Fast Start is Key...

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A fast start proved to be just what the Sabres needed Wednesday night.

Three goals in 1:48 – the fastest such lead in franchise history – combined with a stellar thirty-six save performance by Ryan Miller for a hard-fought 5-3 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Before many fans had even settled into their seats, rookie defenseman Tyler Myers opened up the scoring just 23 seconds in, on a slapshot from the point.

Jochen Hecht and Clarke MacArthur followed up with two goals just a minute apart to give the Sabres an early 3 goal lead before Tampa Bay had notched even one shot.

The Lightning took their timeout, and goaltender Mike Smith remained in net after allowing three goals on six shots.

The lead didn’t last long, however, as Tampa Bay’s elite rose to the challenge. Martin St. Louis and Victor Hedman scored to make it 3-2 at the end of the first period.

“We’ve got to learn from those mistakes, and today was a good start,” Hecht said. “We came out good and dominated the first ten minutes and got rewarded with goals.”

In their past five games at home, the Sabres had been outshot 54-20 in the first period.

1:19 into the second period, the Sabres increased their lead once again as Drew Stafford notched his tenth goal of the season, on the remnants of a Lecavalier penalty that carried over from the first period.

Tampa Bay came back once again, as Lecavalier scored to close the gap to 4-3.

Just under two minutes later, Jason Pominville notched his eleventh goal of the season. The goal was put under review, as it was debated whether or not Pominville kicked the puck into the net. The lengthy review, which had both fans and coaches growing impatient, eventually ruled it a good goal, and Buffalo took a 5-3 lead into the third period.

The Sabres managed to hold off the Lightning during the third period and secure the win.

“It was nice to see us get pucks back in places where we could battle on them,” Sabres coach Lindy Russ said. “When you get 30-plus shots, it’s a better place for us.”

The Sabres had thirty-five shots and went 1-3 on the power play. In addition, they were perfect on the penalty kill, as Tampa Bay failed to score on their three power play opportunities.

There is now a four-way tie for the team lead in goals: Connolly, Pominville, Vanek and MacArthur all have eleven goals each.

Tyler Myers led the team with 23:57 minutes played, and Paul Gaustad went 12-11 on faceoffs in the game.

Gaustad (61.2%) is now second in the league in faceoff percentage, behind Washington’s David Steckel (62.0%).

The Sabres are now on a five-game winning streak, and hope to make it six when they host Toronto on Friday (7:30 pm) before the Colorado Avalanche come to town on Saturday.

(The old franchise record for the fastest three-goal lead was set in 1980, where the team scored three goals in 2:17. Ruff scored the second goal of that game.)