Archives for February 2009

'“Once they got the lead, they put a lot of bodies back,” Ruff said. “We didn’t win enough battles. We didn’t quite get there.”' … [Read more...] about Sabres fall to Ducks

'In Buffalo, his departure would be perceived as giving up on the postseason.' … [Read more...] about Connolly deal can&#8217t be dismissed

'“Anytime I get a chance to come back here and play against a team I grew up listening to on the radio is certainly special,” Marchant said. “You always get a little more geared up. It’s been a struggling season for me offensively but I knew it was bound to go in one of these times. What better place and what better time.”' … [Read more...] about Home is sweet for Marchant

'The Sabres did just enough wrong to kill their chances of winning. They gave up a breakaway before the HSBC Arena crowd had settled into its seats. They missed open nets. They allowed a short-handed goal. Add them all up, and even a fully stacked squad would have trouble. When a team is missing starting goaltender Ryan Miller and leading scorer Thomas Vanek, say goodnight.' … [Read more...] about Error apparent in Sabres’ loss

'In that 12 years, for the most part, Buffalo has been a defense-first team. For all but the two years coming out of the lockout, Lindy Ruff has preached defense. And yet, for some reason, the Sabres have never had a stud lockdown 30-minute per game defenseman in that time.' … [Read more...] about Studless Defense

Marchant goes home and has big night for Ducks (Orange County Register) Photo gallery (Orange County Register) Photo gallery (AnaheimDucks.com) Photo gallery (Sabres.com) Photo gallery (Buffalo News) … [Read more...] about Wednesday’s Anaheim Coverage

'Patrick Lalime didn’t have a strong debut in his first start since a 3-2 loss at Anaheim on Feb. 2. Lalime, who made 18 saves, dropped to 2-8-1 and hasn’t won since Dec. 13.' … [Read more...] about Giguere stops 34 shots in Ducks 3-2 win

'"It's a tough loss," said Sabres coach Lindy Ruff. "We played well at times, but we didn't take advantage of some situations."' … [Read more...] about Anaheim 3, Buffalo 2

'The Sabres had a chance to take the lead for the first time about midway through the second period when Bobby Ryan went to the box for goaltender interference, however it was the Ducks who capitalized during the Buffalo power play. Marchant swooped in for a shorthanded chance and made the most of it, beating Lalime for his 3rd goal of the season to put Anaheim up 2-1.' … [Read more...] about Ducks Hang On For 3-2 Win Over Sabres

Pirates staring at empty net (Portland Press Herald) Pirates situation in goal is looking bleak (Maine Hockey Journal) … [Read more...] about Wednesday’s Portland Coverage

'“I think you don’t want to make too big of a change. Maybe you don’t want to work as hard, or as long maybe on the ice, save a little more [energy] for the games,” he said. “You just want to feel good about yourself and your game.”' … [Read more...] about Lalime ready for starring role

'“It’s a challenge ... to be ‘the man,’” Lalime acknowledged.' … [Read more...] about With Miller out, Sabres turning to Lalime

'I was in reading class in fourth grade just before dismissal when I heard other kids saying that someone had died. Then someone said, “Tim Horton,” and I felt a terrible chill.' … [Read more...] about A hard lesson from a hockey great&#8217s death

'"I'm mad that we lost our starting goaltender. I'm a lot more mad at the situations in the Ottawa [games] we played here than anything that happened in this game. And I'll leave it at that. You can write whatever you want."' … [Read more...] about Sabres’ Ruff, Miller, Rivet reject critics

'Lalime has been OK lately. He played well in the loss at Anaheim, which plays at HSBC Arena tonight. But he has started and won exactly one game since Oct. 13. Hardly a cause for optimism.' … [Read more...] about Sabres left with nowhere else to turn