Sabres’ Biron Has Caught on Quickly

When Dominik Hasek went to the sidelines with a torn groin muscle in late October, the Buffalo Sabres went from having a five-time Vezina Trophy winner in goal to an untested rookie.

Martin Biron, who had played two seasons in the American Hockey League and had appeared in only six NHL games last season with Buffalo, suddenly found himself filling in for the goalkeeper generally regarded as the NHL’s best.

It might have been easy for the rest of the NHL to write off the Sabres at that point, but Biron quickly showed he was no pushover. Not even close.

Buffalo won five of its next six games, and Biron became the first Sabre goalie other than Hasek to win four consecutive games since Tom Barrasso in the 1987-88 season.

Everything hasn’t gone that well for the Sabres since that surge, but Biron, 22, has turned in a solid effort.

Biron improved his goals-against average to 2.39 Monday night in the Sabres’ 5-0 victory over the Ducks. It was his fourth shutout of the season, tying him for the league lead.

Biron had recorded his third shutout of the season in a scoreless tie against the Boston Bruins last Thursday, making 39 saves.

“I think it’s gone pretty well,” Biron said, referring to his season. “I really didn’t expect to get that much time in the NHL this season. I think the team wanted me to be playing regularly, so I expected to be in Rochester all year.”

Biron played only six games there before being called up.

It’s been a challenge as well as a learning experience for him with Buffalo.

“The speed of the game in the NHL is the big difference,” Biron said. “It’s a second or two faster. You really have to be focused the whole time in every game all year long, and you have to work to be in the right place at the right time. Hasek seemed to know what plays were coming before they happened, and that’s what I need.”

When Hasek will return to the lineup is unknown. He has been skating on his own but has set no date for a comeback.

And just what might happen after this season also appears up in the air. Hasek had indicated he would retire, but there is speculation now that the injury might have changed that, and he might return for at least one more season.

Biron said he doesn’t think about any of that. “I’m just trying to jump on my opportunity right now,” he said.

Biron leads all rookie goaltenders in victories with 16, as well as games played (30). No rookie goaltender has been in more than 17 games for Buffalo since Barrasso played in 42 in 1983-84.

“He’s come a long way this season,” Buffalo Coach Lindy Ruff said. “He played real well for a while at the start, then dropped off for a while, but he’s back playing well recently.

“He responded with what was probably his best effort of the season against Boston. I think he has to be in there for rookie of the year consideration.”

Ruff said Biron has improved on second-effort saves.

“He knows now that it isn’t over after the initial shot,” Ruff said. “Players at this level can get the rebounds, and he has to be ready for that.”