Archives for March 26, 2007

‘”Every game has playoff ramifications,” said Ruff, who’s team has a chance to finish first in the overall standings for the first time in franchise history. “We need to answer the bell because that’s the type of hockey you’re going to need to play going into the postseason.”‘

‘Vanek has elevated his game and clearly is a rising star in the NHL. He was second on the Sabres in scoring with 37 goals and 74 points through 75 games – and his whopping plus-41 was tops in the NHL and far and away the best on the team.’

‘The life-long Sabres fan lists Atlanta’s Ilya Kovalchuk as a favorite player…Kane does admit that he’d love a return home. “Growing up in Buffalo I always wanted to be a Sabre. That’d be cool to see me get drafted there but I’m not really worried about wherever I go. Just getting drafted by a team that would want my rights – that’s exciting enough for me.”‘

'"It was a hard practice, and if things go as they have so far, I'm not seeing any problems with me playing Wednesday," said Kotalik. "We just did a lot of work to know how the knee would react in a full practice. We've been doing a lot of battling things in practice today and I felt pretty good. I felt strong and that's what I need to do to be able to come back on the ice."'

‘”If things keep going the way they’ve been doing so far, I’m not seeing any problems playing Wednesday,” said Kotalik, who added he will have to play with a knee brace.’

‘All due respect to Daniel Briere, who is the Sabre getting the MVP buzz, but is he having a hugely better season than Vanek? I realize that Vanek has to “pay his dues” to get the props he deserves, but he does lead Buffalo with 37 goals and even more impressively leads the NHL with a plus-41 plus-minus rating (goals scored at even strength when he’s on the ice).’

‘But this team is as loaded as any, and still mad as heck about the Sabres’ dismantling of them in the playoffs. If Ray Emery stays good and Ottawa keeps skating, the Sabres have a wired bear to tangle with in Round 2.’

‘What has been a marvelous regular season for the Buffalo Sabres can’t end fast enough for the club’s over-extended pro scouts. The Eastern Conference leaders are trying to get the book on up to six different first-round playoff opponents.’

‘They are relentless. They never give up, and they work hard as a team. They have great goaltending. They’ve shown the last two games against Toronto that if they don’t work hard, they’re just an average hockey team.’

Amerks’ winning streak ends (Rochester D&C)

Rochester left a big impression on Bednarski (Rochester D&C)

Gritty Crunch rallies for win (Syracuse Post Standard)

Syracuse 3, Rochester 2 (AP)

Winning Streak Stopped (RNews.com)

Syracuse ends Rochester’s streak at four games (Amerks.com)

Game notes (SyracuseCrunch.com)