" Lindy Ruff looks at the Buffalo Sabres' schedule and likes it. Only one back-to-back game in January and a nice, long All-Star break at the end of the month. The coach and his team don't really have an arduous run until the third week of February, when they play five games in eight days.

The breaks and lulls will allow Ruff to give more ice time to his top forwards and ride goaltender Ryan Miller, as the coach did again Saturday night in the 2-1 overtime victory over the Phoenix Coyotes.

"The schedule's been perfect for it," Ruff said in Jobing.com Arena. "With the schedule set up for every other day, it's ideal for getting your workouts and your play. Without back-to-back, we should be in pretty good shape."

There's no doubt the Sabres, who entered the game against the Coyotes in 10th place in the Eastern Conference, would like to use Miller as much as possible. The reigning Vezina Trophy winner gives them the best chance to win."