"Derek Roy just never seemed down about his struggles during last season's playoffs.

Sure, he was as bummed as anyone that the Buffalo Sabres lost in the first round, but despite a no-goal performance he bucked conventional wisdom and felt he had a good series. He tossed out the list of excuses at his disposal -- he lost high-scoring linemate Thomas Vanek to injury, pucks were bouncing off posts instead of finding twine -- and went on his way toward the summertime.

Fact is, though, Roy needs to produce for the Sabres to succeed. The six-game loss to Boston proved that. He's their top center, and it's up to him to be a catalyst for the offense.

Based on a stellar preseason, he's ready.

Roy had points in all five games he played, and none of the outings were better than his three-point showing Sunday night as the Sabres dismantled the Philadelphia Flyers, 9-3, in HSBC Arena. The Sabres closed their preseason with a 4-2 record, and Roy finished tied for the NHL lead with 10 points.

"I worked hard in the summertime to get mentally and physically ready for this season," Roy said. "It's just preseason, but at the same time it helps motivate the guys and build confidence."

Roy, linemate Drew Stafford and defenseman Tyler Myers were the best players on the ice Sunday -- leaving the Flyers dizzy with no-look passes, net-front drives and tap-in goals. Stafford finished with a team-high four points, including three assists.

"That combination has really worked well together," Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said. "Drew has really skated well, and I think that combination has really been feeding off each other. It takes more than one guy to go. If one guy goes and he doesn't have somebody going with him, usually the line is disjointed. I think Staff deserves some credit on that line there, too."

Roy's preseason showing concluded with three goals and seven assists, leaving him tied with Toronto's Phil Kessel as the league's top points producers. Producing points is what the Sabres need Roy to do, especially after he failed in the postseason.

"His exhibition season has gone well for him," Ruff said. "It's converting the opportunities. It wasn't the fact he wasn't in on opportunities, it just was the fact he didn't convert. Our business is more about converting than it is saying, 'Well, I got the opportunity.'

"He is one creative player, but at the end of it those have to turn into assists or goals.""