Last July, after Martin Biron became a free agent, he drove his wife, Anne Marie, and three

children from Philadelphia to Buffalo. Biron got off Interstate 90 at the Pembroke exit so he

could take a nice, leisurely drive through the country roads.

"We drove down Main Street and got to our house in Clarence," Biron said Wednesday before

the Islanders lost to the Sabres, 3-0, at HSBC Arena. Biron made 36 saves. "We told each other

it felt like we were coming home."

Biron has never really left Buffalo, not in his heart. Maybe that's why the former Sabres

goalie got that standing ovation here last month. Fans know he's one of them, a Buffalo guy,

an NHL player who came of age here and grew to love the place. So when Biron signed with the

Islanders, he left his wife and kids in Clarence.

Anne Marie, a Buffalo native, is pregnant with their fourth child. The "summer" house will

likely be their permanent home. Biron is fairly certain he will settle here, like so many

people in the extended family of professional hockey.

"We've got a network of friends around here," Biron said, "so it's definitely a very good

possibility. I have liked it here from the day I got drafted. I always said I wanted to be

part of this for a long time. I remember walking through this building when it was being

built. I played a game in the Aud."

Biron spent 12 years with the Sabres, who traded him to the Flyers late in the 2006-07

season. He talked with the Sabres about returning as a free agent last summer. But he signed a

one-year deal with the Isles, hoping to parlay regular playing time into a better free-agent

deal next year.

But Biron, who calls himself a "French-Buffalonian," would love to return here sooner or

later. My vote goes for "sooner."

A month from now, Biron could be part of a three-man goalie rotation on Long Island. Biron

has been splitting the duties with Dwayne Roloson, who is in the first year of a two-year, $5

million contract.

Rick DiPietro, who signed a 15-year, $67.5 million contract three years ago, is practicing

again after missing a year with a knee injury. Isles coach Scott Gordon said DiPietro has been

on the ice every other day. Once DiPietro feels ready, he'll begin working out with the team

in earnest.

Isles coach Scott Gordon wouldn't give a time table, but there's a good chance DiPietro

will return in early December. Something will have to give. Isles General Manager Garth Snow

knew that when he signed Biron in late July, giving him three capable NHL goalies. The Isles

will need to trade a goalie, and Biron is the obvious candidate.

It's equally clear that the Sabres need a more reliable backup goaltender. Ryan Miller

started for the 11th time in 12 games Wednesday night. Coach Lindy Ruff claims to have

confidence in Patrick Lalime, but his actions suggest otherwise.

The Sabres needed Lalime last year when Miller went down with an ankle injury. He played

well at first, but went 1-4-1 with a 4.35 GAA in his last six starts. It's a harsh judgment in

retrospect, but Lalime might have cost the Sabres a playoff spot.

Lalime missed Wednesday's game with a groin injury, which could further complicate the

issue. Lalime had surgery on his hip to repair a sports hernia last spring. Ruff said the

groin injury was unrelated. But as we learned with Dominik Hasek, groin injuries can be a

lingering issue with goalies. In the meantime, Jhonas Enroth is Miller's backup.

Enroth has been slow to develop in the AHL. Ruff said there's a good chance Enroth will

play one of the back-to-back games this weekend if Lalime isn't ready. "We're going to stick

with the program," Ruff said.

Presumably, the "program" calls for Ruff to sit Miller when the Sabres play three times in

four nights, or in other busy stretches. It'll happen soon enough, when the NHL schedule

becomes compacted in the weeks leading to the Olympic break.

Miller has a good chance to be the No. 1 goalie for the U.S., even more reason for Ruff not

to overuse him. But you know Lindy. Hasek spoiled him. Ruff can't resist using his goalie when

he's on a roll. Last Saturday, he deviated from the program, playing Miller a third time in

four nights. He wound up pulling him.

The stakes are higher this year. Ruff might be coaching for his job. The Sabres are off to

a good start, but the coach hates to give away points in the standings. He says he believes in

Lalime, but if the playoff race tightens, he might be even more reluctant to use the backup.

That's why going after Biron makes sense.

The Sabres were serious about it in the summer. That tells you they were uneasy about

Lalime. Biron is a top-level backup. You know what you're getting.

Biron still believes he can be a starter in the NHL. But his options are limited. If he has

to be a backup for a year, he'd just as soon it be in Buffalo. He's making only $1.4 million.

It's not about money, though it'll be worth it if Biron helps the Sabres advance in the

playoffs.

This is a critical year for the Sabres. Why not fix the team's No. 1 weakness and bring

home a beloved Buffalo guy in the bargain?