Biron reminds Sabres of worth
by MATT KRUEGER Reporter

Buffalo Sabres goalie Martin Biron kicks away a Pittsburgh Penguins shot during the Sabres' 4-2 victory at HSBC Arena this past Friday. Biron saw his most extensive playing time of the season over the past week and a half while filling in for an injured Ryan Miller, who returned to the lineup in Saturday's 4-1 loss at Ottawa. Photo by Mike Lynaugh

The Buffalo Sabres can take two huge sighs of relief about their goaltending situation this week.

First, Ryan Miller is back from his injury that had him sitting the bench for two weeks and starting games between the pipes again. Second, Martin Biron has shown why he is possibly the best backup in the NHL after filling in for Miller.

At 7-1, Biron is the kind of backup every team wants to have waiting in the wings. And he doesn't just have to wait for Miller to get injured. Injecting him into the starting lineup just to give Miller a night off won't hurt the Sabres chances to win much.

"It definitely helps," defenseman Brian Campbell said after the Sabres' 4-2 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins Friday. "Even when Ryan is healthy, you go with a one-two punch. It never stops. The team is always on a high and you can keep rolling. It makes a big difference."

During Miller's injury, Biron won five of six games over the New York Rangers, Florida Panthers, Philadelphia Flyers, Carolina Hurricanes and Penguins. His only loss came to the Ottawa Senators, who thoroughly out-played the Sabres in every aspect.

Biron stopped 151 of 171 shots (.883 save percentage). His best showing was Friday's win over the Penguins, when he turned away 34 of 36 shots.

"It seems like every game has been a bit better," Biron said. "It started with the Florida game here and I gave up a couple bad goals. Pucks were going through me. Philly was a little better, then Carolina was better. Against Ottawa, even though it was a loss, I felt good. It was one of those where they got a couple bounces. (Friday), I felt better and that's what we want. You want to keep going on the way up like that."

Against the Penguins, Biron made two huge saves at key moments in the game. With Buffalo up 1-0 in the first period, Pittsburgh's Maxime Talbot forced a breakaway, but got stonewalled by Biron. In the third period with Buffalo holding a 3-1 advantage, Biron charged out of the net to take down an advancing Nils Ekman with a leg sweep.

"Marty came up with some great saves (Friday)," Campbell said. "That breakaway was a big save that could have turned the tides around. Plus, he had a bunch of others. He played well."

For the season, Biron has a 3.10 goals against average and a .893 save percentage.

After losing his starting job to Miller last year, Biron asked the Sabres for a trade in the off-season. And why not? He's good enough to start in the NHL.

He didn't get his trade, but did receive a healthy pay increase. He signed a one-year, $2.1 million contract in July.

Biron, the Sabres' first-round pick (16th overall) in the 1995 NHL entry draft, has played 289 games in his career and posted a 129-112 record. He has a 2.51 goals against average and a .910 save percentage.

e-mail: mkrueger@beenews.com