from Mike Harrington of the Buffalo News,

We pause from the relentless string of Jeff Skinner updates — or should we change the name to Jeff $$$kinner? — to raise a post-Thanksgiving glass to the Buffalo Sabres' defense.

The blueliners set up all three goals in Friday's they-did-it-again, 3-2 overtime win over Montreal that extended Buffalo's winning streak to eight games. That's 12 goals, 39 assists and 51 points in 23 games for a group of six that was beaten up on the ice and in the court of public opinion last season, but got Rasmus Dahlin added this season.

The defense, remember, had no goals last season until December. Phil Housley and new assistant Steve Smith are getting just a tad more out of them this year, with the average of 2.21 points per game far exceeding last year's 1.38.

Rasmus Ristolainen was a flat-out beast in overtime. He blew by Max Domi to draw the penalty to set up the game-winning power play and had three shots, two on goal, in the extra session.

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Game highlights are below.