Archives for October 2002

After eliminating the Flyers in the first round of the 2000-01 playoffs, Buffalo swept the four-game series last season, outscoring Philadelphia 11-4. Satan netted six goals, including two game-winners, and assisted on two others to lead the way for the Sabres. … [Read more...] about Buffalo 2, Philadelphia 1

A little over a week ago, I opened the newspaper to see the Sabres sitting atop the Eastern Conference. Granted, they were only two games into the season, but seeing how they had played I thought maybe I could get used to this. Well, I should have clipped that out when I saw it. Elizabeth Abbarno writes... … [Read more...] about Sabres' ability to come back an encouraging sign

'The Buffalo Sabres started the season like a runaway tractor-trailer. But over the past three games they've stalled out on the railroad tracks, and a freight train known as the Philadelphia Flyers is bolting their way.' … [Read more...] about Sabres hope to get back on track against Flyers

'Sabres doctors instructed Afinogenov last Thursday to take a full week off without exercise of any kind, much less skating. That decision will be revisited before Afinogenov will be cleared to practice with the team.' … [Read more...] about Afingenov off skates after another setback

' Including the playoffs, Buffalo is 8-2 in its last 10 games against the Flyers.' … [Read more...] about Sabres vs. Flyers

'In both regular-season losses there last season, coach Bill Barber publicly ripped their work ethic. After a 2-1 setback on Oct. 10, 2001, Barber made the team skate nonstop for 36 minutes in Philadelphia the next day as punishment.' … [Read more...] about Flyers shuffle off to scene of horrors

'For the Flyers, right winger Radovan Somik (hip flexor) is out. For the Sabres, center Johan Hecht (knee) and right winger Maxim Afinogenov (concussion) are out.' … [Read more...] about Tonight's Game

'"Their speed on the forecheck and their speed on the counterattack gives most teams trouble," he said. "But they gave this team a lot of trouble. "Their quickness, and their overall quickness with tenacity, was a real thorn for the Flyers. It seemed that every mistake that somebody made ended up in the net. I also think that Buffalo has a unique group, … [Read more...] about Flyers hope to get their wings in Buffalo

'The payroll is still modest, the talent is thin and the Sabres' future is as murky as ever. But when it comes to the Flyers, the Sabres' mission is always quite clear.' … [Read more...] about Saved by the NHL, Sabres still a rival

'Hamel played like a player possessed while in Rochester. For his efforts he got a recall when forward Jochen Hecht went down with a knee injury.' … [Read more...] about Hecht injury opens door for Hamel

If the Sabres are trying to generate water-cooler buzz versus county-wide ambivalence, is a game like last Thursday's wide-open 4-4 draw against the Rangers actually better than a buttoned-down 2-1 victory circa 1999? I say “absolutely.” … [Read more...] about If you can't win &#8217em all, why not score a lot?

'"Our team (stunk) last year," Varada said. "We didn't do that well. Everything was going downhill."' … [Read more...] about Varada's lonely workouts paying off now

Maybe it's just this season on the edge where every victory is like winning the Stanley Cup and every loss is a Darius Kasparaitis flipper past The Dominator in overtime of the seventh game, but Saturday night's loss was downright discouraging. Why? Because now we have a trend on our hands. In their three-game winless streak, the Sabres have slowly but surely reverted … [Read more...] about Now it's a trend o Sabres on 3-game winless streak

'"That was probably the biggest part of the game," Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff said. "We had poor execution. I don't think we had one chance. We had one tip that was maybe our best chance, but I think that gave them a little momentum right after that."' … [Read more...] about Sabres lose as power play fizzles

'Mark Hamister might have been first out of the gate, but Tom Golisano appears to be the stronger turtle in this race. Sherry Bassin and his crew still haven't submitted a bid, and word from Montreal was they were trying to scrape together another $15 million. It's become clear Alan Maislin doesn't quite have the money.' … [Read more...] about Inside the NHL