Archives for November 2001

'Peca vowed never to wear the Sabres jersey again, sat out all of last season, and sweated out a summer wondering if his trade demand would be met. So it's hard to believe Peca “hasn't really thought much about it,'' as he said after practice at the Coliseum on Friday.'

'Buffalo beat the Washington Capitals, 5-2, Wednesday night in part because the Sabres didn't beat themselves.'

'"Sure, the game has special meaning to many of us because of Michael Peca. But we can't just focus on him alone."'

'"We've got to give Slava credit for responding the way he did," teammate Jason Woolley said Thursday. "There were two ways of handling it, hanging your head and sulking, or coming back and showing that you belong in the lineup. I think Slava did the right thing."'

Protecting a third period lead has been a difficult task for the Buffalo Sabres this season. Just the night before, they blew a two-goal lead against the New York Rangers. The Rangers tied it up with only 8 seconds left. The Sabres threw a barrage of 49 shots at Ranger goalie Mike Richter, scoring only twice. The Sabres went against their norm Wednesday night in the nation's capital by scoring 4 times against their old-time tormentor, Olaf Kolzig, and cruised to a 5-2 victory over the Washington Capitals.

'It was only the second time in eight tries that the Sabres had won the second of back-to-back games.'

'"We addressed it (Tuesday) night. After the game we talked to him. I think it's something that's been taken care of."'

'The Capitals were lost in the first period, and it cost them the game.'

'Peter Bondra grabbed a piece of Washington Capitals history last night, but in the process he committed a blunder that led to a Buffalo victory, making it a bittersweet evening at best.'

'Entering the game, the Caps had taken 30 more shots on goal than their opponents, with a 37-shot margin in the second period making up for a disadvantage in the first. But shooting more often doesn't translate into more goals — the Caps have been outscored 75-65.'