Archives for May 18, 2007

Good old Ray of delight (Ottawa Sun) Briere raises red flag (Ottawa Sun) Sens' number came up (Ottawa Sun) Big men still play a role (Ottawa Sun) Clement says never say never (Ottawa Sun) Aw, shoot! Hit the net (Ottawa Sun) 'Champions, baby' (Ottawa Sun) Sabres stop the big boys (Ottawa Citizen) Playing a numbers game (Ottawa Citizen) OK, everybody take a deep breath … [Read more...] about Friday’s Ottawa Coverage

'It hasn't been an easy voyage for Spezza who, after being selected second overall in the 2001 entry draft, was summarily dismissed from his first training camp by general manager Marshall Johnston who, in explaining the demotion, harrumphed that the NHL is "a man's league."' … [Read more...] about Tough love has Spezza in starring role

'Buffalo fans, long the most nervous in sports because of their history of sporting disasters, are back on the bandwagon. The same folks who were abandoning ship last weekend when the Sabres lost the first two games at home to the Senators were seen knocking women and children out of the lifeboats in their hurry to get back on the good ship Sabres.' … [Read more...] about Buffalo does its best to stoke fear factor, but it won’t do any good

'Buffalo, which has lost a Stanley Cup to what should have been an illegal overtime goal and more Super Bowls than anyone in Buffalo cares to discuss, is so prone to panic that moments after the Sabres lost the first game of their series against the Senators, fans instantly began calling for the head of coach Lindy Ruff.' … [Read more...] about Searching for meaning while the players search for answers

'"Ottawa's a small market," he said. "There's no history there [of NHL playoff success] and what there is, is bad. People don't like Ottawa because of the politics. And Toronto Maple Leafs fans hate the Senators."' … [Read more...] about Maple Leafs fans just can’t bring themselves to watch Senators

'"We have to do our part to keep creating that doubt in their minds."' … [Read more...] about Sabres hope they can get inside Senators’ heads

'They key strategy question for Ruff will be how much he will shorten his bench. In Game 4, he eventually started using only four defensemen -- Henrik Tallinder, Toni Lydman, Brian Campbell and Teppo Numminen -- and that strategy seemed to pay off. He also cut minutes on his forwards.' … [Read more...] about Down 3-1, Buffalo still believes

'But clearly Alfredsson is to the Senators what Yzerman was to the Red Wings. Like Yzerman, Alfredsson has learned through the failures what makes a team successful, and he's practicing that craft splendidly.' … [Read more...] about Alfredsson leading Conn Smythe Trophy charge

'How could this team with so much hope and so much promise come up so badly at this most crucial time?' … [Read more...] about How Could This Have Happened?