ROCHESTER — Tyler Ennis' short time in the NHL is rarely far from his mind — or his computer screen.
"I check out the goal on YouTube quite often," Ennis said with a grin.
The goal against Philadelphia during Ennis' lone appearance with the Buffalo Sabres in November is his one big-league highlight. At the pace he is developing, it certainly won't be his last.
Ennis has become the Sabres' No. 1 prospect, something he continued to prove during Portland's two games in Rochester over the weekend. The depleted Pirates leaned heavily on their 20-year-old forward, and Ennis helped deliver three of four points with a victory and shootout loss.
"We're just on a roll and finding ways to win," said Ennis, whose team is 11-0-1 in the last 12 games after Sunday's 3-2 shootout setback to the Amerks.
Ennis assisted on the opening goal Sunday and scored in the shootout. He has five goals and eight assists during the run and leads the Pirates with 54 points in 56 games. He has 18 goals and a team-high 36 assists.
They are numbers that have caught even the offensively gifted Ennis off-guard.
"First-year pro, I didn't know what to expect," he said. "I'm a competitive guy and wanted to put up good numbers. I didn't necessarily expect to put up these numbers, but lately, as the season's gone on, I've started to expect that of myself, and I'm setting the bar higher and higher."
The bar, it seems, should stretch from Maine to Western New York. The Sabres like their prospects to spend at least a season in the minor leagues. Ennis, drafted 26th overall in 2008, is making a solid case his stay shouldn't last longer than that.
"His top-end skill is the best in the American League," Sabres pro scout Jon Christiano said. "He has quick hands, quick feet that not all guys have. ... He makes more NHL plays than any player at that level."
Over the weekend, Ennis made more plays than anybody. He also had more opportunities. The Pirates were down to 10 forwards for Saturday's game, so Portland coach Kevin Dineen called on Ennis often, double-shifting the forward while keeping him on the power play and penalty kill.
Ennis didn't record a point in the 4-3 victory, but he was the most noticeable player on the ice as the Pirates set a franchise record with their 11th straight win.
"Tyler's been playing a real lot of quality minutes for us," Dineen said. "He's played center a lot this year, he's played wing the last 10 to 15 games. Wherever he is, he's a fire starter. Good things seem to follow where he is."
Ennis is skating as the left winger for center Brad Larsen and right wing Mark Mancari, Portland's top line. Ennis previously centered for Mancari and left wing Nathan Gerbe, but Gerbe has missed 13 straight games with a groin strain.
It's clear Ennis is the key no matter the line. He has the high-end speed to pull away from defenders, the shiftiness and quick bursts to create open ice and the pinpoint passing to set up teammates.
Ennis' lack of size — he's 5-foot-9, 163 pounds — is his primary drawback, but the Edmonton native confidently strides to the middle of the ice with his head up. He also isn't afraid to initiate contact, giving up the puck with Rochester's Michael Repik barreling in so he could send a shoulder Repik's way.
"Teams are really starting to really know how much of a key guy he is, but to me that's what defines a great player: Everyone knows you're great but you can still make it happen," Portland defenseman T.J. Brennan said. "He's the youngest guy on our team, but he brings it every night. You can't teach that kind of stuff."
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