Thrashers End Sabres Unbeaten Start With 4-2 Win

The 2009-2010 version of the Buffalo Sabres reverted to many of their maddening traits from last year in losing their first game of this season 4-2 to the Atlanta Thrashers Saturday night in HSBC arena in Buffalo. The Sabres were the NHL's only team undefeated in regulation heading into this game. But the feeling here is that their flaws were masked by good luck and, more importantly, by Ryan Miller playing out of his head. Against the Thrashers, the Sabres rested Miller and played backup goalie Patrick Lalime. In addition, they were without their best goal scorer, Thomas Vanek, who missed his second game with an upper body injury. To put it bluntly, the this year's Sabres have same problem as last year - they have trouble putting the puck in the net. They make good plays, throw the puck at the goal, but for whatever reason, their hands turn to stone when it comes to firing the puck past the opposing goalie instead of into his chest. When a fat rebound sits there, more often than not they fan ... (link)