MONTREAL — Lindy Ruff made it clear he isn't going to play favorites once the postseason

starts. He also says he isn't going to play guys who are struggling.

"Our goal is to try to be a championship team," the Buffalo Sabres coach said. "When it comes

right down to it, we're going to put what we feel is the best players on the ice that give us

the best chance to win in a game.

"You get into the playoffs, it's not about developing, it's not about trying to get somebody

going. It really is going to be about who we feel is going the best and is going to give us

the best chance to win a hockey game and win a hockey series."

The issue of playing time and roster spots has come to the fore because recent call-ups Tyler

Ennis and Nathan Gerbe had been stellar entering Saturday's game against the Montreal

Canadiens. When injured forwards Tim Connolly, Thomas Vanek and Patrick Kaleta return, it

isn't a given that Ennis and Gerbe will be the ones to come out.

One struggling player, Drew Stafford, seems to be a candidate. The right winger entered Bell

Centre immersed in a lengthy slump. He had no goals and three assists in his previous 15

games, and just one goal and seven assists in the prior 24.

He fired seven shots on goal Saturday during a 3-0 loss while continuing to play with center

Derek Roy and Ennis.

"He needs to produce," Ruff said. "Obviously, it's an important time. It's an important

segment for him. He's on the first power-play unit. He's getting to play with two real good

players. He's getting to play in all the key offensive situations. To make a difference,

you're going to have to put numbers up.

"It's right there for him. He's trying hard. Right now the production hasn't been there.

Create the opportunities. There's some frustration with the missed opportunities, but his part

is he's got to keep creating the opportunities. I really feel if you get one or two, usually

it will make the player turn the corner."

Stafford had two good chances during Thursday's 4-2 loss in Toronto, but he remained stuck on

13 goals and 18 assists. He's played 68 games in the first year of a two-season, $3.8 million

contract signed in September.

"It is frustrating but you can't focus on going into games thinking I've got to score,"

Stafford said. "You've got to focus on making sure you're getting pucks to the net and getting

chances. I've got to make sure I'm winning battles; the points will follow. It's been a while

obviously. It's really frustrating but hopefully I can break out of it and provide some

offense for the playoffs."

. . .

Vanek (lower body) and Connolly (foot) continued to treat their injuries back in Buffalo

and did not make the road trip to Toronto and Montreal. Neither is close to returning to

practice.

"No, not yet," Ruff said. "They stayed in Buffalo. They ride the bike. They get treatment.

We've got them working on rehab. It's not like they're eating bonbons."

. . . The Sabres' blue-liners are one goal away from 30 for the

season. Tyler Myers leads the defensemen with 11 goals, followed by Steve Montador (five),

Henrik Tallinder and Andrej Sekera (four), Toni Lydman (three) and Craig Rivet and Chris

Butler (one).

It's the highest total for Buffalo's defensive corps since the 2005-06 unit scored 32 times.

Brian Campbell had 12 that season, which is the most in a year since the lockout. Myers is

alone in second.

The Sabres are 27-7-1 when Myers records at least one point. He has 35 assists.

. . . The Sabres and Canadiens also played on April 3 in 1988.

Stephane Richer scored twice for the Habs, becoming the sixth player in Montreal history to

reach the 50-goal milestone.