Archives for December 6, 2011

‘”There’s a difference between getting bumped when a guy’s going for the puck and guys just taking a run through the crease,” Miller told The News on Monday. “You’ve got to show an effort in stopping. If you’re going to come to the net, it can’t be through the goalie.”‘

‘The league’s board of governors, meeting in California on Monday night, approved a four-conference format in its first realignment since 1998. The Sabres’ new conference will include traditional rivals Boston, Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa, while the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning are the newcomers.’

‘“That’s what amounts to one-eighth of our season, a 10-game suspension,” Ruff said. “I think they do it right. I think the message is, ‘We’re not putting up with this stuff.’ I think we need a strong message. Is five strong enough? I don’t know.”’

‘“It could’ve been a lot worse,” Gerbe said Monday inside the First Niagara Center after returning to practice. “But I guess if you had to pick one spot where I want it to be, this is where I want it to be. Not high, not low.”’

‘Jointly sponsored by the Sabres and AT&T, hockey fans can text the word SABRES to 50555 to donate $5 to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Buffalo, through Dec. 22. Proceeds will go toward the purchase of holiday presents for children in the 13 Boys & Girls Clubs of Buffalo locations.’

‘The Sabres had Jordan Leopold and Nathan Gerbe back at practice on Monday, but were missing Paul Gaustad, Pat Kaleta, Jochen Hecht, Tyler Myers and Brad Boyes.’

‘Ruff said the NHL can learn from some other leagues, “With a phone hearing the max he’ll get is five games. In my eyes is that a big message? It’s OK. I look at the NFL and the Detroit lineman (Ndamukong Suh) got two games for a six inch kick. He got kicked out of the game and got what would amount to 1/8th of our season which is a 10 game suspension. I think they do it right. I think the message there is we’re not putting up with this stuff. I think we need a strong message. Is five strong enough? I don’t know.”’

‘Sure, I’ll enjoy the one extra trip to Florida, but the NHL could’ve done it a lot better using teams closer to the state of Florida.’

Amerks look to rebound as another busy weekend approaches (Amerks.com)