The Buffalo Sabres' tough-to-crack penalty killing unit had some rare moments of despair

Thursday in Carolina, giving up a pair of first-period goals that killed the momentum of an

early 2-0 lead.

The PK squad regained its swagger Saturday. It escaped three straight power plays in the

second period and the Sabres used the momentum to create two goals en route to their 3-1 win

over San Jose.

The Sharks' power play came into the game third in the NHL (22.5 percent) and was second on

the road (28.2), but went 0 for 4 against the Sabres for the second time this year. Buffalo

moved back into the overall NHL lead on the PK at 86.5 percent and improved its league-leading

home rate to 91.6 — just nine goals in 108 chances.

"We've had a good read on them in the pregame scout and it's not just them we're doing a

good job against," noted winger Jochen Hecht. "A lot of teams have problems against us and

that's why we're at the top in the league. We're patient, guys do their jobs and they get

rewarded."

"That was great beacuse we should have been a little more disciplined," said defenseman

Toni Lydman. "We took a couple penalties we shouldn't have taken and to come up big on the PK

was huge."

Matt Ellis' high-sticking penalty, a slash by Thomas Vanek and a trip by Adam Mair were all

killed by the Sabres in the second period. Ten seconds after Vanek's penalty, he burst down

the ice and scored Buffalo's second goal on a Hecht feed. A minute after the Mair penalty,

Jason Pominville scored the Sabres' third goal.

"It was a big, big part of the game tonight," Hecht said. "They had good chances with three

power plays in a row and we held them [to four shots]. They have one of the best power plays

in the league with a lot of skill and we came up with good kills at crucial times."

. . .

Coach Lindy Ruff and fellow Olympians Ryan Miller, Andrej Sekera, Jochen Hecht, Toni Lydman

and Henrik Tallinder take off today for Vancouver. They were honored in a pregame ceremony as

they were presented their Olympic jerseys by children wearing the corresponding Sabres

sweater.

"There's some anxiety obviously. I'm looking forward to it but it's going to be an

eye-opening experience," Ruff said. "I'm humbled to be a part of it. And even the little piece

before the game tonight, you get the feeling about how if you get a chance to represent your

country — coming from a little farm town in Western Canada (Warburg, Alberta) —

and to share that with my parents and some family is really going to be special. Stressful but

special."

Ruff said he'll be sharing special teams work and doing changes for Team Canada's defense

under head coach Mike Babcock of Detroit. He said he was appreciative of the HSBC Arena

crowd's sendoff for Miller with a "U-S-A, U-S-A" chant in the final minute.

"That was great for him," Ruff said. "That pushes him off in a real good mood, on the right

track."

"I appreciate that they're behind me," Miller said. "I'm looking forward to the tournament

and to try to have as much fun as possible. That includes winning some hockey games."

. . .

The Sabres enter the Olympic break 33-18-9 for 75 points. They retook first place in the

Northeast Division and third in the Eastern Conference from Ottawa, a 4-1 loser at Detroit.

The Senators have 74 points and play their final pre-Olympic game today at the New York

Islanders.

New Jersey suffered a 5-2 loss to Carolina Saturday and finishes the pre-Olympic portion

with 77 points. Pittsburgh has 75 and can draw even with the Devils with a win today against

Nashville.

The Sabres will resume play March 2 at Pittsburgh with three games in hand over Ottawa, two

over the Penguins and one over New Jersey.