Archives for February 13, 2002

It could have been worse. The Buffalo Sabres needed 4 points out of the home-and-home series with the New Jersey Devils and they got one. They were lucky to get one point as it took a late goal by Taylor Pyatt to force an overtime and a 2-all draw. Now the Sabres go on a two-week hiatus as the NHL breaks for the Olympic competition.

'"You knew it was coming," said White, who fought Rob Ray just 2:16 into the game. At 2:17, Jim McKenzie and Eric Boulton had dropped the gloves. "Obviously they want to show they stick together as a team. I think that's good for any team."'

'"It was a mental mistake by me," White said of the hit that sent Buffalo's Vaclav Varada into the boards headfirst Sunday night. White was ejected from the game and later fined $1,000 by the NHL. "Whatever the consequences were, I was willing to face them."'

'The Sabres entered the game still upset about their meek effort in Sunday's 4-1 defeat in New Jersey and were seething mad over NHL disciplinarian Colin Campbell's refusal to suspend Devils defenseman Colin White for checking Vaclav Varada from behind in the loss.'

'"To watch him play, and make it, is more than a dream come true, more than I could imagine," Joe Gionta said after the Devils' 2-2 tie with the Buffalo Sabres. "I know I couldn't do it, but he definitely makes all of us proud."'

'"We had chances," said Holik. "It's just that they were desperate. When they're that desperate, you know they're going to get something. But the puck barely squeezed through White's pads on that play. What can you do?"'

'Buffalo enforcer Rob Ray picked a fight with White 2:16 into the game, no doubt in retaliation for Sunday, when White slammed Vaclav Varada into the boards from behind.'

'"It's been the story all year," said John Madden, who gave the Devils the lead they squandered in last night's 2-2 tie with the Sabres here.'

'"It was Jason Woolley. I could tell it was Woolley. I could see his number as he went by me," Niedermayer said after his misplay forced the Devils to settle for a 2-2 tie with the Buffalo Sabres last night at HSBC Arena. "He made a pretty good move, but I shouldn't get beaten by a defenseman."'

'Defenseman Colin White, who was fined $1,000 by the league for cross-checking Sabres forward Vaclav Varada into the boards Sunday night at the Meadowlands, said he considered himself fortunate not to get worse punishment.'