Archives for November 2008

Last night was the 18th game of the season for the Buffalo Sabres, hardly a milestone moment in any team's season. But last night's game against Boston in which the Sabres lost 7-4 and lost their third game in a row epitomized the Sabres season: A fast and strong start followed by a difficult slump. … [Read more...] about With the Sabres in a funk, should we be concerned?

Pirates' winning streak stopped in shootout (Portland Press Herald) PB's shoot down Portland (Attleboro Sun Chronicle) Eight is enough for the Pirates (Maine Hockey Journal) Pirates Lose in Shootout in Providence, 3-2 (PortlandPirates.com) Pirates Merchandise Sale This Saturday (PortlandPirates.com) Saturday is Labatt Blue Light Hockey Night (PortlandPirates.com) P-Bruins … [Read more...] about Saturday’s Portland Coverage

'“We’re working hard,” said Sabres winger Daniel Paille, a team-worst minus-3 against the Bruins. “We’re just not concentrating enough where we need to be.”' … [Read more...] about A complete e180&#8217 for reeling Sabres

'“I told the players we’re not going the easy route any more. Our grit guys that are playing gritty aren’t coming out,” Ruff said.' … [Read more...] about Mancari, Paetsch in lineup

'Mancari (23 years old, 6’3”, 225 lbs.) is currently second in the AHL in scoring with 25 points (11+14) in 14 games. He has six multi-point games this season, including a five-point (3+2) outing in Portland’s season opener on Oct. 11 vs. Manchester. Mancari was named the AHL’s Player of the Week for the period ending Nov. 9, when he tallied eight points … [Read more...] about Sabres recall Mancari from Portland

'"I enjoyed my time in Buffalo with the Sabres, and I'd like to get back there," said Ellis, who played his first two games for Portland last weekend. "But for the time being, I'm glad to jump on a team that's playing well and plays hard every night."' … [Read more...] about His latest stop is Portland, and he’s fitting in fine

'"The time is now," Ruff said after practice in HSBC Arena. "This is not just a couple little mishaps. This is a stretch of poor games that has been poor in a lot of areas. .C.C. In an 82-game season, you deal with all these highs and lows and there's never a team that doesn't go through them. Maybe this is our little segment but now is the time to come out of it."' … [Read more...] about Ruff says etime is now&#8217 to end slump

'“With the sports hernia surgery, every day I came to the rink and I could do something more that I couldn’t do the day before,” Briere told Philadelphia reporters this week. “The improvement from day to day was huge, and I could see a big difference. With the groin, it is frustrating. There are days you come in and you say, ‘Wow, for two or three … [Read more...] about Briere remains sidelined with groin injury

Philadelphia (7-6-4) at Buffalo (9-6-3) (AP) Struggling Sabres look to snap slide (Sportsticker) Philadelphia Flyers (7-6-4) at Buffalo Sabres (9-6-3) (The Sports Network) … [Read more...] about Friday’s Philadelphia Coverage

'“It’s going to have to cost guys dearly with ice time,” Ruff said. “If you want to get focus, you want to get desperate, maybe some players will have to miss games... Really, that’s the only choice you have as a coach.”' … [Read more...] about Ruff warns players of consequences

'"We did a good job, we got out of the zone, but we don’t get the puck deep. Those little plays have turned into big plays. All the little plays on the ice, all the little detail plays that turned into goals for us that we worked hard, that our defense got up and made some good plays, they are wiped out by the poor plays we made defensively."' … [Read more...] about Lindy Ruff interview

'“He’s always had the talent, but now - I don’t know if it’s because he’s played quite a few games last year or not - he has that confidence.” Lydman said. “Coming into this year’s training camp he looked comfortable in the scrimmages and exhibition games and now he is carrying that into the regular season.”' … [Read more...] about Sekera gaining confidence

'"We have nowhere to point the finger except ourselves," Sabres center Paul Gaustad said. "It's hard work. It's hard work to cut down on chances. You can talk about it as much as you want. We talk it about too much. We have to execute."' … [Read more...] about Bruins knock Sabres down for the count

'"The deliberate head shots I definitely agree with. I don't think there's any excuse," the Buffalo Sabres coach said. "If it's a deliberate head shot where somebody has just gone over and elbowed somebody in the head or got his stick up, it should be dealt with and dealt with swiftly."' … [Read more...] about NHL issues a heads-up on illegal hits

Bruins load up in win (Boston Globe) Wins coming in all varieties (Boston Globe) Hunwick replaces his role model (Boston Globe) A wild night at Garden (Boston Herald) Manny Fernandez saves best (Boston Herald) Bruins’ Michael Ryder plays it cool (Boston Herald) Marc Savard reaches 600-point plateau (Boston Herald) Bruins afire on ice (Brockton Enterprise) Savard … [Read more...] about Thursday’s Boston Coverage