It looks like the international hockey world got a glimpse of what the Buffalo Sabres have known all along about goalie Ryan Miller: This guy is really good.

"We know him in this room, and we'll take him over any other goaltender right now in the game," Sabres backup goalie Patrick Lalime said Monday. "He just showed the whole world what he can do."

As Miller spent the day traveling from the Vancouver Games directly to Pittsburgh to join the Sabres for their game against the Penguins tonight, the MVP of the Olympic tournament was the hot topic of discussion after the Sabres' brief practice in Buffalo.

Despite a 3-2 overtime loss to Canada in the gold-medal game Sunday, Miller was credited for playing a key role in leading the U.S. to a better-than-anticipated silver medal finish.

"He was the best goalie in the tournament," said defenseman Toni Lydman, who won a bronze medal representing Finland. "You have to remember, that's not just any tournament, it's the best of the best. He didn't really surprise me. I'm happy for him."

The Olympics became an international coming out party for Miller. The 29-year-old from East Lansing, Mich., posted a 5-1 record, in which he allowed only eight goals on 147 shots -- including Sidney Crosby's gold medal-winner in overtime.

The loss doesn't tarnish what Miller accomplished, no matter how disappointed the goalie was immediately after the game.

"I'm sure he's a little disappointed," Sabres captain Craig Rivet said. "But once he actually takes some time to think about the way he actually played, he was phenomenal. He couldn't have done much more than what he did."

Nashville acquired defenseman Denis Grebeshkov from the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for a second-round pick in this year's draft. Grebeshkov has 19 points, including six goals, in 47 games with the Oilers this season, his third full year in the NHL.

St. Louis has acquired goaltender Joe Fallon from the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for goalie Hannu Toivonen and defenseman Danny Richmond. The 25-year-old Fallon has played in 29 games this season with the American Hockey League's Rockford IceHogs. The Blues said Monday that Fallon will report to their AHL affiliate in Peoria, Ill.

Dallas signed veteran forward Steve Ott to a four-year, $11.8 million contract extension. The deal announced Monday locks up the 27-year-old winger through the 2013-14 season. Ott has played all 389 games of his NHL career with the Stars. Ott has 11 goals and 12 assists in 52 games this season.

• Red Wings 3, Avalanche 2: Nicklas Lidstrom scored a power-play goal with 9:03 left in the third period and lifted visiting Detroit past Colorado. Tomas Holmstrom had a goal and two assists and Jimmy Howard made 22 saves for Detroit. It was the first NHL game since Feb. 14 when the league took a two-week break for the Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

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