Archives for November 18, 2011

‘Buffalo begins its third straight set of Friday-Saturday outings when it visits the Carolina Hurricanes tonight and follows that by hosting Phoenix. The schedule will repeat itself for the next month, giving them seven straight weekends filled with hockey.’

‘Myers, meanwhile, was neither fined nor suspended for his high hit to New Jersey’s Dainius Zubrus. The NHL’s department of player safety decided that although Zubrus’ head was the principal point of contact, Myers did not target Zubrus. Therefore, the incident was not in violation of Rule 48, which governs head shots.’

‘”One hundred percent. Absolutely,” Stafford said Thursday, barely letting the question leave a reporter’s mouth. “You just got to focus on things you can control such as your habits, how you’re working and not getting distracted. I know that if things aren’t going well for me, all I need to focus on is making sure I’m strong on the puck, making sure I’m skating and everything else will take care of itself.”‘

‘”I am standing behind the university,” Pegula told TSN. “Our concern and compassion should be for the children involved in these terrible allegations. Whomever may have been involved in any way, anyone who knew anything, they’ve got to come clean. This is not about covering your ass. Telling the truth now will go a long way toward getting everyone through this.”‘

Buffalo Sabres (11-7-0) at Carolina Hurricanes (6-10-3) (The Sports Network)
Canes look to solve defensive woes against Sabres (NHL.com)
Gameday: Hurricanes vs. Sabres CarolinaHurricanes.com)

‘Brendan Shanahan, the NHL’s senior vice-president of player safety, reviewed the play today and came to the conclusion that there was significant head contact. However, he felt Myers did not target Zubrus’ head and tried for a body check when Zubrus leaned forward to reach for the puck.’

‘”This is not about covering your ass. Telling the truth now will go a long way towards getting everyone through this. If there’s going to be a blind allegiance to anyone or anything here, it needs to be the university and to the truth…that’s how we get to the bottom of what happened, that’s how we get our image back.”‘

‘With Weber out, the Sabres called up defenseman T.J. Brennan from the minors. Buffalo’s 2007 second-round draft pick, Brennan has an opportunity to make his NHL debut on Friday, when the Sabres travel to play Carolina. He has two goals and six points in 16 games with AHL Rochester this season.’

‘Paul Hamilton reports from practice at the First Niagara Center that five Buffalo Sabres are not practicing. Ryan Miller, Cody McCormick, Thomas Vanek, Patrick Kaleta, and Mike Weber are not on the ice with the rest of the team this morning.’