Archives for May 2, 2006

‘“We were a good road team,” Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said. “We got to go out and win a road game. That would make a big statement. If you’re going to play a long way in the playoffs, you got to win road games.”’

‘”We got outplayed again,” Forsberg told reporters after Game 5. “We’re making a habit of not working. There’s nothing to say about the way we played except we have to be better. I thought we came in here with momentum — wow, we won the last games at home — but we just aren’t playing well enough up here to win games.”‘

‘”It’s a bigger advantage for us at home,” Hitchcock said, “because (Ruff) has some nice matchups for himself in Buffalo.”‘

‘Given the Sabres haven’t figured out how to win a playoff game in Philly and the Flyers have won just once in their past 11 trips to Buffalo, it’s reasonable to think the Sabres could be looking ahead.’

‘We’ll see how Afinogenov fares tonight back in Philly. If the Sabres are going to wrap up the series, their best players need to be their best players. They also need to be team players. Afinogenov is among the most electrifying players in the league, but his speed and puck-handling ability are useless unless they are harnessed.’

‘Hecht casually strolled out of the Sabres dressing room and down the hall while some of his teammates took the ice for an optional practice Monday morning in HSBC Arena. He exhibited a sheepish look when he walked past a reporter, who asked for a moment of Hecht’s time. “Nope,” Hecht said, smiling but not breaking stride.’

'"We haven't put in 60 minutes yet in Philadelphia. Two periods here and two periods there and we've had a bad period or had pockets in each game where we haven't played well," says Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff.'

‘Then he took his place in front of the net and faced the demons lurking over his shoulder since Friday night, when he allowed a seemingly harmless shot by the Flyers’ R.J. Umberger to slither under his arm. The goal broke a 3-3 tie and sent the Flyers toward a 5-4 win that evened the best-of-seven series at two games apiece. To Miller’s detractors, the goal suggested the rookie might be cracking. But Miller held the Flyers scoreless in Sunday’s 3-0 win, leaving Buffalo with a chance to end the Flyers’ season tonight at the Wachovia Center.’

‘Derek Roy stares blankly when a reporter asks him if he knows who Kate Smith is.’

‘We don’t mean to imply that Forsberg is bar hopping until all hours in Buffalo, but the point is this: He has looked like a leading Conn Smythe Trophy candidate in the Flyers’ two wins in Philly. He has looked, at times, like the Invisible Man in their three losses in Buffalo. In other words, as Forsberg goes, so go the Flyers.’