DETROIT — The Buffalo Sabres' regular-season opener is still two weeks away, but it's already Miller time.

In his preseason debut, Sabres goalie Ryan Miller made 16 of his 42 saves in the third period as Buffalo rallied for a 3-1 triumph over the Detroit Red Wings at Joe Louis Arena on Saturday night.

Derek Roy, Thomas Vanek and Paul Gaustad scored third-period goals for Buffalo, which rebounded from Thursday's overtime loss to the Washington Capitals.

Roy and Vanek scored 2:21 apart against Detroit starter Jimmy Howard (17 saves). Gaustad scored into an empty net with six seconds left after the Red Wings came close to tying things.

Miller prevented that from happening, making five stops in the final 61 seconds — including three on Johan Franzen. He also stopped Brian Rafalski and Nicklas Lidstrom.

"You want to start as early as you can to come together as a team," Miller said. "We're going to have to be a team that gets through these tight games and finds ways to battle through and not get frustrated. I think [Saturday night] was an example of just wanting to accomplish something out there."

Franzen scored for Detroit in the second period off an assist by Pavel Datsyuk.

That was all last year's Western Conference champions could muster against Miller, a native of East Lansing, Mich.

"For me, I just try to do my job," Miller said. "[Saturday] it was more about me getting through a whole game mentally, competing battling and doing some of the things that make me a good goalie."

Roy tied it on the power play at 9:05 off assists by Craig Rivet and Jason Pominville. Vanek netted the game-winner by redirecting Chris Butler's point shot over Howard.

The Sabres used a more experienced lineup against Detroit as veterans dressing for this one included Tim Connolly, Toni Lydman and Mike Grier.

Sanborn native Thomas McCollum, the Red Wings' first-round pick in 2008, served as Howard's backup. McCollum stopped 10 of 11 shots in relief of veteran Chris Osgood on Friday night during the Red Wings' 4-3 comeback win over the New York Rangers.

The Sabres visit Washington on Monday night.