Archives for December 2003

'He has started only once in nearly four weeks. He hasn't won in a month. He hasn't won a start in a month and a half. He hasn't recorded a shutout in almost a year.'

'Sabres coach Lindy Ruff had to dress seven defensemen Monday because he couldn't use Pominville and was short two other forwards. Taylor was at home, and leading scorer J.P. Dumont didn't make the two-game trip because he hurt his right hip in Friday's 3-1 victory over the Hurricanes.

The club was reluctant to place Dumont on injured reserve.'

'The Sabres have gone 13 straight games without scoring more than three goals.'

'I can see the wheels turning now: how am I, a teenager on a very limited income, going to afford Sabres tickets? Ticket prices have dropped drastically, and now cost little more than the passe dinner and a movie. A Sabres game could be a great way to spend a Saturday night with the guys, girls, or that special sports fan in your life, and it only costs $15 a seat, for the least-expensive spots.'

'Miller will make his third appearance this year with Buffalo. Martin Biron, Buffalo's No. 2 goalie, is 6-8-2 in 17 games and hasn't won a start since Nov. 17.'

'Noronen was hurt in Monday's 2-1 loss to Carolina. He has wrestled the No. 1 job away from Martin Biron, having started seven of Buffalo's last eight games.'

'Mika Noronen was just starting to take over the Sabres goaltending chores when he strained his groin last night in Carolina. He will be out at least a week. Lindy Ruff has called up Ryan Miller from Rochester and wouldn't say if Miller or Martin Biron will start tomorrow in the Marina against Washington.'

'"With the way Mika has been playing, it's giving our team a lot of confidence. He isn't giving up any trash," Ruff said.'

'Hurricanes goalie Kevin Weekes was a brick wall in stopping 21 shots to improve to 12-12-6 on the season. Buffalo's Mika Noronen (8-9-1) was impressive as well, stopping 29 shots as the Sabres fell to 14-19-3-1.'

'The Canes were down 1-0 in the second period despite outshooting the Sabres when Jeff O'Neill took a harmless-looking shot on a line change. Sabres goalie Mika Noronen made the save, but the puck bounced so high in the air that Noronen did a full 360 spin looking for it. Francis jumped from the bench to the middle of the goal-mouth scramble and tapped the puck past Noronen for his sixth goal of the season.'