The night started off as a party with the Sabres raising their banners to the rafters and scoring just 2:56 into the game but the final result was not favorable as the Islanders beat the Sabres 6-4.  The Sabres jumped out early on a goal by Jaroslav Spacek and appeared to be the better team through twenty minutes but the Islanders settled in and controlled play for the final forty minutes.

Mike Comrie showed everyone why the Islanders brought him in as a free agent, beating Ryan Miller twice including the game winner.  It's tough to say whether the Islanders are really that good or if Buffalo took them lightly but for one night they were the better team.  The same two teams will battle tomorrow night on Long Island.

What went right:

• The Sabres jumped out to an early lead

• Jaroslav Spacek on the scoresheet early in the season...actually two points on the night

• The banners were raised to the rafters of HSBC Arena

• The crowd was electric...both inside and outside the arena

What went wrong:

• The penalty killing was awful...to put it mildly

• Ryan Miller allowed six goals in the season opener

• The powerplay failed to convert on three opportunities

• The offensive lines appeared to be out of synch at times

• They lost the damn game

Sabres Goals:

• Jaroslav Spacek 1 (Campbell, Gaustad)

• Derek Roy 1 (Afinogenov)

• Drew Stafford 1 (Paille, Spacek)

• Thomas Vanek 1 (Paetsch, Kalinin)

Game Recaps:
NHL.com