Archives for September 28, 2002

Ales Kotalik and Curtis Brown added first-period goals for the Sabres (3-1-1). Ryan Miller made 21 saves in the first two period, and Mika Noronen stopped six shots in the third.

'Rookie Ales Kotalik and Curtis Brown scored in a 1:48 span of the second period as the Buffalo Sabres held on for a 3-2 preseason victory over the Ottawa Senators.'

'Eric Boulton has a unique opportunity — to play NHL hockey in his hometown. The Sackville winger will play his first game in metro in about 10 years Saturday when his Buffalo Sabres meet the Ottawa Senators at the Metro Centre.'

'The Swedish defenseman has had such a brilliant camp, the Sabres might be forced to put him on the opening-night roster. Now Ruff is considering the possibility of keeping eight defensemen instead of the usual seven.'

'"I'm disappointed I'm not on the road," Gare said. "I felt Rick Jeanneret, Jim Lorentz and I had some consistency and that's one of the reasons why we had one of the better broadcasts."'

'Empire's new deal with the Sabres has a new twist this season. Empire is paying a rights fee and keeping all the advertising revenue. In years past, Empire and the Sabres had a joint sales agreement and shared the advertising revenue.'

'Belfour — the former Stanley Cup-winning goalie chosen by the Maple Leafs to replace Curtis Joseph — looked more like a beer-league refuge while allowing four goals in a 2:36 stretch in the game's early moments; the first three eluding him in a span of 51 seconds. He was far from the lone culprit wearing blue and white, as practically the entire Toronto roster once again seemed unprepared to compete at even the most fundamental level.'

Ed Belfour stopped the first shot he faced last night. He got something in front of the first few actually. It was the seventh, eighth, ninth and 10th ones that gave him trouble. Those and his own defence.

Belfour looked shaky on at least two of those goals, but there was plenty of blame to go around. The Leafs appeared to have left their games behind at the U.S. customs office at the Peace Bridge, and the Sabres were more than willing to take advantage.

That has not stopped the Sabres from trying. Far from it. The team holds open practises every Tuesday. Meet the player functions are common. Whatever it takes.