When a team loses consecutive games everyone searches for the solutions to their problems. Undoubtedly, the Canadiens needed to adjust facets of their game before posting a 3-2 win over Buffalo, Friday night. That the coaching staff took the same reflective approach as the players did ensured they'd stop the bleeding before turning this into a losing streak.

Timing and the schedule often influence a team's ability to break out of a funk. The Canadiens had the right opponent at the right time to avoid a skid, in spite of having to do so without Tomas Plekanec at their disposal.

The Buffalo Sabres are in a world of hurt. In seven games at HSBC Arena, the Sabres have lost six in regulation and the other in overtime to the only other team that's been as bad as they've been to start the season: The New Jersey Devils. And to add insult to injury, Ryan Miller's missed the last two games with a lower body issue. How will they stop the bleeding?

Also missing in action: the Sabres core of forwards (although they're relatively healthy for the most part). Lindy Ruff couldn't possibly be pleased with his scoring group after a performance like last night's. The only two players on his team to sustain a consistent effort were Jochen Hecht and Mike Grier.

And things weren't much better on the defensive side of Sabres ice either. The Sabres were indisciplined too, though the Canadiens typically didn't make them pay for it.

Lindy Ruff told AP after the game "If we're going to get out of this, we need that one," as he referred to Benoit Pouliot's winning goal as a puck Patrick Lalime whiffed on. And though Ruff may be right on that, his goaltender was hardly to blame for the Sabres surrendering consecutive leads within two minutes of scoring. In fact, Lalime kept his team in the game at 2-2 with some excellent saves, and gave them a chance to tie things up with some more great saves thereafter.

I'm not sure how much longer the Sabres can wait before instituting drastic change. They've played the second-most games

(14) and are dead last in the league standings. Die-hard Buffalo fans will tell you player personnel with change dramatically before GM Darcy Regier even considers firing Ruff, but I don't think those fans would like to admit that perhaps it's time for philosophical changes.

Kostitsyn and Pouliot Doing Their Part

Kostitsyn got of to an unbelievable start but has been held off the score sheet in his last four games. We'll see if a date with Ottawa tonight will cure that, having procured first star nominations in both games against the Senators earlier this season.

Either way, the Canadiens are mighty pleased with his play, as he leads the team with 6 goals and 4 assists.

Benoit Pouliot's not far behind, with 4 goals and 4 assists, and he's recorded the most hits on the team.

Martin's Adjustments

Results are really the only thing that matter, so some may view Martin's decision to shift things around in his top-6 as a failure considering it was Benoit Pouliot's line with Mathieu Darche and Jeff Halpern that managed to score the Canadiens two points in the standings.

Results don't lie: Gomez and Gionta can't find a solution together, no matter who's playing beside them. Arpon Basu suggests separating the two, and I agree with the idea.

Defensive adjustments Martin instituted seemed to provoke a much better game from Andrei Markov. I'm sure a lot of that had to do with timing as well, with Markov having gotten two games under his belt before Friday's in Buffalo. Markov was rewarded with his first assist last night.

P.K. Subban played great next to Hal Gill. Hamrlik and Spacek were more dependable, even if they were caught on the ice for one of the Sabres' goals.

Carey Price came back with a strong performance for his 7th win of the season. It would seem Price is set to make his 13 start when the Canadiens take on the Senators at the Bell Centre tonight.

No word yet on whether Tomas Plekanec will be fit to play. Anticipate more juggling for Martin, as he tries to find some scoring from his top-6.