Buffalo, N.Y. -- Ryan Miller made 27 saves and was perfect in the shootout Friday, giving the Buffalo Sabres a 2-1 victory over Montreal.

It was the first shootout of the NHL season and came as the Canadiens opened the franchise's 100th year.

Ales Kotalik and Drew Stafford scored in the shootout, giving Buffalo a good start in what the Sabres hope will be a much-improved campaign. After reaching the conference finals two straight years, Buffalo slumped to a 10th-place finish in the East last season.

Both regulation goals came in the first period -- Robert Lang putting Montreal in front 2:58 into the contest and Thomas Vanek tying it five minutes later.

Montreal finished atop the Eastern Conference last season before falling to Philadelphia in the second round of the playoffs.

Copyright 2008 by United Press International.