Archives for 2004

'The Sabres need to be more demanding of their young players. They can’t keep waiting on Maxim Afinogenov and Tim Connolly’s potential. Either they produce or they’re gone. Make the decision and live with it.' … [Read more...] about Sabres ready to take the next step

'”The team worked so hard and was very intense and they tried their hearts out, you had to admire that. It would’ve been wonderful to make the playoffs this first year, but we didn’t make it. But lack of success, just like success, only lasts for a moment. So now, we’re already onto next year, and we have a lot of things to be concerned … [Read more...] about Sabres' progress excites Golisano

'''There's disappointment with not making the playoffs, but this job isn't done yet,'' general manager Darcy Regier said. ''It is, I feel, I don't want to say a beginning, but it takes us a long way down the road toward our goal. So there's gratification there.''' … [Read more...] about Future brighter for Sabres a year after bankruptcy

'As for Pyatt, he's another youngster rushed too soon and perhaps expected to do too much. At 6-foot-4 and 227 pounds he's been touted as the next Todd Bertuzzi, but his slow development now is raising unflattering comparisons to Brad Isbister and Chris Gratton.' … [Read more...] about Decisions for Oilers, Sabres

'Warm and fuzzy feelings aside, Golisano said he wants to get a better handle on the team's finances. Golisano's game plan is to see the annual deficit decrease by incremental amounts to the point where the team, and its fellow operations, finish each year in the black -- or close to it.' … [Read more...] about Sabres look to reverse losses

'The Sabres didn't make the playoffs but finish up a successful season with a 37-34-7-4 with 85 points. That's 10 more wins and 13 more points than last season when they were 27-37-10-8. The noted improvement should also be noted because Buffalo played in what many consider to be the hardest division in the NHL. The Northeast Division was the only division to … [Read more...] about Sabres Season Ends On Sour Note

'But there were so many ways the Sabres could have picked up enough points here and there to avoid an early offseason for an unprecedented third consecutive spring...'. … [Read more...] about Sabres get to the point: Too many got away

'He'll turn 41 in two months, might be facing surgery to replace two herniated discs in his neck and probably won't be the most attractive unrestricted free agent on the market given the probability of a lockout that threatens to wipe out the entire 2004-05 season.' … [Read more...] about Patrick still isn't shy, retiring type

'The Sabres were in playoff mode for the final two months because they accomplished so little in the first three.' … [Read more...] about Experience under pressure should help Sabres in future

'Both Dagenais goals were stoppable, but don't even think about pointing a purple forefinger at a goaltender when a team is being outshot 24-14 after two periods and 39-27 on the game. From start to finish, there wasn't a helping hand in sight for Noronen - and to his credit, he got his game in order after the Canadiens had taken a 4-1 lead fewer than four … [Read more...] about Habs end on a high note

'At least the Habs showed signs of life last night against a Sabres team that clearly left its game in Buffalo. The Canadiens ended a five-game losing streak with a six-goal outburst that was marred in the late going when Sabres coach Lindy Ruff sent out the thug batallion to stir things up.' … [Read more...] about Leafs likely foes

'Souray, who is playing with an ``upper body'' injury -- a sore wrist or shoulder -- blamed Sabres coach Lindy Ruff for sending out his tough guys in the third period. Andrew Peters tried to start a fight with Souray, but Stephane Quintal stepped in and they squared off. Quintal emerged with a welt on his left cheek. ``That's so typical of … [Read more...] about Montreal 6, Buffalo 3

'"I really wanted to win this game, the last one of the regular season," Montreal coach Claude Julien added. "It was important to beat Buffalo and finish on a winning note. We broke that losing streak and now we have momentum."' … [Read more...] about Montreal 6, Buffalo 3

'The Canadiens jumped out to an early 2-0 lead on tallies by Pierre Dagenais in the first half of the opening period. Dagenais, who had been a healthy scratch for five of the last 10 games took a feed from Michael Ryder on the left side and from the slot sent one past Mika Noronen to open the scoring at the 5:12 mark. A similar play four minutes later would lead to … [Read more...] about Offense finds life in season finale

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