Archives for November 2011

'"Visually, I didn't like it," Poile said. "I didn't want my goaltender to be hit like that. Once again, maybe we don't have the proper wording in the rules right now. We can't change rules today - we can only change rules in March - and I think that would maybe be an area that we should look at."' … [Read more...] about Goalies aren’t fair game, GMs say

'Ray Shero, the Pittsburgh Penguins’ general manager, said: “Several of the general managers brought up the fact there’s only 60 goaltenders in the league. We have to be pretty careful.”' … [Read more...] about Inaction on Goalie Hit Is Criticized

'He doesn’t buy Lucic’s explanation that the Bruins’ forward was playing the puck and couldn’t avoid colliding with Miller in Buffalo’s 6-2 loss at Boston on Saturday. Miller also expressed disappointment in the NHL for not disciplining Lucic.' … [Read more...] about Sabres G Miller disappointed in Lucic, NHL

'After learning Tuesday that roughly two-thirds of GMs would have preferred to see a suspension in the case, Shanahan acknowledged that his mandate had been altered. "I think there's certainly a very heightened sensitivity to the goalies and the future of all the goalies in this league," he said. "Certainly they're not fair game. I think that players have to understand that. … [Read more...] about Message sent: NHL goalies can’t be hit

'"I think he said what he had to say to avoid getting suspended," said the Buffalo goalie. "It's the NHL, man. The guy can skate. He can stop, he can turn, he can pick his head up. He last touched it around the red line, and I touched it about the faceoff dot. That's like, from where I would challenge him on a breakaway, that's a matter of what -- like 10 feet of difference I … [Read more...] about Sabres’ Miller Questions Ruling, Says Team Has His Back

'"Today was the first day I did contact out there -- as little as it was," Hecht said, after missing the team's first 17 games with concussion symptoms. "[The next game] is out of the question, but I'm going to have to test and get hit in the next couple of days and get back in to game situations."' … [Read more...] about Sabres’ Hecht Cleared for Contact; McCormick Sits

'Keep in mind, learning how to play physical on a nightly basis is part of the process toward making him into a star. If he was ready to go toe-to-toe with players like Lucic, he would already be in the NHL.' … [Read more...] about Kassian not the answer to Sabres ‘toughness’ problem

Rochester Amerks' Alex Biega driven, determined to succeed (Rochester D&C) Amerks Kassian Learning the Ropes in Rochester (WHAM-TV) … [Read more...] about Wednesday’s Rochester Coverage

'His primary responsibility is ensuring that the ice remains as smooth as a pass off the stick of Jason Pominville. This task includes skating into the rink during television timeouts and hurriedly scooping up the snow that has kicked up and accumulated on the ice.' … [Read more...] about Sabres ‘Ice Man’: Hornell art teacher Daryl Smith moonlights on NHL ice crew

'The Sabres got a boost when coach Lindy Ruff put Derek Roy back on the top line between Thomas Vanek and Jason Pominville. That trio scored a pair of goals to get Buffalo even and the Sabres finally pulled out a dramatic 3-2 victory in a shootout.' … [Read more...] about Sabres prove resilient

'Myers is struggling in every area in the wake of signing his seven-year, $38.5 million contract extension that kicks in next season. He has no goals and just four assists in 16 games this year after posting 11 and 10 goals, respectively, in his first two years and averaging 42.5 points.' … [Read more...] about Benched Myers realizes he has to be better

'“If (Lucic) isn’t suspended, it just means teams will be able to do exactly what Lucic did,” Sabres coach Lindy Ruff told reporters Monday in Montreal prior to the ruling. “Their goaltender can play the puck, we can run him over. We can hurt him and all you get is a two-minute minor penalty. That is essentially what that means is that you can concuss the other team’s … [Read more...] about Lucic not suspended for hit on Miller

'I'm not one to condone an-eye-for-an-eye justice, but if the league isn't going to do anything to protect its star players not named Sidney Crosby, individual teams will have to.' … [Read more...] about Open Season On NHL Goalies

'Know something? Enroth was the only Buffalo player who caught my eye on Monday. Calder Trophy winner Tyler Myers surely didn't, because he was a healthy scractch. As for Enroth, everybody knew he was coming into a hostile environment shortly after the entire team was embarrassed. If he had played something south of very well, no-body could or would have blamed him. Instead, he … [Read more...] about Enroth gets the job done

'In the end, Lucic was not suspended, Shanahan saying in his ruling that he was satisfied with the Bruin's position - and it is utter nonsense - that there was nothing he could do to avoid the collision.' … [Read more...] about Sabres still rattled by Lucic hit on Miller