BUFFALO, N.Y. — Tyler Myers had a goal and assist, and Ryan Miller made 40 saves to lift the Buffalo Sabres to a 4-1 win over the Atlanta Thrashers on Wednesday night in front of new Sabres owner Terry Pegula.
Paul Gaustad, Jason Pominville, and Tyler Ennis also scored for the Sabres (28-25-6), who snapped a three-game losing streak to win the fourth game of a season-long six-game homestand.

The Sabres and Thrashers came in tied for ninth place in the Eastern Conference with 60 points. With the win, Buffalo moved within three points of idle Carolina for the eighth and final playoff spot with two games in hand.

Pegula, who officially took over the team on Tuesday, was introduced to the crowd in a pregame ceremony that also featured the Sabres' 1970s "French Connection" line of Gilbert Perreault, Rick Martin and Rene Robert skating to center ice to greet Pegula.

Pegula received a standing ovation that lasted just over a minute.

Andrew Ladd scored, and Ondrej Pavelec finished with 35 saves for the slumping Thrashers (25-26-10), who lost their fourth straight to drop to 3-11-4 over the past 18 games.

Atlanta fell to 0-5-1 over its past six road games, and 1-6-2 in its past nine away from home.

Up 3-1 after 40 minutes, the Sabres upped their lead to 4-1 just under 2 minutes into the third period on Ennis' 13th goal of the season.

Down by a goal after the first period, Ladd tied it at 1 for Atlanta with a power-play tally 5:31 into the second period. He corralled a loose puck at the edge of the crease near the left post before lifting it over a sprawled Miller for his team-leading 22nd goal.

Gaustad restored Buffalo's lead with his ninth of the season with 1:08 left in the second, and Pominville pushed the advantage to 3-1 when he banged home a rebound off Myers' shot from the point 30 seconds later.

Buffalo opened the scoring when Myers notched his ninth of the season with a slap shot from the outer edge of the right circle 7:13 into the game.

NOTES: Sabres D Steve Montador played in his 500th career NHL game. ... Buffalo waived captain Craig Rivet hours before the game. ... Thrashers defenseman Dustin Byfuglien had an assist on Ladd's goal. He entered as the fourth-leading scorer among defensemen with 45 points. ... Atlanta has scored at least one power-play goal in four of its past six games. ... Miller improved to 5-0-1 in his past six home starts against the Thrashers. ... Buffalo finishes the homestand against Ottawa on Friday and Detroit on Saturday.