MONTREAL — Something is different for the Buffalo Sabres whenever they get in a one-goal game.

"We're winning them," defenseman Toni Lydman said.

Yup, that's the difference.

The Sabres, who struggled mightily in tight games the past two seasons, have turned into

NHL beasts when games are close. They are 8-1-2 in one-goal contests, including victories in

the past two outings. They edged Chicago, 2-1, on Friday and nipped the New York Rangers, 3-2,

on Saturday.

They'll try to run their overall winning streak to four games tonight when they face the

Montreal Canadiens in Bell Centre.

The Sabres' record in one-goal contests equates to a winning percentage of .727. (Overtime

losses count as losses, not ties in that equation.) That ranks fourth in the league, which had

only four teams above .667 entering Sunday's games. The New Jersey Devils were tops at .786

(11-2-1), followed by Pittsburgh (.750), Los Angeles (.733) and Buffalo.

"There's been a big emphasis on it and the plays you need to make when the games are tight,

the plays you need to make that won't allow the other teams to get the opportunities," Sabres

coach Lindy Ruff said.

The Sabres needed to emphasize their play in close games because it was inadequate the past

two playoff-free seasons. In 2007-08, they went just 14-6-12 in one-goal outings. That winning

percentage of .438 ranked 25th in the 30-team league. Last season, the Sabres finished 16-7-9,

ranking 15th with a .500 winning percentage.

"The difference is we've been ramping up to this system in the last two years, and we're

actually getting better at it," goaltender Ryan Miller said.

It was evident Saturday. The Sabres held the Rangers to 10 shots during the third period,

New York's lowest 20-minute output of the game. The Rangers had a late power play and pulled

their goaltender for the final minute, but the Sabres didn't give them a sniff of the net.

"For the most part, we've been able to make the smarter plays," Ruff said. "You even look

at the last 30 seconds where [Henrik] Tallinder eats the puck in the corner, then it goes to

[Thomas] Vanek and Vanek keeps the puck in the corner, realizing there's just a little time

left and you kill it off and the game's over."

Having the lead in those tight games helps. The Sabres have scored the opening goal in 19

of their 30 games and have trailed entering the final period just 10 times. They have

outscored opponents, 30-23, in the third, their best ratio of any period.

"The last couple years there were often times when we were the ones chasing and we didn't

get it done," Lydman said. "It's way better to be in front."

Of course, having the lead doesn't matter if a team doesn't know what to do with it.

Whether it's maturation or lessons learned, the Sabres have been a smarter, more efficient

group during the final 20 minutes. They are 13-0 when leading after two periods, one of just

seven unbeaten teams in that situation.

They were 27-1-6 when ahead after 40 minutes last season. That may seem like a solid

record, but it's actually awful. They ranked 26th in the NHL with a .794 winning percentage.

They were about the same in 2007-08, ranking 25th at .800 (24-1-5).

"The last couple years, missing the playoffs, you look back at those close games, one-goal

games where it could have gone either way or we could have held on to a lead," right wing Drew

Stafford said. "We're playing a lot better so far in these close games. It starts with Ryan,

obviously, in net and playing well, then the "D' blocking shots and our forwards coming back

and locking down the neutral zone."

Added Lydman: "If your goaltender is your best player, everything else kind of falls into

place after that."

. . . The Sabres will welcome Mike Grier back to the lineup

tonight. The right winger missed four games due to the death of his mother and will be eased

into the game.

"I would think he would be ready in a limited role," Ruff said. "I don't think we could ask

too much out of him after having these five days off."

Grier is likely to play on the fourth line with Matt Ellis and Adam Mair, with Patrick

Kaleta getting more minutes after his two-goal outing Saturday.

"Now that he's our hottest goal scorer, we'll leave him up on one of the top lines," Ruff

said.

With Grier's return, Mark Mancari was sent back to Portland after playing just seven

minutes Saturday. Forward Nathan Gerbe, who missed the game against the Rangers with a sore

groin, was unable to skate Sunday, won't play tonight and could miss Wednesday's visit to

Ottawa.

"I would doubt if he'll be able to play the rest of this trip," Ruff said.