Archives for 2001

What better way to show your respects to your former team than to score an overtime goal against them in the Stanley Cup playoffs? That is exactly what Stu Barnes did Saturday afternoon in Buffalo. Stu Barnes ripped a shot off the cross bar that got behind Pittsburgh Penguins' goalie Johan Hedberg 8:34 into overtime to give the Buffalo Sabres a 3-2 sudden death victory … [Read more...] about Barnes' burner puts Pens on the brink

The Sabres will make franchise history in the next four days, one way or the other. If the Sabres win the series, they will be the first team in their history to come back from a 2-0 deficit in a best-of-seven series. If they drop the last two games, they'll be the first to lose a 3-2 series lead. … [Read more...] about Sabres-Penguins Game 5 "Clearing the Crease"

Again, Lindy is the better coach in this series. He is proving the point over and over again that the team that has depth is the team that you have to watch out for. He is constantly rolling his four lines, and you don't know where the goals are going to come from. … [Read more...] about Sabres-Penguins Game 5 "Saints and Sinners"

'Heinze is always quick to smile and offer some self-deprecating humor. But here he offers a trace of melancholy. He's fighting right along with the rest of the Sabres and enjoying a gratifying playoff run, but there's a touch of regret for what has passed in Columbus and a bit of apprehension about what lies ahead in free agency. He is in one of the most … [Read more...] about NHL playoffs leave Heinze in stitches

'For a team that keeps repeating history, the Pittsburgh Penguins don't seem to learn from it.' … [Read more...] about Penguins number could be up again in Game 6

The Sabres were down 2-0. Their power play was 0-4. They had exactly one goal in over seven periods at home against Johan Hedberg and the Penguins, who both suddenly looked unbeatable again. And there was Super Mario playing like someone deserving of a Selke, not a Hart, Trophy. It got eerily quiet in HSBC Arena. … [Read more...] about Comeback has Sabres singing a different tune

It was a given that the Penguins would go to their superstars, Mario Lemieux and Jaromir Jagr, in the pivotal swing game of the series. Lindy Ruff had to thus rely on his defensive ace to match up and contain the two -- and Curtis Brown excelled in perhaps his best outing of the playoffs. … [Read more...] about Sabres-Penguins Game 5 "Sharpening the Swords"

'"We didn't play the first the way we wanted to," Barnes said. "We got away from what made us successful. We turned a lot of pucks over and against that team you just can't do that. They're going to score goals."' … [Read more...] about Stu-pendous comeback

'Though Jagr had the game's first goal, off a pinpoint pass from Mario Lemieux, he seemed frustrated by the attention Brown paid him.' … [Read more...] about Brown makes Jagr see red

'"I thought we had the game in our hands - I thought we were going to win the game," Jagr said. Darius Kasparitis concurred: "We were up, 2-0, and I thought, "We've got the game.'"' … [Read more...] about Penguins' train derailed again after strong start

'Now that everyone knows you call all the shots in Pittsburgh, you might want to do a little brainstorming over the next couple days because your Penguins are plummeting like a California dot.com. It doesn't happen often, unless you recall last year's collapse against Philadelphia, but who's counting?' … [Read more...] about The boss should look in the mirror

'No matter how the Buffalo Sabres series with Pittsburgh turns out, their comeback from a two-games-to-none deficit in a hostile arena is another major reason why people get so much enjoyment out of sports.' … [Read more...] about Excitement of Stanley Cup playoffs defies logic

'"We didn't execute very well on the power play. I thought we made some errant passes and ended up with the puck along the wall a lot. We didn't get a lot of control time. I think we're fortunate to win the game, as poorly as our power play was going, because that had opportunities to win it for us."' … [Read more...] about Plenty of practice, but power play unable to capitalize very often

'The Pittsburgh Penguins aren't just looking bad on the ice right now. Penguins general manager Craig Patrick has been taking a beating in this series as well.' … [Read more...] about Former-Pens continue to burn ex-teammates

'Slowly, but surely the Pittsburgh Penguins are nearing a second-round exit from the National Hockey League playoffs for the third straight year, and there doesn't appear to be anything they can do about it.' … [Read more...] about Pens limp home with season on the line