ATLANTA — One of these days, the Buffalo Sabres' trend of slow starts might

disappear. Maybe if it does, their slump will, too.

The Sabres fell into a 3-1 hole to Atlanta after just 5:40 on Tuesday and lost, 4-3,

despite rallying for a tie in the third period. The Sabres are winless in their past three

games (0-2-1) and have won just four times in the last 15 (4-8-3).

"The start wasn't very good," coach Lindy Ruff said. "There's no doubt. That's kind of an

obvious statement. If you're going to start games like that, you're going to make it really

difficult to win games."

The Sabres have been lethargic out of the dressing room for much of the season, including

Saturday's 3-2 overtime loss to Detroit. Buffalo has been outscored, 57-49, during first

periods, the only 20-minute span in which opponents have the edge.

"It's one of those things right now where it's become an issue," center Matt Ellis said.

"It was an issue tonight. It was an issue the other night in Detroit. You take those 10

minutes off the game, it's a different hockey game. But at the same point it's a 60-minute

game, not a 50-minute game."

The fans in Atlanta, continuing a nationwide trend, loudly applauded the announcement of

goaltender Ryan Miller's name prior to the game. Once the puck dropped, they got to watch the

Sabres' Olympian for only 5:40.

The Thrashers scored three times on their first five shots, and Miller was summoned to the

bench.

He was far from his best, but the Sabres hardly resembled a Stanley Cup contender in front

of him. The Thrashers beat them to loose pucks, created odd-man rushes and found themselves

with point-blank chances.

"It wasn't the prettiest first five, but it's kind of my job to settle things down," Miller

said.

Atlanta opened its scoring barrage just 33 seconds after the opening faceoff. Niclas

Bergfors knocked defenseman Andrej Sekera off the puck behind the Buffalo net, and Maxim

Afinogenov pushed the puck to Nik Antropov in front.

"There wasn't one of our bodies that wanted to be physical," Ruff said. "We didn't touch a

soul. We had five guys around the play, but nobody touched anybody."

Former Sabres forward Clarke MacArthur helped Atlanta double its lead with 4:38 off the

clock. MacArthur dropped a pass to Rich Peverley, who immediately found Bryan Little alone

across the ice. The forward skated unobstructed at Miller.

Just 18 seconds later, a bad-angle power-play goal by Jason Pominville brought life to the

Sabres' backers in the sparse Philips Arena crowd of 12,540. The celebration was short-lived.

Miller went behind the net to get a loose puck and left it for Henrik Tallinder, who peeled

away. Two quick passes later, Afinogenov had his 22nd goal and Miller was shrugging.

"We gave them every goal," Tallinder said.

Patrick Lalime closed the floodgates, stopping the eight shots he faced during the rest of

the period, all six in the second and 20 of 21 overall. It allowed Buffalo to tie the game.

Ellis stretched his stick as far as he could reach, redirecting Tim Kennedy's shot past

Hedberg early in the second. Kennedy tied the game with 12:58 left, redirecting Steve

Montador's poor-angle attempt.

Jim Slater, who earlier broke Tyler Myers' nose by steamrolling the defenseman, snapped the

tie with 6:44 to play by beating Myers to the right place: the top of the crease. A Lalime

save bounced to the front and caromed off the glove of a hard-charging Slater.

Penalties by Craig Rivet and Adam Mair thwarted another comeback, and the Sabres were

trudging off to Tampa Bay for Thursday's game against the Lightning.