Archives for March 2007

'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

'Exploding with four unanswered tallies in rapid-fire succession, the Sabres snatched two points out of the grasp of their hated neighbors to the north and tightened the vise another notch on the Maple Leafs' dwindling hopes to make the postseason, heading into the rematch between the teams on Saturday in Toronto.' … [Read more...] about Game # 74: Sabres 5, Maple Leafs 4

'Toronto failed to move up in the Eastern Conference race and remains in 11th place, two points behind Carolina for the eighth and final playoff spot.' … [Read more...] about Sabres slice Leafs with four goal third period

Amerks come back to defeat Houston (Rochester D&C) Aeros blow three-goal lead (Houston Chronicle) Amerks Win Third Straight (RNews.com) Amerks rally past Aeros (Amerks.com) Americans rally for 6-4 win (Aeros.com) … [Read more...] about Saturday’s Rochester Coverage

'Tim Connolly skated again Friday morning. He will skate again tomorrow. Head Coach Lindy Ruff says that back-to-back skates are another test in Connolly's comeback. The next step is a non- contact workout. Ruff said that there is a chance Connolly could return to action before the playoffs begin.' … [Read more...] about Miller To Start Tonight. Connolly Skates Again