Archives for December 7, 2003

'The Sabres have now lost three of four games, including two in a row at home. Not the best way to start December, a month that will see Buffalo play its most home games over a 30-day stretch for the entire season. It is relatively early in the season and rough stretches can be expected, but I get the feeling there will be a lot of Sabres fans smiling through gritted teeth when discussing their team this week.'

'Satan was held pointless for the 14th time in 15 games and was frustrated after the game. "I've got no comment for all your questions," he said. "What do you want me to say? I don't want to get into this. I don't want to create a mess."'

'"As of late I've been really happy with the ice time," Boulton said. "I've got no complaints. It's fun to be in the lineup every night. Everyone wants to play, and I'm getting a chance right now so I'm happy."'

'Tampa Bay's offense had been stagnant the past three weeks and was plagued by the lack of timely goals. But Afanasenkov scored one of the most timely goals of the season to rescue the Lightning in the first period.'

'In what should have been a desperate situation, the Lightning played a horrible first period and were fortunate to escape tied.'

'Andreychuk did more on pure adrenaline Saturday night. Playing in front of 70 family and friends in the city in which he began his career and still has a home, the Lightning captain scored the winner in Tampa Bay's 3-1 victory at the HSBC Center.'

'The Lightning stayed overnight in Buffalo because of the snow storm in New York, where Tampa Bay faces the Rangers at 5 p.m. today. The team planned a 10 a.m. flight.'

'Buffalo played strongly and created several chances, especially early in the game, but the All-Star goaltender kept Tampa in the game.'

'“We generated a lot of chances but (Khabibulin) made some big saves,'' Buffalo's Curtis Brown said. “That was the difference.'''

'"We had breakaways, I think we had nine chances overall," Buffalo coach Lindy Ruff said. "When Khabibulin is on, he's one of the best in the league, if not the best. And he was on tonight."'