Archives for December 14, 2011

'Like so many other contests here this season, the Sabres fell behind early, blew a lead and showcased wretched decision making and puck management.' … [Read more...] about Sabres fritter away another home lead, fall to Senators in OT

'Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said cap concerns won’t force McNabb down to the minors right now. “He’s earned a spot right now the way he’s played,” Ruff said Tuesday morning inside the First Niagara Center. “We look at it we need to win games. I think when we get even more numbers back, maybe things change. There’s a lot of factors you have to evaluate on, and some of it is … [Read more...] about Sabres dress seven defensemen with Weber back

'"Right now, I don't know quite what it is. It's probably a little bit between the ears."' … [Read more...] about Sabres home cooked by Senators

'Ruff has been seeing the same problems from behind the bench that everyone else has noticed from the seats or the recliner at home. Thomas Vanek and Jason Pominville have combined for 24 goals and 61 points in 30 games, but his roster had been dragged down with too many passengers sitting in first-class seats without paying the fare.' … [Read more...] about Stafford, Roy, Ennis on notice

'Prevailing wisdom was that rookie Brayden McNabb would probably go back to Rochester when either Weber or Tyler Myers was ready to return. That wisdom went out the door Tuesday upon Weber's return. McNabb stayed in the lineup — and so did the struggling Marc-Andre Gragnani, who seemed on the verge of being a healthy scratch.' … [Read more...] about Weber’s returns causes Ruff to improvise

Costly win for Senators? (Ottawa Sun) Butler must shoot or sit (Ottawa Sun) A comeback at a cost (Ottawa Citizen) Anderson to unveil new heritage mask (Ottawa Citizen) Photo gallery (Ottawa Citizen) Victory, but at what cost? (Le Droit) Photo gallery (Le Droit) Senators lose LW Michalek to upper-body injury (AP) Photo gallery (OttawaSenators.com) Photo gallery … [Read more...] about Wednesday’s Ottawa Coverage

'“We’ve been nowhere near good enough at home all year,” Miller said. “I don’t think it’s time to panic, but it’s time to build the game that we need to be competitive and be a playoff-caliber team.”' … [Read more...] about Cowen nets OT winner, Senators beat Sabres 3-2

'Jason Spezza brought the puck into the offensive zone on the left wing and flung it into the right corner for Erik Karlsson. Karlsson turned and found an unchecked Cowen, who buried it behind Ryan Miller after sneaking in from his point position.' … [Read more...] about Ottawa 3, Buffalo 2 (OT)

'The Sabres also placed forward Nathan Gerbe on IR.' … [Read more...] about Sabres activate F Gaustad, D Weber from IR

'The Sabres have now won only six of 18 games at home, only gaining 15 of a possible 36 points.' … [Read more...] about Sabres fall to Ottawa 3-2 in OT

'“You need a combination of secondary scoring and a little bit better play away from the puck. If you jump off to a lead, typically you put a team in a bad spot. Let’s say you’ve made some mistakes, given up the 2-on-1, the breakaway, some of the stuff we’ve done at home, that’s always another factor. And then you’re chasing the game, you have a lot more aggressive style, you … [Read more...] about Sabres Ruff know why they’re struggling

'No decision on McNabb has to be made now because Paul Gaustad, who's also returning after missing three games is in for Colin Stuart and Weber gets a roster spot cleared by Nathan Gerbe being put on IR.' … [Read more...] about Sabres Ruff says McNabb’s earned a spot

'“For me, it's how poorly we defended the first goal against and then how we defended that overtime goal, which hurts you as a team,” said Ruff. “Stafford was supposed to stay with his guy. He was with him at the top of the circle and just let him go. There's nothing else to that play.”' … [Read more...] about Overturned at home