Archives for December 10, 2003

Tonight’s game between the Buffalo Sabres and Detroit Red Wings will be the 107th meeting between these two teams. The Sabres hold a 51-42-13 edge over Detroit in the series and have been dominating at home against the Motor-City opponents winning 33 of 51 games played in Buffalo. The Red Wings hold a dubious distinction in Buffalo, winning the first ever NHL regular season game in the HSBC Arena 6-1 on September 27, 1996.

'Dominik Hasek will not play tonight after aggravating his injured groin in Monday's victory over the Los Angeles Kings, while backup netminder Manny Legace sprained his knee in the pregame skate.'

'Noronen never appeared to be in danger when Chris Drury's skate slit the goalie's neck during a drill. But the Sabres later discovered how dangerously close they came to reliving a Malarchuk nightmare. "I guess it was close," Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said, "very close."'

'The Sabres are 9-1-0 when they score three or more goals in a game.'

'''It's been tough,'' Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said about finding Hasek's successor.'

'There’s no doubt in my mind the Sabres had Ryan Miller pegged as their #1 goaltender long before this season began, and that never changed even though he got off to a less than stellar start that led to a trip down the 90 East to Rochester for a little recharging.'