WASHINGTON — The rumblings are building big-time. It's the same old Sabres. They started well, tailed off and are back in the pack. It's a familiar scenario in Buffalo.

Darcy Regier sees a different team from the previous two editions. During training camp, the Sabres' general manager noticed a change in the players, believed that they formed a playoff squad. Even with the team's four-game winless streak, Regier still believes in the Sabres.

There's only one way for the Sabres to make others believe in them as much as Regier does.

"In the end," Regier said Thursday, "you have to win games."

The Sabres get their next chance in a rare matinee. They visit the Philadelphia Flyers at 1 p.m. today and are bringing an 0-3-1 slide with them into Wachovia Center.

The slump is part of a longer drought. Buffalo is 4-6-1 in the last 11 games after an 8-1-1 start. They hit the quarter pole of the season 17th in the NHL, though most teams have played more games. The Sabres are eighth in the Eastern Conference, eight points away from first and nine points from last.

"There are going to be ups and downs through the season," Regier said in D.C. before leaving for Philadelphia. "It's tight, and it's going to remain tight. It's what we'll deal with."

Regier, like any observer, sees a Sabres team that is struggling to score. They are averaging just 1.9 goals in the past 11 games. It's not enough, even if goaltender Ryan Miller is among the best in the league.

"I think defensively we've been good, and it's a good place to start," Regier said. "If you can't play defensively, you're in a lot of trouble.

"The other side of it is we'd like to generate more offense. You can look at individual players and say, "Well, they normally don't miss in those situations.' Right now they're missing. I think there is some pressing.

"The good part is, we know offensively that we've got players that can produce at a higher rate than they're producing. We just have to stay with it, not press, and it will come."

The offensive woes start at the top. Tim Connolly has scored in just one of the last 16 games. Thomas Vanek has three goals in the last 14. Jason Pominville has two in 12. Clarke MacArthur has one in 12. Derek Roy has one in seven.

"I don't think it's realistic to think that they're not going to produce," Regier said.

Miller, in the top two of most goaltending categories all season, has been the Sabres' best player. Thanks to a light schedule, he's been able to start 18 of Buffalo's 21 games. That's about to change. Starting today, the Sabres play 18 games in 33 days. Sabres backups are 0-3 so far, and Patrick Lalime is certain to see the net more. Regier is OK with his backup situation.

"I think we'll be fine there," Regier said. "Ryan's going to carry the bulk of the load.

"The backup position is a tough position because you're not playing very often," Regier said. "I think Patty will be fine."