played, we just came up a little bit short."

Koivu, the Canadiens' captain and leading scorer with 28 points, had to be helped off the ice but returned a short time later.

"I don't think we felt the best tonight," Koivu said. "I think the way we played was very smart defensively. Obviously, we wanted to create more offense, but I think overall, it was a good game."

Roy put the Sabres ahead, 2-1, with 2:15 left in the second period with his fourth goal, a one-timer from the doorstep off a feed from Vanek that found the top left corner of the net.

Huet stopped 31 shots but fell to 11-3-3 for Montreal, which has dropped four of its last six contests.

"I'm happy with the point," Canadiens coach Guy Carboneau said. "We've played three (straight) excellent games. The guys played hard and battled hard. I think those have been our three best games of the season, offensively and defensively."