Archives for April 2, 2008

'It’s over for the Sabres if eighth-place Philadelphia and seventh-place Boston (91 points each) both earn a point tonight. Ninth-place Washington beat Carolina on Tuesday and has 90 points, two more than Buffalo.' … [Read more...] about Staying alive: Sabres still in playoff hunt

'Boston and Philadelphia are tied for seventh at 91 points and Washington pulled into a tie with Carolina at 90 with a 4-1 win Tuesday night. One of those two teams will win the Southeast Division to finish third, with the other in the battle for eighth.' … [Read more...] about Still eyeing the prize

'By now, if you’re a born, raised and tortured Western New York sports fan, you can predict where this is going. Boston will lose tonight, keeping Buffalo’s playoff fantasy intact going into Montreal on Thursday night.' … [Read more...] about Shootout win won&#8217t ease pain to come

'“He’s been working extremely hard to get himself ready to play,” Ruff said in Air Canada Centre. “It’s been a tough situation for him. I wouldn’t want to go through what he went through to try to get himself back in shape to play. The testing has been demanding. The skates have been demanding.”' … [Read more...] about Numminen fit to play, but will he play?

'It probably won’t be enough to get the Sabres into the playoffs, and it’s conceivable they’ll wake up on Thursday officially eliminated, but Tuesday’s game provided a valuable lesson the Sabres keep forgetting: Work hard, go to the net, and you’ll be rewarded.' … [Read more...] about Sabres get off the mat one more time

'But if Sundin does leave, it won’t be due to declining production. In his 12 full seasons as a Leaf -- he played just 47 games in his first season after coming to Toronto from the Quebec Nordiques -- Sundin has averaged 33 goals and 45 assists per year. If he doesn’t play again, as Maurice insisted, he’ll finish 2007-08 with 32 goals and 46 assists.' … [Read more...] about Sundin out, Leafs career could be through

Razor looks sharp in loss (Toronto Sun) Mats done, but is he done? (Toronto Sun) Fletcher has a feeling captain will return (Toronto Sun) Farewell Wellwood (Toronto Sun) Sabres shoot past Leafs (Toronto Star) Raycroft does his best to dash Sabres' hopes (Toronto Star) Sundin comes to crossroads (Toronto Star) Leafs need to see the world (Toronto Star) Sabres live … [Read more...] about Wednesday’s Toronto Coverage

'Afinogenov, in the sixth round of the shootout, faked right and shot left against Toronto goalie Andrew Raycroft. “I had a couple of plans in my mind,” Afinogenov said. “But that was the move I wanted to make.”' … [Read more...] about Maxim Afinogenov scores winner in shootout as Sabres beat Maple Leafs 4-3 to avoid elimination

'“I told the team, we have a chance,” Ruff said after the 4-3 comeback win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday night. “We have to sit around tomorrow and have some things happen. But I told them, ‘Let’s get to Saturday and make someone win.”’' … [Read more...] about Sabres rally to beat Leafs and keep slim playoff hopes alive

'Following a scoreless overtime during which Kaberle hit the post during a Toronto power play, the contest went to the shootout. Both shooters scored in the first round but neither side lit the lamp through the next four rounds. Finally, in the sixth shootout frame, Miller stoned Johnny Pohl before Afinogenov's double-deke move kept the Sabres' playoff hopes alive.' … [Read more...] about Buffalo 4, Toronto 3 (SO)

'Buffalo would tie it up 2-2 midway through the third as Steve Bernier crashed into the net, with the puck trickling across the goal line. There was a lengthy review of the play to see if the net came loose before the puck crossed the line but was ultimately upheld as a goal. Toronto took the lead right back though as Alex Steen scored just minutes later. The Sabres would get a … [Read more...] about Still Alive!