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Bernier buoys Sabres' offensive outburst

Feb 28, 2008 - 4:11 AM BUFFALO, New York (Ticker) -- Steve Bernier wasted little time endearing himself to the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday.

Playing in his first game with his new team, Bernier scored twice in the first period and the Sabres benefited from a four-goal uprising in the second session to skate to an 8-4 victory over the Nashville Predators.

Prior to Tuesday's trade deadline, the Sabres sent two-time All-Star defenseman Brian Campbell to San Jose for Bernier and a 2008 first-round pick to Buffalo. The Sharks also obtained a seventh-round pick this year in the deal.

Daniel Paille, Jason Pominville, Derek Roy, enforcer Andrew Peters, Tim Connolly and Ales Kotalik also scored for Buffalo, which improved to 3-3-1 in its last seven games.

"Goal scoring at that rate is a rarity," Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said. "To have a player (Bernier) step in and have as good a first night, it's almost like a dream come true."

"I came here with no pressure," Bernier said. "They expect me to play a game. It's only one game. It's tough for me to say anything right now. ... I'm just happy right now. The past is done, now I'm sticking with the future."

Captain Jason Arnott had two goals and David Legwand and Jan Hlavac also tallied for Nashville, which began a season-high six-game road trip on a sour note.

"We have to collectively get back to the basics ... if we have to win by one goal, 1-0, that's what we've got to do," Arnott said. "That's what we've got to get back to.

"We're playing a little too much run-and-gun with teams and it's killing us. When we're successful, we play solid defensively and goals just happen from the defensive zone. We've got to get that back in our heads and get ready because it's not going to get any easier in Dallas (on Saturday)."

Paired with Buffalo's top line, Bernier opened the scoring just 4:33 into the game. Thomas Vanek fed Roy off the left boards to trigger a 2-on-1 break. Roy then found Bernier, who beat goaltender Chris Mason to give the Sabres an early lead.

Bernier doubled the advantage with just under six minutes remaining in the session, letting loose a slap shot from the top of the left faceoff circle which beat Mason on the short side.

It was Bernier's fifth career two-goal game and second of the season.

After goaltender Ryan Miller stopped Scott Nichol on a penalty shot just 34 seconds into the second period, Paille scored his 14th of the season just 87 ticks later.

Hlavac, who was acquired from Tampa Bay on Tuesday, answered 36 seconds later to put Nashville on the board.

Defenseman Marek Zidlicky fired a shot from just inside the blue line which hit Miller, causing the netminder to fall to the ice. Jan Hlavac cleaned up the rebound and wristed the puck into the net for his 10th goal of the season.

Miller fell to the ice with blood coming from his nose and was replaced by Jocelyn Thibault - who allowed a pair of goals to Arnott. Miller returned approximately nine minutes later.

"They replaced the cage and jammed something into my nose, which felt good," Miller said. "It's just a little numb. The bleeding stopped and the doctors checked it out. There's no pain, (but it's) sensitive in some parts. I stayed high and the screen moved, just right in the face. I didn't even know they scored. I was down and out."

Peters gave Buffalo a 4-2 lead at 4:13 of the period after accepting a backhanded feed from Patrick Kaleta and scoring his first goal since February 20, 2007.

"To win the game and contribute, it's a big win for us," Peters said. "It's a great feeling."

Pominville and Roy closed out the second-period scoring to give Buffalo a 6-3 lead.

Legwand scored for the first time in eight games to close it to a two-goal game, but Connolly tallied for the first time in 17 contests and Kotalik scored to cap the scoring.

"As a team, we've got to look at each other and face reality," Mason said. "This is not how you win to get in the playoffs in the NHL. You can't just show up and expect to lie down at this point in the year. We've got exactly what we've deserved the last two games."