"So this is how things are going to unfold for the foreseeable future, huh? The Sabres are going to tease you the way they have many times in the past. They're going to make a triumphant run up the standings, restore hope and have you convinced the first 50 games were a mirage, as Darcy Regier suggested.

Bet the house, the kids and all the beer in the fridge that the Sabres will keep things interesting for a while, but where is it all going? Perhaps they will put together another dramatic run into the postseason like they did last year. Or maybe they'll march into eighth place, empty their collective tank and slip back into 11th.

Who knows?

The Sabres had people thinking that they can stay with the best teams in the league when they dropped the hammer on the Stanley Cup-winning Bruins on Wednesday with a spirited 6-0 victory. They were all but cooked Friday before coming back in the third period and beating Dallas, 3-2, in a shootout in First Niagara Center.

Of course, it took a two-goal deficit to arouse them from two sleepy periods, a goal from Derek Roy with 39 seconds remaining and two extra shooters before Nathan Gerbe scored the shootout winner with a backhander just inside the post. It was a much-needed win. The Sabres have won five of six games and taken 11 of 12 possible points.

In truth, if they keep playing the way they did for the first 40 minutes against the Stars, they aren't very far. Dallas was playing on tired legs after winning in Columbus the previous night. The Stars have the third-lowest payroll in the NHL, spending about $16 million less than Buffalo will this year.

You couldn't tell the difference after watching the Sabres in shackles for much of the game Friday.

Buffalo has failed to score two or more goals in regulation for the 28th time this season, or more than half of their games. Kari Lehtonen played well for the Stars and positively robbed Thomas Vanek in overtime, but the Sabres are back to having the same issues that plagued them for most of the season."