Archives for May 2007

'Instead, the team that still feels the sting of the controversial Stanley Cup-winning goal from Brett Hull eight springs ago, swallowed whatever bitter words were on the tip of their tongues because they have felt fortunate to have had their share of video reviews go their way in the first and second round of the 2007 playoffs.' … [Read more...] about New York gets the win and video call

'Buffalo Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff told reporters yesterday that he wanted his team to play "ugly." Instead, he received an ugly effort from his squad and appeared to get an ugly decision from the referees last night in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semi-final.' … [Read more...] about Lundqvist lifts Rangers into series tie

'The controversy overshadowed a strong effort by Lundqvist and the Rangers, who have held the league's top-scoring team to two goals over the last eight periods. "Don't forget that they were one of the best teams down the stretch and then they swept Atlanta," Ruff said. "Not for a minute did I anticipate that this would not be a tight series."' … [Read more...] about Rangers ‘power’ to 2-1 win over Sabres, tie series

'"What we're looking for is either confirm what the call is on the ice, or we have to have a conclusive picture of the puck being in the net," Bob Hall, the supervisor of officials for the series said in a statement. "It's what we're looking for in this case because the on-ice ruling was no goal. We looked and looked and looked. No replay that we have seen shows it definitely … [Read more...] about NY Rangers 2, Buffalo 1

'"I haven't had a chance to look," said Miller of the controversial ruling at the end. "Whatever we say, it won't matter. The game is over, they made the ruling, and we have to move forward and go back to Buffalo."' … [Read more...] about NY Rangers 2, Buffalo 1

'Briere thought his team was dealing with things a lot better in the final 10 minutes of Game 4. He thinks they need to take a simpler approach into Friday's Game 5. "When we started crashing the net in the third period, we got more chances," Briere said. "We have to do that right from the start in the next game."' … [Read more...] about Sabres weighed down by pressure of high expectations

'The Rangers would take a two goal lead as the Sabres turned over the puck in their own zone that left Brendan Shanahan alone in front. Shanahan out-waited Ryan Miller to make it 2-0. But Buffalo would come right back as Ales Kotalik pounded home a one-timer just 33 seconds later. Late in the third with the Buffalo net empty, Daniel Briere would appear to get the puck across … [Read more...] about Rangers Even Series With 2-1 Victory

'The puck at least partially crossed the goal line and then disappeared underneath Lundqvist's pads. Replay officials looked at the play for several minutes before referee Bill McCreary announced to the crowd (and the Sabres displeasure) that it was no goal.' … [Read more...] about Sabres Lose Game 4 On Controversial Call

'I think as an objective observer, I can honestly say it was an obvious goal. On the normal speed from the high view, there is a fraction of a second where that space between the puck and goal line can be seen. On the other hand, the Sabres know they won't win them all, and they had been on the positive end of one crucial no-goal and a goal in the Islanders series, as well as a … [Read more...] about Ruff and Sabres Show the Right Stuff Despite Loss

'In the last two years, I can't think of a single playoff performance in which the Sabres seemed so out of sync. The Rangers continually beat them to loose pucks, won battles in the boards, and outhustled them at every turn; for all the talk about the Sabres' speed, the Rangers looked like the faster team for 48 minutes tonight.' … [Read more...] about Grading the Sabres: Game 4

'"It comes down to little things," said Miller, who finished with 26 saves. "We keep saying it, and eventually we've got to deliver on it, is that we can play better."' … [Read more...] about Series Tied and Heading To Buffalo

'Yet, for fifty minutes, the rebellious Sabres perplexingly ignored their coach's pleadings, mustering little sustained pressure on offense, while committing a bucketful of turnovers, to fall behind 2-0. Finally awaking to bombard New York with a 11-4 shot barrage in the closing ten minutes of action, Buffalo saw its fate hinge on another fateful video review, eventually denied … [Read more...] about ECSF # 4: Rangers 2, Sabres 1

'The power play will be under intense scrutiny as the main reason the highest-scoring team in the regular season flew out of Manhattan having scored only two goals in almost eight periods at Madison Square Garden. Buffalo never held the lead in either game.' … [Read more...] about Photo finish

'The Rangers are starting to play the Devils’ style of hockey. It’s not the best style to watch, but it’s working for them.' … [Read more...] about Rangers tie series at two amidst controversy

'He'll be replaced by Dan Paille, who will play in his first game this postseason. Paille will play on fourth line with Adam Mair and Tim Connolly.' … [Read more...] about Afinogenov A Healthy Scratch For Game 4