Archives for May 7, 2001

'They're tried adopting a Sabres-like system, one in which the defense creates offensive opportunities, but it hasn't entirely fit well with a team built around creative offensive players.'

'Much has been made of the big changes coming in the off-season for the Penguins, especially the possible trade of Jaromir Jagr. The first change to be made, however, should be behind the bench. The grand experiment of bringing in a European coach is a flop. Even if the Pens somehow find a way to right their sinking ship and win this series, a new captain should be on the bridge next season.'

'"We've been sticking to our system," center Curtis Brown said. "We got down early, but we didn't stray away from that. We would have been in trouble if all of a sudden we started panicking and started trying to make things up. There's a system in place for a reason. We stuck to it."'

'"What, I'm not allowed to change my mind?" Rex said. "I'm supposed to punish myself because the league stuck it to us in '99?"'

'Although the Penguins swallowed the most bitter pill – a 3-2 overtime loss to the Buffalo Sabres in HSBC Arena – Jagr played with vigor for the first time since he got hurt in Game One.'

'Jagr, who missed games 2 and 3 with a shoulder injury, scored the Penguins' first goal and skated better than he had all series. He credited his strong play to an injection he received just before the game.'

'''Somebody told me that history never repeats itself and I really believe that,'' Jagr said. However, unless Jagr's Penguins defeat the Buffalo Sabres two games in a row, that ''somebody'' is going to be wrong.'

'"The way I see it, you always have to work," Brown said. "You can never quit on a play, never let a guy go. You know that if you work hard out there to take away your opponent's time and space away, you can limit them. You might not shut them down, but you can limit them. It's all about work."'

'"I was really surprised," Kraft said. "[Friday] after practice, we had a meeting about how to play against Hershey. … Then, my cell phone rings, and Glenn Patrick told me, 'You got called up.'"'

'Buffalo has had a 3-2 lead in a best-of-seven series twice in its history, and both times the Sabres won Game 6. The first came in the second round of the 1975 playoffs against the Canadiens, the second 14 years later in the same round against the Bruins.'