"It's only one game out of 82 or, if you buy into the Buffalo Sabres' belief of a long Stanley Cup run, just one game out of 100 or so. But time after time in the season opener Friday, the Sabres affirmatively answered every question that was thrown at them. * Can the power play come through when it's needed? The game-winner in the 2-1 victory over Ottawa came with the man-advantage with 9:48 to play, so that's a yes. * Can the penalty killers retain their status among the NHL's elite? The Sabres stymied the Senators' power play all five times, including three opportunities in the final 8:17 and two in the final 2:50. That, too, is a yes. * Has the team continued to mature? The Sabres dominated the second period, made a mistake that cost them a tying goal in the final minute, yet they didn't hang their heads or slow their play. Chalk that up as a yes. * Can they count on Derek Roy to be an offensive catalyst, the kind of center who can keep punishing opponents with goals and fancy plays? Considering he scored both goals, one in crunch time and one in highlight-reel variety, that's a heck yes. Roy's offense and the Sabres' special teams allowed the team to open on a high note with a win over its Northeast Division rivals in Scotiabank Place. The Sabres will try to improve to 2-0 in the home opener tonight when the New York Rangers visit HSBC Arena. "It's a great way to start the first game, a little adversity, a little playoff mentality," Roy said. "The one point and the shootout point wouldn't have been good enough. It's a division opponent, and you need to win these games. I thought we came out real strong and set the tone." The Sabres and Senators entered the final period in a 1-1 deadlock, with the 19,350 fans hoping the home team could open the year on the right foot. Instead, it was Roy's foot that sent the Sabres walking toward a win. Tyler Ennis passed to a streaking Roy in the middle of the Ottawa zone, and the center had to reach his leg back to corral the errant pass. He got it, but his momentum carried him past the Ottawa net. It didn't matter. Roy simply banked in the puck off goaltender Pascal Leclaire from behind the goal line to snap the tie on the power play. "I knew he was going to come out and challenge," Roy said of Leclaire. "I didn't have a shot right away, so I knew I had to go around him and bank it. It just happened to go in."" Read more: http://www.buffalonews.com/sports/sabres-nhl/article215188.ece
