Roy shines in Sabres win

BUFFALO (WIVB) - It's been a miserable season for Derek Roy.  But Sunday, he finally looked like the star center Sabres fans have been used to.  Roy scored twice and added an assist as the Sabres broke a four game losing streak, beating PIttsburgh 6-2 at the First Niagara Center.

Jason Pominville and Christian Ehrhoff matched Roy's three point game.  Pominville scored once, while Ehrhoff had three assists.  Ryan Miller made 24 saves, including a big stop on a Evgeni Malkin breakaway.

Buffalo also got goals from Paul Gaustad, Drew Stafford and Tyler Ennis.

The win moves the Sabres out of a tie for last place in the Eastern Conference.  With 57 points, they are currently seven behind the Maple Leafs for the final playoff spot. 

Pominville's goal, his 23rd, made it 1-0 just :52 seconds into the game.  Roy scored at 4:16 to put Buffalo up 2-0.  Gaustad's goal early in the third made it 3-0.  The Pens answered to make it 3-1, and then cut the lead to 3-2 in the third on a goal by Jordan Staal.  But unlike previous games with blown leads, the Sabres answered.  Drew Stafford scored 1:05 later and the Sabres were in control.  Pominville fed Roy for his second, and Ennis finished the scoring.

Pat Kaleta was stopped on a penalty shot in the second period when Pittsburgh's Chris Kunitz threw his stick at the Sabres forward on a scoring chance.

The day started off strange for the Sabres.  A light about the ice blew out just before warmups, leaving shards of glass in the Buffalo zone.  Players who went out for the skate had to have their skates re-sharpened, delaying the warmup.  The Sabres eventually would skate in the Penguins zone after they left the ice, and the game was delayed a few minutes while the skates were tended to.

The Sabres host the Islanders on Tuesday.