We're only four games into the season, so let's not get carried away. October is reserved for

uncovering clues that might reveal what the Sabres might become in April, when it really

matters. They have earned seven of eight possible points, a solid start to be sure but really

nothing more.

Still, the early signs were encouraging after the Sabres clobbered the Red Wings, 6-2, on

Tuesday night in their first true test of the season. Sabres coach Lindy Ruff was practically

gushing over the Wings after the morning skate. Nobody would argue with his assessment that

theirs is a model organization, the envy of the league.

Detroit has reached the postseason 18 straight seasons, the longest such streak in

professional sports. The Wings have had a record nine straight 100-point seasons and won eight

straight division titles. Remember when Buffalo went bonkers because the Sabres reached the

conference finals two years in a row?

Try eight times in 14 years for Detroit, including four Stanley Cups.

No wonder the Sabres are trying to pattern themselves after the Red Wings. Their attack is

built around puck possession and pursuit, five guys coming up the ice at the same time. The

Sabres have grasped the Wings' greatest quality, their tireless work ethic.

Buffalo doesn't have a handful of selfless Hall of Famers like Detroit does. The Sabres lack

the Wings' skill, their leadership, their experience, their owner, their general manager and

their history. Heck, the popcorn vendors are probably superior on the other side of Lake Erie.

One area the Sabres can control, no matter the personnel, is their effort. The Sabres rolled

to victory Tuesday night because they outworked the Red Wings at nearly every pass, from the

first shift to the last. Their commitment to hustle has been the most promising sign of this

young season.

"You watch guys in the playoffs," winger Clarke MacArthur said. "The top players are the

hardest-working guys. All of our top players are working hard. It goes through the whole

lineup. We didn't give them any room to breathe. When we did get the lead, we stayed on them.

We kept our foot on the gas. That's what we need to do all year."

Look no further than five goals from the Sabres' six-pack, evidence that hockey truly is a

labor of love.

Patrick Kaleta has been playing hard since his days in double-runners, so him going hard to

the net and finishing off Tyler Myers' rush was hardly a surprise. Kaleta also set up the

sixth goal, which Paul Gaustad buried after winning a battle in the slot.

In between, just a bellyful of effort.

MacArthur, suddenly Mr. Mean, scored after helping Jason Pominville win a battle along the

wall with Valtteri Filppula. Vanek, whose first goal came on a lucky bounce off Nicklas

Lidstrom, added his second the old-fashioned way after Derek Roy outworked Niklas Kronwall,

and Vanek beat Brad Stuart just outside the crease.

Ruff hoped the Sabres would take something from Tuesday's game no matter the result.

Certainly, there was a lesson to be learned. Take away Vanek's fluke goal, and both teams

combined to score seven of eight goals from the dirty areas within 5 feet of the crease. It

takes work to get there, but that's what wins.

The league is bigger, tougher, stronger than it was coming out of the lockout. It's now about

banging and scrapping, hard work mixed with talent. For one night, the Sabres showed the Red

Wings exactly how it's done.

"You think it's a skill game but in the end, to be successful, it comes back to working hard,"

MacArthur said. "This year, so far, we've done a great job of that. It's a long road ahead,

but if we have that effort every night, we're going to be a real dangerous team."