The Buffalo Sabres like to score goals on the Atlanta Thrashers as they have now scored 19 goals in four games with their 8-2 victory over the Thrashers on Saturday night. Many of those goals are thanks to the rookies on the team: Nathan Gerbe, Tyler Ennis, and Mark Mancari. Mancari had one goal and two assists which gives him his third straight year with one goal. Nathan Gerbe's goal was an impressive effort that saw him jam away at goaltender Chris Mason six times before the puck went into the net. Tyler Ennis's goal came on a breakaway that saw him falling after a Zach Bogosian thrown stick.
The Sabres are now two points ahead of the ninth place Carolina Hurricanes and still have one game in hand which will get played on Sunday against the Nashville Predators. The Sabres are also two points behind the New York Rangers with one game in hand and with the Rangers in action against the Penguins on Sunday afternoon.
After the jump are some more quick thoughts on the game.
- Ryan Miller looked good after three days rest and allowed two goals on 30 shots. He made some impressive saves on the Thrashers to keep the Sabres in the game when they needed to be in the game. Thrashers starting goaltender Ondrej Pavelec was pulled after the first period after allowing three goals on 11 shots. Chris Mason replaced him and allowed five goals on 17 shots over two periods.
- Rob Niedermayer doubled his goal total this year with two goals, one coming in the first period and the other coming in the third period. Niedermayer now has four goals in seven games after going scoreless in the first 53 games.
- Thomas Vanek hit an unlucky streak in the game, coming really close to scoring twice including a puck that bounced off the post, then Chris Mason, and finally the crossbar before going over the net.
The Sabres face off against the Nashville Predators on Sunday afternoon at 5:00 pm. Here are the highlights if you missed them.