MONTREAL (Reuters) - Buffalo goaltender Ryan Miller recorded his fourth shutout of the season in a 2-0 victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday that helped the Sabres retain their hold on the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
Miller finished with 31 saves and Nathan Gerbe scored both goals as the Sabres (36-28-9) kept their three-point lead over the Carolina Hurricanes for the eighth and final post-season spot.
"That might have been our best chess match of the year," Miller told reporters. "We played the kind of game we've been talking about and had some success with it.
"Hopefully that can spark some positive energy going forward."
Carey Price stopped 22 shots for Montreal but was beaten for the game's first goal at 8:56 in the second period before Gerbe added an empty-net score with 22 seconds remaining in the game.
It was the third successive game Gerbe has scored a goal and the victory helped the visitors rebound from a 4-3 overtime loss to Nashville on Sunday when they blew a two-goal advantage late in the third period.
"There was a lot of anger and frustration with us giving away a point the other night," Buffalo coach Lindy Ruff said. "This was a real good answer for it."
Montreal (40-27-7), in sixth place in the East, rarely threatened just one game after erupting for an 8-1 rout over Minnesota on Sunday and they fell three points behind Boston for the Northeast Division lead.
(Writing by Jahmal Corner in Los Angeles; Editing by Greg Stutchbury)
