Right off the plane from Portland, all 5-foot-6 of Nathan Gerbe gave the Buffalo Sabres'

moribund offense exactly the spark it needed Wednesday night.

Called up from the AHL in the morning, the bundle of energy got an assist on his first NHL

shift of the season and then scored the first goal of his career in the big leagues to

highlight the Sabres' 3-0 win over the Washington Capitals.

The folks in HSBC Arena erupted when Gerbe made it 2-0 on a power play at 14:42 of the

second period, sneaking out from the corner to the left of the Washington net and pounding the

puck off the leg of Caps goaltender Jose Theodore.

A big fist pump and Gerbe was in the goal column for the first time in 11 career NHL games.

Last year's American Hockey League Rookie of the Year, Gerbe had 20 points in 23 games at

Portland this year but just five goals. He had 10 goal-less games in Buffalo last season.

"It's a huge confidence booster. The weight's off my back," Gerbe admitted. "I can finally

breathe a little bit. I always hold myself to a pretty high standard. This is what I want to

do every night ... play hard and stay here. It's great to get the first goal out of the way.

Now you know you can score in this league."

The Sabres had worked on just such a play at the morning skate.

"All we were looking for was a bounce to go to the slot or to the weak side [defenseman]

coming in," explained coach Lindy Ruff with a wry grin. "He didn't follow instructions. He put

it in."

Gerbe played on a line with Derek Roy and Drew Stafford, and Stafford made sure to secure

the historic first-goal puck. Gerbe's first NHL point last season was an assist on a Stafford

goal. As Gerbe was meeting the media at his corner locker, Stafford was chirping "linemates,

linemates" from an adjacent stall.

"That's Drew. Forever in history, he'll be in my mind," said a smiling Gerbe. "He gets a lot

of credit."

Gerbe's first shift produced some good forechecking in the corner and a screen in front of

Theodore that allowed Steve Montador's laser to give Buffalo the lead for keeps at 4:06 of the

first period.

"I had so much energy I think I was just trying to run around and create," Gerbe said.

Deadpanned Montador: "A huge body to block. Goalies can't see around him. That's how I

scored."

"He's a little sparkplug. He really skates," Montador said, turning serious with his

analysis. "It was his first game and you can always tell when somebody has a little extra

life. That was important."

. . .

Montador bounced back from his worst game as a Sabre on Monday against New Jersey, when he

earned just two shifts in the third period.

"I hit a couple speed bumps on Monday and I was happy to rebound," Montador said. "I really

focused the last couple days. It's just a game of ups and downs."

. . .

Andrej Sekera (bruised ankle) left practice early Tuesday but was able to play in the game.

Nathan Paetsch was a healthy scratch on defense. Mike Grier (family illness) remains out. ...

Wednesday's game was the first time all season the Caps have not led at any point and only the

third time they've trailed after one period.