EDMONTON, Alberta — Nathan Paetsch knows Buffalo Sabres fans are on edge. Why wouldn't they

be? Defensemen in the organization are dropping like snowflakes, with injuries running from

their heads to their ankles. The sixth blue-liner in uniform Tuesday had never played as a

defenseman in the NHL before.

But while the fans were wringing their hands, Paetsch and the remaining defensemen were keying

a ridiculous Sabres victory.

The blue-liners combined for five points as Buffalo skated out of the All-Star break with a

10-2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers. The Sabres have won four of the last five games and

eight of 11 this calendar year.

The 10 goals were the most the Sabres have scored this season. It was their biggest offensive

output on the road since a 10-4 victory in Boston on March 8, 1990. The 10 goals allowed by

Edmonton tied the team record at home, set in 1981.

"Everything went right for us," Paetsch said.

This one was over before fans in the sellout crowd in Rexall Place took their touques off.

Drew Stafford scored just 10 seconds in, Paetsch doubled the lead with just 1:11 gone, and

traffic on Wayne Gretzky Drive was light following the conclusion as most of the 16,839 had

long since departed.

"When you're the home team and you get an early one scored against you, you've got to pick

yourself up right away," Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said. "Even worse than that is we got the

second one quick, too, and that digs an even bigger hole. It takes the fans right out of the

game."

The doubts about the blue line's ability to handle its adversity were well-founded. After all,

three of the top six are out (Henrik Tallinder, Andrej Sekera and Teppo Numminen), as is the

top minor-league prospect (Mike Weber). Paetsch joined the corps after being scratched in 35

of the first 46 games. Marc-Andre Gragnani came up from Portland to play his third NHL game

Tuesday, and the two he played last season were at forward.

None of that mattered. The defense contributed more than enough offense to outweigh the injury

woes. Jaroslav Spacek had a goal and an assist, and Craig Rivet added two helpers.

"You look around the league, and there's a lot of teams that have a lot of injuries," Paetsch

said. "You have to battle through that, and that's how you make the playoffs."

Of course, it helps when the offense scores at will. Stafford finished with three goals for

his second career hat trick, and his uncle couldn't help but smirk.

Barrie Stafford has been the Oilers' head equipment manager for 26 years, and a television

shot of him on the bench showed a sly grin following one of Drew Stafford's tallies.

The portion of the crowd that stuck around for Stafford's third goal, with 7:20 remaining,

showered him with applause.

"This is like the cutest story of the year," Stafford said incredulously. "How funny is that?

What a joke."

Stafford was far from the only player making an impact. Twelve Sabres made the score sheet.

Tim Connolly had two goals and an assist. Thomas Vanek and Derek Roy each had a goal and two

assists.

The quick start sent former Sabres goaltender Dwayne Roloson to the Edmonton bench just eight

minutes in. It also sent people scrambling for the team record book.

The two-goal explosion by Stafford and Paetsch was the second-fastest in team history. Rick

Martin holds the franchise record when he scored two goals in the first 49 seconds versus

Minnesota on Dec. 18, 1975.

Stafford's goal was the fastest from the start since Vladimir Tsyplakov scored 10 seconds into

a game at Montreal on Nov. 25, 2000.