Archives for December 4, 2003

'The loss snapped the Sabres three-game home winning streak and dropped them to 3-4 in their last seven games.'

'Branko Radivojevic scored with 4:03 remaining as the Coyotes let a pair of leads get away before pulling out a 3-2 victory over the Buffalo Sabres.'

'Wednesday night's defeat came by a 3-2 score at the United Center. The Buffalo Sabres were the opponent. But the way the Hawks are playing, needing perfection and getting less than that, it could have been any team.'

'C Daniel Briere is playing his first game against the team that drafted him.'

'The Buffalo Sabres have a history of losing the games they're supposed to win. That's something they want to make a thing of the past, and Wednesday night they made a positive step by grinding out a 3-2 victory against the Chicago Blackhawks in the United Center.'

'Wednesday's game was nearly a carbon-copy of games on the recently completed six-game trip. Defensive lapses, a woeful offense and an impotent power play led to a two-goal deficit that a late goal and a frantic final flurry couldn't overcome.'

'The Sabres scored first when Daniel Briere took a pass from former Hawk J.P. Dumont at center ice, skated away from Hawks defenseman Nathan Dempsey on the breakaway and slipped the puck past Hawks goaltender Michael Leighton with 10:53 gone in the second.'

'Leighton's record dropped to 1-8-2, making him and Craig Anderson a combined 1-13-2 for the season. The two rookie goalies are being forced to be nearly perfect every night because of the lack of offense.'

'"I don't think it's fair to judge the trade on goals and assists," Briere said. "That's what I'm here for, to bring some offense to the Sabres. But Chris' role is different. They want him to score goals, sure, but what they really needed was a big presence down the middle, which they didn't have in Phoenix."'

'“We knew they were wounded and they were going to play hard,'' Briere said. “You know they're going to come out strong. The good thing is after you get that lead, it's mentally tough for them to come back in the game.'''