Archives for March 2007

'“We’ve got a lot of new faces in here,” goalie Ryan Miller said. “We need to go through a stretch like this. They weren’t here for the last time we needed to bounce back and rattle off some good games in a row. It’s completely necessary sometimes to realize what it takes to win hockey games. And we have an opportunity to do it.”' … [Read more...] about Devils creep closer as Sabres botch homestand

Rally for Amerks falls short in loss (Rochester D&C) Rats hold on after fast start (Albany Times Union) Albany 6, Rochester 4 (AP) Losing ways continue (RNews.com) Amerks fall to River Rats (Amerks.com) DaSilva, Bayda help River Rats drop struggling Americans (AlbanyRiverRats.com) … [Read more...] about Sunday’s Rochester Coverage

'"(The trap) slowed us down a lot," Sabres forward Derek Roy said. "I don't think we made good enough passes. Pucks seemed to be jumping over our sticks every time we had chance. ... We didn't get the puck deep."' … [Read more...] about Sabres fall into another ‘zone-trap’ by Minnesota

'The victory over Buffalo was even more impressive since New Jersey played with just 16 skaters for the majority of the game. The Devils were without forward Brian Gionta (groin) and defenseman Colin White (hand), and then lost Erik Rasmussen for most of the game after he was hit in the face with the puck following Brian Rafalski's clearing attempt seven minutes into the game.' … [Read more...] about Devils close within point of Sabres, losers of three straight

New Jersey (41-19-8) at Buffalo (44-18-5) (AP) Devils visit Sabres in Eastern Conference battle (Sportsticker) New Jersey Devils (41-19-8) at Buffalo Sabres (44-18-5) (The Sports Network) Game preview (NewJerseyDevils.com) Game # 68: New Jersey @ Buffalo (SabresFans.com) Race for Eastern supremacy heats up tonight (LetsGoSabres.com) … [Read more...] about Saturday’s New Jersey Coverage

'“It’s tough against those teams to come back,” Sabres winger Jochen Hecht said. “They line up four guys back. Once they get the lead, they just pack it in and live off turnovers.”' … [Read more...] about An offensive slumber

'One thing that has become painfully evident is that the Sabres are mediocre when they’re not skating well. Skating is about effort and nothing else, and it was absent for too many stretches in a 5-1 loss Friday night. Minnesota was the stronger, more resourceful team. It left with a lopsided win because it outworked Buffalo, plain and simple. You haven’t heard … [Read more...] about Wild lulls Sabres into night to forget

'“It’s disappointing either way,” Peters said Friday. “You hate to see someone be accused of something and not have it be true because it stays on their record all the time. And if it is true, it’s a shame that that happened.”' … [Read more...] about Peters to participate in Saskin probe

'Despite Miller starting his second game in three nights, Lindy Ruff said Friday that he’d go back to his all star again tonight against the New Jersey Devils. In his time with Columbus, Conklin played in just 11 games, posting a 2-3-2 record with a 3.30 goals-against average.' … [Read more...] about Miller yanked vs.Wild, but gets start tonight

'The message was blunt: "Commit yourself to being better," Ruff said Friday morning. "We asked him to make improvements in some areas, and part of it was the offseason program and the conditioning. Get leaner and quicker, which would mean better endurance. Make a bigger commitment."' … [Read more...] about Light playoff duty sent Vanek a clear message

Harding, wild dominate Sabres (Minneapolis Star Tribune) Light playoff duty sent Vanek a clear message (Minneapolis Star Tribune) Moore sparks road sweep (St. Paul Pioneer Press) Simon out indefinitely (St. Paul Pioneer Press) Simon's blow unacceptable in NHL (St. Paul Pioneer Press) … [Read more...] about Saturday’s Minnesota Coverage

'"He frustrated us a little bit," Buffalo center Derek Roy said of Harding. "It seemed every shot he made a save on he made it look easy. It's a tough night when the goalie's hot on the other side."' … [Read more...] about Minnesota 5, Buffalo 1

'Ryan finally broke through for the home team with 3:59 left in regulation, when he took the puck away from Skoula at the bottom of the right circle, skated in, and roofed a backhander over a fallen Harding.' … [Read more...] about Minnesota 5, Buffalo 1

'Buffalo had many chances to score in the second, with some coming on the first power play of the game, but could not put the puck past young goalie Josh Harding.' … [Read more...] about Minnesota Runs Wild Over Buffalo 5-1

'"It seemed like every shot, [Harding] would make the save look easy," said Derek Roy. "It's a tough night when the goalie is hot on the other side."' … [Read more...] about A Not So Wild Ride