Archives for December 31, 2002

He will start tonights home game against the New York Islanders, the Sabres said. Miller was 9-2-2 in his last 13 games for Rochester of the American Hockey League.

'''I know,'' Peca said on Tuesday, as the Islanders prepared to play at Buffalo. ''That's the way of life. Things happen. Sometimes we can never explain why they do. But it's worked out great for me.'''

'''If you look at our past four or five games, we're averaging four goals-against a game. We can't support that,'' Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said. ''Miller's been playing fabulous. … We need to win a hockey game.'''

'This year certainly has been the darkest in Sabres history.'

'“I’ve seen him a few times (over the past two weeks),” Regier said, “and I think he’s earned the opportunity quite frankly. That’s the driving force (for the recall).”'

'Buffalo, loser of six straight, tied the score late in the second period on a two-man advantage, but created little at even strength.'

'The opponent may only have been Buffalo, a team trying to deal with huge off-ice problems, but the Sabres continue to play Washington very tough every time the teams meet. Buffalo came from behind in the final 3:11 to beat the Caps in an earlier meeting this season.'

'The Sabres, 8-22-5-1, came into the game with the league's worst record. But, thanks to two lucky bounces that resulted in Buffalo goals, the Caps still needed goals from Zubrus, Mike Grier, Jaromir Jagr and a game-winner from rookie Ivan Ciernik with 8:24 to play to put away the battling Sabres.'

'Dmitri Kalinin, Miroslav Satan and Vaclav Varada scored for Buffalo, 1-8-1 in its last 10 games. The Sabres fell to 2-12-2-1 on the road.'

'"Last year, everyone here prided themselves on us having a better second half," said Buffalo's Martin Biron, who made 24 saves. "We got ourselves back in the playoff picture. We gotta do the same thing and get back in it and have a good second half."'