DON’T GET ME STARTED will always wonder whether Coach Ron Rolston rested Ryan Miller or feared that the goalie would be a target of the New Jersey Devils.

In any event, it was a good move since Jhonas Enroth came in and rewarded his coach with a more-than-solid performance stopping 27 of 29 shots.  Goals by Vanek and Flynn gave Buffalo a 2-0 lead that stood until just over 6 minutes remained in the game when New Jersey managed to get a pair, including the tying goal on the power play with just over a minute left in the game.  The Sabres goals were by Vanek and Flynn, his first NHL goal.

On that tying goal, Enroth was hurt – went to the dressing room and was replaced by Miller who lost in the shoot-out.  The Sabres managed one point instead of two.

As for the goalie change, the Sabres defeated the Devils several days ago in a shoot-out win and Miller made no bones about mocking out Adam Henrique, jawing at him as he skated off the ice.  That game was extremely physical.  So, was it fear or rest?

Consider that in the 22 games Miller has played this season, he has given up 64 goals for a goals against average of 2.83 (27th in the NHL) and his 9 wins are 9th in the league.  In the last 13 games, his record is 6-6-1.

Furthermore, in those 22 games played by Miller, he has given up 4 or more goals in 8 of those games – a reason why his goals against isn’t that great considering that 5 players have a GAA of under 2 with Crawford of Chicago having a 1.49.

Only the late goals by Jersey prevented Enroth from getting a deserved shutout.  Yet, Enroth gave fans something to think about as the season has gone past the half-way mark and makes up for his previous poor outings.  His play served notice that he will be a capable back-up.

After a scoreless first period, New Jersey traveled to the penalty box in the middle stanza.  A minute into the period, Buffalo had a power play but the struggles continued.  Then at 7:16, Anton Volchenko was whistled for tripping and this time that struggling power play got a lift.  40 seconds into the power play, Ennis and Pominville found Thomas Vanek in the high slot who whistled a shot past Hedberg to give Buffalo a 1-0 lead.  It was Vanek’s 13th of the season….but many games had gone by since his 12th goal.  Though he had some assists, this time he scored his team leading 13th.

Midway through the third period, the Sabres upped the lead to 2-0 when Brian Flynn put the puck behind Hedberg during a scramble in front.

At 12:36, Ehrhoff, took a 2 minute holding and the Devils gave the fans something to cheer about as they scored the power play goal.  Putting it into the cage was Henrique at 13:10 to make it a 2-1 game with just over 6 minutes left in the game.

With just over a minute left in the game, Jersey pulled Hedberg and the Devils tied the game when Enroth kicked a shot by Kovalchuk but the rebound came to Patrik Elias who put his 7th of the season into the cage to tie the game at 2-2.  Enroth was hurt and taken to the dressing room with Ryan Miller taking over in net.

With a minute left in overtime, Pominville had a great chance coming in on an odd-man rush but his shot hit the post sending the game into yet another shoot-out.

New Jersey outshot Buffalo 32-23.

In the shoot-out Kovulchuk and Vanek both were stopped.  Clarkson then put it behind Miller, and then Pominville shot it wide.  Elias then came in, made a couple of moves that Miller bit on and Elias put the game winner in the net.

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