Memo to HSBC Arena denizens: Patrick Kaleta is one of you, an Angola boy playing for the team

he grew up rooting for. He says the Buffalo Sabres need more from you.

Kaleta had one of his typical rock-em/sock-em nights in the Sabres' 5-3 win over Dallas and

the crowd responded to his bone-crunching hits. After a big fight with Dallas agitator Steve

Ott in the second period, Kaleta waved his arms to exhort the fans and the roar was

thunderous.

It was a vintage Rob Ray-style gesture. The folks loved it.

"Getting the fans into it is going to be a main part of our game," Kaleta said. "When you're

on the ice and you hear them, it gives you that much more energy. When you have them behind

you, it gives you a good atmosphere and the other team kind of tightens up. If we can get

these guys rocking in here, it's going to be a tough place to play."

The Sabres' recent struggles and some low-scoring games have made the arena a noticeably

quieter place than it has been in past years. But there are only six home games left and it's

almost certain there will be a playoff spring in Buffalo for the first time since 2007, so the

fans figure to become a factor.

"We know we've been struggling for the past while but we're playing our game again," Kaleta

said. "If we can have these guys just going nuts, it's going to be difficult for people."

Kaleta, who scored the overtime winner Sunday in New York, was credited with a game-high six

hits Wednesday. One of them drew a retaliatory interference penalty from Stephane Robidas in

the first period. In the second, Kaleta nailed Ott and the Dallas disturber responded with a

challenge Kaleta was up to.

They traded punches and Ott earned the takedown but Kaleta then did a quick reversal and got

some final shots in on top.

"Sometimes there's a time and place to fight and a time when I'm just gonna be a little rat

basically and just try to get him off his game," Kaleta said with a wry smile. "I felt it was

the right time to drop the gloves and I thought I did pretty well."

. . .

Winger Mark Mancari posted a goal and assist for his first NHL multipoint game.

Mancari scored at 7:49 of the first period, pounding home a quick snap shot after a neat

pass from Craig Rivet. His only other NHL goal came Nov. 22, 2008, against the New York

Islanders.

"I was definitely calling [for the puck]," Mancari said. "I knew I was going to pop out and I

was hoping he made the pass and I was hoping he heard me. I'm pretty sure everybody heard me."

Mancari assisted on Thomas Vanek's game-winner midway through the second period, pumping a

perfect pass out to Vanek from behind the net.

"When you play with guys like [Derek] Roy and Vanek, they just know to find the open

spots," Mancari said. "I was just hoping it didn't bounce on me. I knew what I was going to

do."

. . .

The Stars have not won at HSBC since the "No Goal" win that wrapped up the 1999 Stanley Cup

finals. Since then, Buffalo has four wins and a tie here against Dallas.

Buffalo bobsledder Steve Mesler, the Olympic gold medalist, received a standing ovation

from the crowd and players on both benches when he took part in a ceremonial pregame faceoff.