Why are the Buffalo Sabres so successful?

Now one victory away from a record start, the Sabres are 10-0. They are playing near-perfect hockey. And they are very much the team that reached Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals last season — and better.

Even offseason defections and a nip of goaltending controversy have not detracted from what this team does best.

Games like Monday's 4-1 victory over the Montreal Canadiens are textbook examples of what works best in the NHL. Solid goaltending is the starting point, and Ryan Miller is at the top of his game. In a sport in which thirtysomething or older is considered the prime age for goalies, Miller is 26. He's a babe in arms in goalie terms, yet he is arguably the best goalie today.

Next ... the defense. The Sabres lost the Eastern finals last spring because their defensive corps was riddled with injuries. Jay McKee was a key departure, patched over nicely by the smart addition of Jaroslav Spacek. But this defense isn't about individuals; it's about teamwork. And the Sabres defense blends positioning, speed, puck control and outlet passing with an offensive touch. The puck doesn't stay long in the Sabres zone. It stays long in the offensive zone.

Up front, the team has outstanding depth and young talent. Chris Drury is the headline player, and he has 10 goals. Maxim Afinogenov and Daniel Briere have found their niches, Jason Pominville has arrived, and there's a solid commitment to play in all zones from the forwards. There's not an energy line per se because all four lines can turn the game. There's not a great difference in ability between the first line and the fourth line. The Sabres roll their lines and keep everyone in the mix.

Special teams have the ability to score and keep opponents at bay. Speed is as important as grit; skill as vital as determination.

Why? Lindy Ruff runs this team with a firm hand and realized early on how the NHL would play under rules instituted last season. GM Darcy Regier got Ruff the players he needed. He made moves that prevented things from going haywire. J.P. Dumont was dispatched when Regier decided to walk away from an arbitration decision that was too costly for his taste. Instead, he spread the dough to other needs, and he had a first-round talent in the wings to replace Dumont. Thomas Vanek is more prepared this season to play in Ruff's scheme.

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Watch the Sabres and see what other NHL teams should realize is a starting point for their grand scheme. Buffalo isn't the media mecca of the hockey world. But it is a place where hockey pilgrims should go to see just how the game should be played.

And to think: A few years agao it wouldn't have taken too much to subtract the bankrupt Sabres from the NHL.

Why are the Sabres so good? Because they do everything right.