TORONTO — It seemed like a good chance to give Ryan Miller a break. He deserved one.

He had started 20 of the Buffalo Sabres' 23 games, including three in the previous five

nights.

Plus, the Sabres were playing the Toronto Maple Leafs. Buffalo had dropped its last-place

rival six straight times and hadn't lost in Canada's biggest city since March 24, 2007. This

was a prime opportunity to get Patrick Lalime some work.

But once again, Miller skated to his spot in the crease. And once again, he left folks

marveling at the job he did there.

Miller was unquestionably the First Star on Monday in Air Canada Centre, leading the Sabres

to a 3-0 victory. He stopped all 38 shots to post his third shutout of the year and 15th of

his career.

Miller entered the season saying he wanted to join the NHL's elite. With more than

one-quarter of the season gone, he's done more than join them. He's leading them.

"He's making a statement," right wing Jason Pominville said. "He's in the elite of the

league, and he's proving it out there. He's giving us a chance to win every night."

The league's top goalie lowered his goals-against average to 1.84 and upped his save

percentage to .937, both of which lead the NHL. Miller has given up two goals or fewer in 17

of his 21 starts.

The Sabres have won three straight and reclaimed first place in the Northeast Division. It

begs the question: Why start anyone else?

"We've fed off a lot of his saves," coach Lindy Ruff said. "At the same time, the last

three games we've supplied him with 12 goals. If you can average three, four a game, that's

enough for Ryan to win."

Miller was good early, closing the door when the Leafs banged on it with eight of the first

nine shots. He was great in the middle, stopping Toronto's 16 second-period chances. He got

help in the third when Henrik Tallinder and Jochen Hecht scored to blow the game open in front

of 19,110.

Tim Kennedy's second-period goal — his first in 15 games — was the winner. But

Tallinder's tally just 20 seconds into the final period put the Leafs away. There was no way

they were rallying from two down against Miller, even though the goalie was worried they

could.

"I try and stay pretty paranoid," Miller said, "just keep doing the same thing I always do,

just focus on the puck for 60 minutes or 65 or whatever it takes.

"They had some good scrums in front of the net. ... For the most part, we didn't give them

those prime opportunities."

About the only thing Miller did wrong was drill a photographer in the face with a puck.

Even that could be categorized as an amazing feat. He tried clearing the puck off the boards

and it slipped through the small hole made for a camera lens. He gave the shooter his stick at

the conclusion of the game, then retreated to the dressing room in time to see a highlight of

his brother Drew scoring for Detroit.

All in all, it was a good night — especially when he was probably expected to take it

off.

"It's ridiculous," Tallinder said. "It doesn't matter when we break down or how we break

down, he's always there. Right now, he's on top of his game. You can't really say enough about

him."