Archives for April 3, 2004

The Buffalo Sabres took it to the brink. They put enough pressure on the New York Islanders the last two weeks where the Isles actually broke into a little sweat. The Sabres didn't know what was happening in Carolina. Without the knowledge of how the Isles were doing, the Sabres attended to matters at hand and attempted to defeat the Toronto Maple Leafs. … [Read more...] about Playoff hopes come to a screeching halt

'Buffalo can finish with 87 points, which would be the seventh-highest total among teams not to make the playoffs in NHL history.' … [Read more...] about Sabres' playoff dreams fade away

'Yes, there are questions, but now they have far more answers. In that sense, it's progress.' … [Read more...] about Sabres' doom comes with hopeful signs

'"I just think they had more jump than us," Grier said. "It's been a pretty big grind for us. Every game for the last month has been huge. It's been pretty intense and emotional, and I think sometimes that gets to you."' … [Read more...] about Belfour benefits from Isles' triumph

'To qualify for the post-season, the Sabres had to beat the Maple Leafs and hope that the woebegone Carolina Hurricanes could somehow upset the New York Islanders in a game that started at 7 p.m. in Raleigh. Fat chance. The Islanders had a 6-1 second-period lead by 8:25 p.m. -- roughly 20 minutes after the Leafs and Sabres faced off...'. … [Read more...] about One more to win home

'The Sabres, who claimed they had no idea what had happened in Carolina until their game was over, went on to lose 2-0 to the Leafs on third-period goals by Chad Kilger and Joe Nieuwendyk. But their fate had already been sealed when the Islanders held off a late Carolina charge and beat the Hurricanes 6-4, eliminating Buffalo from the Eastern Conference playoff race.' … [Read more...] about No playoff party for Buffalo

I have a lot of great memories here, so it was nice to get a win like this, he said of his 74th career whitewash. We played great defensively, something we will have to do going into the playoffs. … [Read more...] about Eagle Buffaloes them again

By defeating the Sabres, the Leafs set a single-season franchise record with 101 points. Yet that total might be good enough for only sixth place in the East, an indication of just how tight the race in the conference is heading into the final weekend of the regular season. … [Read more...] about Winner goes home

The Leafs, 2-0 winners over the Buffalo Sabres last night are, by my reckoning, close. Start with the superb Brian Leetch, plus-12 in his past 10 games for the Leafs and Bryan McCabe, whose game has risen dramatically with Leetchs arrival at the trade deadline. … [Read more...] about A Klee cog for Leafs D

Chris Drury is willing to let bygones be bygones. The Buffalo Sabres forward missed two games because of a concussion after being decked by Joe Nieuwendyk of the Maple Leafs during a game March 15 at the HSBC Arena. … [Read more...] about Leafs watch

'Belfour needed to make only 17 stops last night, though several were game savers as he recorded his ninth shutout of the season, tying his career best.' … [Read more...] about Leafs go down to wire

'As the Leafs were protecting a 1-0 lead in the final minute last night, Quinn deployed Kilger and Francis up front and Leetch on the back end, surely a sign he feels very confident in those recent additions.' … [Read more...] about Leafs playing with fresh commitment

'But how did he break up all those fights over the years and never miss a game? "The biggest, toughest men have a real mutual respect for one another. If they fight, they get their licks in and then eight out of 10 times they'll stop on their own. All you have to do is say, `Are you guys done?' They'll compliment one another and go to the penalty box. … [Read more...] about They whistle while they work

'Buffalo goaltender Martin Biron had to be sharp in the early going because the Leafs were dominant. He made wonderful pad saves on Nieuwendyk and Nik Antropov in the opening minutes.' … [Read more...] about Kilger's timely goal lifts Toronto

A young fellow rushed into the room with the news that the Islanders took an early 2-0 lead. An elderly Buffalo media type turned to a colleague with a weary air. We are a city of losers, so what do you expect? he growled. We are the home of wide-right, the goal that should have been disallowed, and we also raised John Wayne Bobbitt and Timothy McVeigh. And O.J. lived here for … [Read more...] about Angst always wins out in Buffalo