"As time ticked closer to the Buffalo Sabres' biggest game of the season (so far), it became increasingly clear they'd be without the face of the franchise. Ryan Miller was somewhere between banged-up and seriously injured, the stories went. Either way, the goaltender wouldn't be in net against the New York Rangers.

The mood in Sabreland, which was already sliding toward troubled after Tuesday's loss in Toronto, was turning sullen.

Jhonas Enroth, however, was excited.

"Yeah, of course," Enroth said Wednesday. "I was waiting for this game for two and a half weeks, since my last game. I was really excited."

The rookie goalie is one of the Sabres' top prospects for a reason. He's calm and laid-back, and the 22-year-old had already proved earlier in the season he can win a stressful game. He came through again, with plenty of help from teammates who rediscovered their discipline and took it to a higher level.

The Sabres smothered the Rangers, lightening the feel in HSBC Arena with a 1-0 victory. The win moved them past New York into seventh place in the Eastern Conference and pulled the Sabres within two points of sixth-place Montreal with five games left.

Enroth learned in the morning that Miller would be out with an upper-body injury that's considered day-to-day. He spent the night making 23 saves for his first shutout in 10 NHL appearances.

"I couldn't ask for better timing," said the Swedish netminder. "My parents [Erik and Eva] are actually here watching their first game over here, so it was a lot of fun and a very special night for me."

Without Miller, the Sabres worked diligently at keeping the Rangers away from the Buffalo net. Their diligence paid off."