"It was like old times for Ryan Miller. Out at the top of his crease, challenging shooters and owning the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Miller improved to 23-8 against the Leafs -- his most wins against any NHL team -- by stopping 35 of 36 shots in the Sabres' 3-1 victory Friday in HSBC Arena. He came less than 3 1/2 minutes from his first shutout of the season before Phil Kessel beat him with a short-handed goal.

Miller missed the last two games with groin tenderness and has been dogged by knee and hip trouble as well this year. His numbers show it. He entered the game with a goals-against average of 2.63 and save percentage of .909, dramatically off last year's figures of 2.22 and .929.

Miller said the injuries actually can have a good effect by "calming down" his game.

"The start of the season I was trying to do too much, expecting myself to be perfect every night and making big saves every night," Miller explained. "That can't happen unless you're relaxed and in better position. You can't do that by getting way ahead of yourself and overcommitting. You have to be within the play, be within the game. Maybe these little tweaks can slow me down just enough where I can make my reads and still make all the right plays.""