Buffalo goaltender Ryan Miller, who backstopped the Sabres to a pair of wins with a 0.96 goals-against average and 0.969 save percentage in two games, is the NHL's Defensive Player of the Week. Miller joins Atlanta Thrashers forward Marian Hossa, who tallied six points (two goals, four assists) in two games en route to being named the league's Offensive Player of the Week, as the league's honored players for the period ending Sunday, December 25.

Vancouver center Brendan Morrison, who posted seven points (1-6--7 in three games) and Edmonton center Shawn Horcoff (3-4--7 in three games) were runners-up for offensive honors, while goaltenders Manny Fernandez of the Minnesota Wild (2-0-0, 2.00 GAA) and Chris Osgood of the Detroit Red Wings (2-0-0, 2.33 GAA) were runners-up for the defensive award.

Miller began the week by making 33 saves as the Sabres defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 2-1 in a shootout on Dec 19. On Dec. 23, he made 30 saves as Buffalo defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-1.

Appearing in only 12 of Buffalo's 36 games this season due to injury, Miller has posted a record of 8-4-0, a 2.46 goals-against average and .920 save percentage. The Sabres are second in the Northeast Division with 49 points (24-11-1) and host the New York Islanders tonight at the HSBC Arena.