"Ryan Miller is conveniently ready to return to action tonight against the Leafs.

Convenient, for one, in that Miller almost never loses to Toronto, with a career 22-8-0 record, .930 save percentage and 2.23 goals-against average when facing Buffalo's Northeast Division rival.

His team, meanwhile, could sure use something resembling a guaranteed win night after an 8-12-3 start to the season that has the Sabres sitting in 12th in the Eastern Conference after finishing third a year ago.

Miller has started only 14 of Buffalo's 23 games this season due to various minor injuries. After winning a silver medal at the Olympics and then the Vezina Trophy in June, he struggled early this year but has been better his last four starts, posting a .922 save percentage in November after only a .903 in 10 October starts.

"It's been an interesting month as far as nagging things," Miller said. "It's something I've never really had in my career. I've been prety resilient unless it's been something major. But back to back, a couple of things popped up in the past month that I've had to address. Just had to get to the point where I felt it was 100 per cent and there wasn't a chance it would be something I would sustain for the rest of the season."

Miller's injuries have been all over the map. He said he's struggled with knee, hip and groin problems and "it's all been interconnected." "