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Sabres aim for first three-game win streak in clash with Avs

Jan 4, 2011 - 4:16 PM (Sports Network) - The Buffalo Sabres will try for their first three-game winning streak of the season tonight, when they host the struggling Colorado Avalanche at the Pepsi Center.

Buffalo, which is 12th in the Eastern Conference with 36 points, has suffered through a disappointing season so far and, with recent wins against Edmonton and Boston, the Sabres recorded consecutive victories for just the fourth time this year. Buffalo last won three in a row from March 27-31 of last season.

The Sabres posted a 4-2 victory in Edmonton last Tuesday and followed with a wild win Saturday against the visiting Boston Bruins. Tyler Ennis netted the winning goal in the shootout and Drew Stafford notched his second hat trick against Boston this season, as Buffalo outlasted the Bruins, 7-6, at HSBC Arena.

Stafford's goal with 27.8 seconds left in regulation was the equalizer and accounted for his fourth career hat trick and second of the season. He also had three goals in a 3-2 home win over the Bruins on December 15.

"That was an unbelievable game how it went back and forth," Stafford said. "I'm just getting good breaks, going to the net and getting some pretty good shots off. I'll take it."

Jason Pominville added a pair of goals and two assists for the Sabres. Thomas Vanek added a goal and a helper, while Ryan Miller overcame a shaky first period and stopped 34 shots in all.

Buffalo is kicking off a three-game road trip tonight and will also make stops in San Jose and Phoenix. The Sabres had lost four in a row on the road prior to last week's win in Edmonton and Buffalo is just 7-8-3 as the visiting team on the season.

While the Sabres are shooting for their longest win streak of the year tonight, the Avalanche will try once again to regain the form they displayed during a six-game winning streak in mid-December.

Colorado had its longest win streak of the season snapped with a 5-0 defeat against Los Angeles on Dec. 21, beginning a 1-4-1 stretch for the Avalanche. The swoon has helped drop the Avs 10 points behind Vancouver for first place in the Northwest Division.

The Avalanche lost Sunday against the visiting Canucks, dropping a 2-1 regulation decision to their rivals from the north. Roberto Luongo stopped 31 shots to help goals by Alexandre Bolduc and Mason Raymond stand up for the close win.

Paul Stastny lit the lamp in the third period for Colorado, while Craig Anderson made 27 saves in defeat.

"I think every time we play these guys it's always just a matter of inches," Stastny said.

Colorado has lost two in a row overall and four straight as the home team. The Avs, who are 10-7-2 as the host this season, are playing the second test of a five-game homestand tonight. The Avs will play 10 out of 12 games on home ice in January.

Tonight marks the lone meeting this year between the Sabres and Avs. Colorado posted a shootout victory last season in Buffalo and has won three straight and five of eight overall in this series. The Sabres have won five of the last seven encounters in Denver, however.