Chicago, IL (My Sportsbook) - The Buffalo Sabres seek their first 3-0 start in nearly eight years tonight when they visit the Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center.

The Sabres, who haven't opened a season with three consecutive victories since the abbreviated 1994-95 season, have so far disposed of the Islanders and Canadiens, two playoff teams, with relative ease, outscoring them by a combined score of 11-2. Lindy Ruff's club opened the season on with a 5-1 home win over New York on Thursday before Saturday's 6-1 pounding in Montreal.

Against the Habs, Taylor Pyatt scored twice to lead the assault, and Tim Connolly, Miroslav Satan, Jochen Hecht and Vaclav Varada also beat goaltender Jose Theodore, the reigning Hart and Vezina winner. J.P. Dumont and Chris Gratton added two assists apiece, while netminder Martin Biron made 19 saves.

The offensive outburst to open the season is somewhat surprising considering the Sabres have built a reputation for lacking scoring depth. Last season the club finished ninth in the Eastern Conference with 213 goals-for.

Buffalo again shined on the power-play Saturday, going 2-for-5. The Sabres are 4-for-12 with the man-advantage through two games.

Tonight's match will be the Sabres' third in four nights, and their last before a four-game homestand that opens Thursday against the Rangers. During the set they'll also welcome Phoenix, Philadelphia and New Jersey to HSBC Arena.

Chicago, holding its home opener, hopes to rebound from Thursday's 2-1 loss to third-year Columbus. Offseason acquisition Sergei Berezin, being counted on to help replace Tony Amonte's scoring production, tallied the lone Blackhawk goal, giving them a 1-0 lead 6:44 into the second. But Jackets' rookie Rick Nash answered less than a minute later, and Mike Sillinger capped things off with the go-ahead score in the closing minutes of the stanza.

Jocelyn Thibault took the loss between the pipes, despite making 31 saves. Chicago went 1-for-7 on the power-play.

The Hawks hope that their home rink will provide a lift this evening, as they went a stellar 28-7-5-1 at the United Center last season. That clip was key in their charge to the playoffs, considering they were only 13-20-8-0 on the road.

In all Chicago plays its next four -- and seven of the next eight -- on friendly ice. The stand continues Thursday against Florida.

The Blackhawks defeated the Sabres, 6-5, in Buffalo last December 19 to snap a four-game series losing streak. Buffalo has won five of the last seven meetings overall, including two straight in the Windy City.