Archives for January 28, 2007

'Paille's effort came after a chat with Ruff. Paille had been called up Jan. 13 from Rochester and suited up for the Sabres that night, but Ruff wasn't impressed with Paille's effort and let him know it. "I know I didn't have a good game," said Paille, Buffalo's first round pick (20th overall) in the 2002 NHL entry draft. "We had a little talk and he made me realize I had to step it up a little bit if I want to continue playing here. I want to be here and I'm going to do my best not to do that again."'

‘Attention Sabres fans and all the hockey experts predicting the Sabres to win the Stanley Cup this spring. It just isn’t going to happen.’

‘”We’re finding ways to lose instead of finding ways to win right now,” Sabres right wing Jason Pominville said.’

‘Like it or not, toughness is an issue. I’m not talking about fighters. Andrew Peters, Adam Mair and Paul Gaustad can scrap with anyone. The Sabres lack physical forwards who can wear down opposing defensemen, and they lack physical defensemen who can overpower physical forwards. It’s usually a factor in the playoffs.’

'"I'm coming from a long way out," Briere said. "Maybe what happened earlier in my career makes me appreciate a lot what's going on right now, because I know I'm very lucky to still be playing hockey in the NHL."'

Isles turn back clock and Sabres (New York Daily News)

Old-time win (New York Post)

Asham’s goals key big comeback win (Newsday)

Injury forces Witt out (Newsday)

Isles storm back in third period to take down Sabres (NewYorkIslanders.com)

Photo gallery (NewYorkIslanders.com)

'"It just happened to be (against) Buffalo, but it's special any time you can come back in the third period of a game like that," current Islanders coach and former Buffalo coach Ted Nolan said. "Getting three of four points this weekend against teams like that is a good sign for us."'

'New York was trailing 3-2 in the third period when Asham tied the game with his second goal of the contest on a slap shot from the high slot that beat Miller 6:53 into the final frame.'

'Aaron Asham notched his second goal of the game seven minutes into the third to even up the score at 3-3. Then with just three minutes left in the third, New York took back the lead on a goal by Randy Robitaille that deflected passed Ryan Miller. The Islanders finished off Buffalo with one minute left on a goal by Andy Hilbert to cap off the 5-3 victory.'

'Off a Toni-Lydman turnover, the Islanders took the 4-3 lead with just over three minutes remaining in regulation. Randy Robitaille trapped Lydman's clearing attempt along the boards and fired a quick wristshot on net that Miller never saw to register his eighth goal of the season.'