Archives for March 24, 2007

Sabres at Leafs (Toronto Star) Buffalo (48-19-7) at Toronto (35-29-10) (AP) Maple Leafs aim for split in home-and-home series vs. Sabres (Sportsticker) Buffalo Sabres (48-19-7) at Toronto Maple Leafs (35-29-10) (The Sports Network) Game notes (MapleLeafs.com) Game # 75: Buffalo @ Toronto (SabresFans.com) Sabres, Leafs set for rematch Saturday night (LetsGoSabres.com) … [Read more...] about Saturday’s Toronto Coverage (Part II) (Updated 2:00 p.m.)

'“I think they made a pretty big error in sitting back on us after they got up a few goals,” said Sabres goalie Ryan Miller, who made 40 saves. “It allowed us to skate, and our guys did a great job of shooting for holes and getting the passes. These guys can really play some hockey when they get their feet moving. It was a nice turnaround.”' … [Read more...] about Sabres demoralize Leafs

'“I feel good,” Connolly said Friday in a rare interview. “There’s such a brighter outlook now. I just have to get through this, and when I start playing I won’t have a lot of time to get into shape, but I’ll do the best I can the next few weeks.”' … [Read more...] about Connolly hopes to be back before playoffs

'Showing why they lead the NHL with 103 points, the Sabres came back with a display of offensive wizardry, scoring four times in a span of 8:45 to pull out a thrilling, not to mention stunning, 5-4 victory over the Leafs at raucous HSBC Arena.' … [Read more...] about Sabres go on a goal blitz

'Vanek, who had gone seven games without scoring before Sunday’s goal in a 4-3 overtime loss to Atlanta, scored for the second time in three games, tipping a Dmitri Kalinin shot past Andrew Raycroft just over five minutes into the opening period. The goal was Vanek’s 36th on the season, but he wasn’t through. In the third, with the Sabres trailing 4-1, Vanek … [Read more...] about Vanek proves slump’s officially through

'"A lot of Leaf fans were here, so we definitely wanted to satisfy our fans as well," Vanek said. "This was probably the most exciting win of the year given that it is the Leafs. We started coming back from down 4-1, the fans started getting excited and the players got even more excited."' … [Read more...] about Sabres leave Leafs clinging to hope

'"It's a tough place to be," Ruff said of the Leafs' 11th-place rank prior to the game. "I've been there. Going back to my time as an assistant in Florida, a couple of times we missed the playoffs by a point. Every game just seems so stressful, every bounce, every penalty. You know every little situation in a game is going to dictate where you'll be at the end of the year."' … [Read more...] about Ruff appreciates playoff position

'"How long has fighting been around the game of hockey?" the Sabres winger asked rhetorically. "It's part of the game, the fans love it and there's a need for it, for someone to protect their teammates at all times."' … [Read more...] about Enforcers worry about future

'For the first two periods it really did feel like a home game. It was Air Canada Centre South and the Leafs Nation was at their best. No suits, no shrimp cocktails, but just plain hockey fans excited to be at a game. It was a playoff atmosphere all the way. And what an atmosphere. The electricty is something rarely felt at the ACC. "This game has more Leaf fans than I have … [Read more...] about Winging it in Buffalo

'“Personally,I find it offensive,” Sabres enforcer Andrew Peters said of Campbell’s remarks. “Fighting in the NHL is a hard job and comments like that take away from what you mean to your team. It kind of feels like they’re saying we’re useless. I don’t think that way,and I think that if you asked 25 guys in this locker room, … [Read more...] about Sabres, Leafs not ready to stop dropping gloves

4 goals in 8:45 ... Can you say 'choke'? (Toronto Sun) Ruff appreciates playoff position (Toronto Sun) Enforcers worry about future (Toronto Sun) Winging it in Buffalo (Toronto Sun) Steen's parents win court ruling (Toronto Sun) Leafs reeling after collapse (Toronto Star) Leafs are now in deep hole (Toronto Star) Maple Leafs crumble in front of rivals (Toronto Globe and … [Read more...] about Saturday’s Toronto Coverage (Part I)

'"It was amazing," said Sabres forward Jason Pominville, who tied the game with just over six minutes left when he beat goalie Andrew Raycroft with a wrist shot on a partial breakaway. "It was a great game to be a part of."' … [Read more...] about Buffalo 5, Toronto 4

'"I'm pretty impressed with the comeback," said Miller. "I think they made a big error in sitting back on us after they got up in the goals. It allowed us to skate and our guys did a great job looking for holes and getting the passes. It was a nice turnaround."' … [Read more...] about Buffalo 5, Toronto 4

'Vanek got the comeback started on the power play when he ripped a wrist shot past Andrew Raycroft for his second of the night. Just a little under four minutes later, Daniel Briere notched his 31st goal of the season to pull Buffalo to within one. The Sabres’ rally continued at the 13:52 mark when Jason Pominville tied the score with his 32nd goal of the year. The … [Read more...] about Third Period Comeback Lifts Sabres Over Leafs 5-4

'The sellout crowd was already in playoff form as chants of "Let's Go Buffalo' and 'Go Leafs Go' went back and forth. And when Buffalo finished the comeback effort when Drew Stafford tipped Thomas Vanek's centering pass into the back of the net with 5:48 left to play, the place erupted. "The crowd, I never heard it that loud out there when we got that fifth one," said Stafford. … [Read more...] about Playoff Hockey Comes Early