Archives for January 2, 2008

'New Year’s Day in Western New York was a day for real people showing the rest of the nation what their community is made of. We did good.' … [Read more...] about WNY shines in Ice Bowl

'It gives me time to admire the varsity jackets the Sabres' coaching staff is wearing. With the franchise's original logo, the jackets are more old school than Gabe Kotter, and I want one.' … [Read more...] about The Ice Bowl, as it happened

'"I lost the puck," Miller said. "I felt like he just kind of threw it back in. I was going to go for a tip check on him and he was trying to get around me."' … [Read more...] about A Winter Classic … except the finish

'"I'd love to do it again," Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said. "I thought it was very good for the game. It really brings you back to the roots."' … [Read more...] about Sidney Crosby and the snow is a win-win for NHL in outdoor game

'The Winter Classic ratings also surpassed Wayne Gretzky's final game, which was broadcast on Fox on April 18, 1999, and drew a 2.5/6.' … [Read more...] about First outdoor NHL game played in US draws big TV numbers

'The NHL should learn a lesson from this experience as to why an idea like the Winter Classic is embraced, while other recent attempts at selling the sport have fallen flat. The fact is the outdoor game puts an emphasis on nostalgia, and further underlines what tremendous passion professional hockey players have for their sport. The conditions were less than ideal for the … [Read more...] about Winter Classic is a step in the right direction

'Pregame activities: Hey, how great is it when you are driving into the stadium at 9 a.m. and folks already are packed into parking lots, hanging out in front of barbecues, fire pits and the like, roasting meat, drinking beer and playing road hockey? OK, nutritionally not so great, but in terms of atmosphere, boffo. Grade: A.' … [Read more...] about Our grades from the Winter Classic

'Tailgaters were already hard at it in the parking lots surrounding Ralph Wilson Stadium at breakfast time Tuesday. What's that old saying about beer being the breakfast of champions? Well, if that's the case, there were a lot of champions in attendance. Among the ubiquitous fire pits and barbecues, the odd street hockey game broke out.' … [Read more...] about We're live from Buffalo

'The Sabres would outshoot the Penguins 14 to 2 during that second period but they couldn't find any other way to solve Ty Conklin yet again.' … [Read more...] about Classic Buffalo

'The weather: I can't blame anything on anyone individual player after that game. So blaming the weather is an easy cop-out that I'm going to take. The snow falling, the wind blowing and the air turning faces into works of art (see: Sergei Gonchar when he sat on the bench) all made for a horrific set up that the players were all too glad to get out of. But the … [Read more...] about Buffalo pulls off 'The Snow Bowl,' but Sabres don't win

'I'm still cracking up after that commercial with Ryan Miller dueling another goalie in a match of Yo Mama jokes, Miller winning with a retort in Japanese (I think): "Yo Mama's so ugly she made an onion cry."' … [Read more...] about Game within a game

'Oh sure, there were Penguins backers in the packed house of 71,127 the largest to watch an NHL game. But this was mostly a celebration of the love affair between the Sabres and people of Western New York. And the players couldn't help but notice.' … [Read more...] about Fans Delight in Snow 'n' Ice

'The crowd was really into this game. For the most part, fans dressed and braced for colder weather, and barely an empty seat could be seen, even late in the third period.' … [Read more...] about Ice Bowl is one for the ages, with a record NHL crowd

'Final arrest numbers were not available Tuesday evening, but the Ice Bowl seemed to present fewer challenges than the average Bills game for local law enforcement officials. “So far, it’s a piece of cake,” Orchard Park Police Chief Samuel M. McCune said late in the game. “The fans weren’t out there drinking as early as they do for a football … [Read more...] about Pond hockey provides Ice Bowl&#8217s warm-up act

'Because admission was a bargain, the crowd included many families with children.' … [Read more...] about For Sabres fans indoors, there&#8217s no place like home