Archives for December 16, 2001

The Buffalo Sabres continued to struggle against the New York Rangers on Saturday at Madison Square Garden and by losing 4-2, they have given the Rangers a big boost in their quest to capture a playoff spot this season. The Rangers are one of the teams Buffalo has to overtake if they figure on making a strong comeback in the second half of the season and vie for a playoff spot themselves.

'This one won't be going on the Sabres' highlight reel.'

'But there's also the possibility that the Sabres were doing a little showcasing. Not only did they want to gauge Noronen's progress to see if he's NHL-ready, but the rest of the league may also want to know.'

'Before the game, the Rangers and the Sabres jointly presented a check for $206,055 to the city's Twin Towers Fund.'

'Fleury and Messier scored second-period goals against Buffalo starter Mika Noronen, who would leave the game at 5:08 of the third period with a groin injury.'

'While the Rangers acquitted themselves most admirably – let's not for a moment overlook the work of Mike Richter or the work of the Sylvain Lefebvre-Bryan Berard pair, Berard playing the left side for the first time since his days with the Islanders -referee Dan Marouelli embarrassed himself and his profession (if that's possible, given the scandalous state of NHL officiating) by calling a five-minute major on Matthew Barnaby's perfectly legal, thunderous check on Stu Barnes with 5:22 to go and the Blueshirts leading 3-1.'

'Low said: "If that's a penalty, then we've changed our league and the way we play. I don't think it should have been a two [minute penalty] let alone a five."'

'With the goal, his sixth of the season, Messier gave the Rangers the 3-0 lead, and it looked like they were going to halt their five-game winless slide in high style with Richter putting up another shutout. But the Rangers, specifically newcomer Matthew Barnaby, got into trouble late in the third period, and it nearly cost them the game.'

'It was the Rangers' first triumph in six games after a stretch that included four regulation losses and one in overtime.'

'The Rangers did just fine without Eric Lindros.'