The Buffalo Sabres have won their first nine games out of the box and can tie the Nhl description for fastest start with a road win over the Islanders tonight. The Toronto Maple Leafs started '93-94 off by winning ten straight, nine in regulation and one in overtimes. The Sabres to this point have won six in regulation and three shootouts.
The fast start is no fluke. This team is Very good.
Fluke
Eight of Buffalo's nine wins have come against team's that made the playoffs last year. They've beaten the defending Stanley Cup Champion Carolina Hurricanes twice and have beaten three of last year's division winners including the President Cup (best record) winning Detroit Red Wings.
Buffalo is getting it done on both ends having outscored their opposition 46-23 to this point.
On the nasty side, Buffalo is converting 17.4% of its shots on goal and good than 21% of its power plays. Four players have 12 or more points with Lw Chris Drury sharing the league lead with 10 goals. Arguably the Sabre's best player, Daniel Briere is yet to get untracked and has just two goals.
Buffalo goaltending has been superior led by last year's playoff sensation, Ryan Miller. Sabre net minders have stopped 252 of 275 shot for a 91.7 save division and Buffalo opponents have linked on just six of 57 opportunities with a man advantage.
Miller is 7-0 with a stellar 2.49 gaa and is 3-0 on the road with a 1.57 gaa.
The '94 Toronto team was unable to declare their fast pace and in fact were only able to win four right just once more while the year. They at last fulfilled, second in their division to Detroit and were sent packing in the Western seminar semis by Vancouver in just five games.
I personally think we'll see good things from this Buffalo team. They won't go undefeated and are determined to cool down straight through the rigors of a six month Nhl quarterly season but this team is solid from top to lowest and deep. They showed signs in last year's playoff, ultimately running into a white-hot Cam Miller in Carolina. Maybe this is the year they kick the door down and put past disappointments including the ghost of Brett Hull to rest.
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