More photos » David Duprey - AP

5 months ago: Buffalo Sabres goalies Ryan Miller, right, and Patrick Lalime flip pucks into the air during NHL hockey practice in Buffalo, N.Y., Thursday, Oct. 1, 2009. (AP Photo/David Duprey)

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Toronto fired 50 shots in regulation on Ryan Miller yesterday but the Olympian was the story as usual which brings me to the question: are the Sabres getting cocky? A six-game winning streak is hard to complain about but they are starting to mirror those days when Dominik Hasek was peppered with pucks. The desperation of the Maple Leafs was clear and Buffalo stood back handing weak clearing attempts onto the stick of a Toronto player.

Today isn't about the team so much as it is Patrick Lalime who is expected to step in and compete for victory No.200 in his career. Colorado has won the previous two encounters with Buffalo and Craig Anderson will be Lalime's nemesis as Peter Budaj started last night in Carolina.

Ten additional thoughts on the match below.

• The Western Conference's domination over the Eastern sides is well documented this season. Well, the Buffalo Sabres aren't your average team and a 7-0 mark against the West solidifies that statement while Colorado is 7-4-1 in their Eastern battles. Buffalo's overall record is prevailed by San Jose and Chicago as far as that Conference is concerned.
  
• Tyler Myers scored twice and added an assist versus Toronto giving citizens more reason to believe that he's the front-runner for the Calder Trophy. Up to 26 points, he's behind leading scorer John Tavares by just two. Zdeno Chara didn't eclipse 20 points in a campaign until his fifth year as a professional. What a blue liner Myers is going to be.
  
• Buffalo's powerplay is coming off a perfect 3-for-3 conversion which brings them up to a tie for 15th with a few clubs including Colorado. The penalty kill hovers at 85.5 per cent and the Avalanche are 13 places behind in that ranking.
  
• Patrick Kaleta is day-to-day eagerly awaiting his return. On the injured reserves for the Avalanche are Ruslan Salei, Brett Clark, Marek Svatos and David Jones. John-Michael Liles was suffering from flu-like symptoms causing him to miss the Carolina contest.
• The hottest forward for Colorado is by far Chris Stewart who has seven goals in 11 games. With 22 points in as many matches, the 22-year-old is firing on all cylinders even with the struggles of Paul Stastny and Wojtek Wolski.
  
• Maybe it's because he's on the fourth line, however, Clarke MacArthur's constant motion was a plus yesterday unlike others.
• Tim Kennedy's first ever powerplay marker ended an 11-game drought, Tim Connolly had two helpers to stretch his point streak to eight and Myers scored in consecutive games for the first time. Extending or ending sequences; all in a regular day's work with the Maple Leafs as our opponent.
• Brandon Yip is seizing his opportunity immediately. Since being recalled from Lake Erie of the American Hockey League, he's contributed six points in nine contests. If that trend continues, the ice time will grow for the youngster.
  
• I'm sure Cody McCormick would love to play his former squad today but there's no sense for Lindy Ruff to change the lines whatsoever. Would it hurt to give him a shot?
  
• Buffalo has 22 goals in six games. Colorado has eight goals in four games. 

The hockey Gods have been generous to the Buffalo Sabres with bounces and breaks. Colorado has been fortunate as well with Anderson's netminding and balanced offense. With Buffalo's seventh straight victory on the horizon, the Avalanche can possibly take advantage of the arrogance. All good things have to come to an end.