Archives for December 23, 2011

‘“Talking the talk is one thing, but we got to go out there and execute,” an upset Pominville said following the Sabres’ eighth loss in 11 games. “We say all the right things, but until we got out there and do it it’s not good enough. The effort’s there. We’re competing. We’re working hard. We’re generating some opportunities.’

‘The Sabres, meanwhile, made things easy on James Reimer. Only two of Buffalo’s six attempts came from their forwards, with Drew Stafford and Patrick Kaleta taking one shot each.’

‘”It’s the same thing he’s been nursing. He couldn’t go,” Ruff said. “He’s missed two practices. We didn’t have a lot of options. He tried to get through it and wasn’t able to.”‘

‘“It’s just the way the game’s going,” Miller told a throng of cameras and reporters Thursday prior to the Sabres’ 3-2 loss to the Maple Leafs at the Air Canada Centre. “Obviously, I pay attention to other games in the league and I think it’s becoming a little bit of the guys are trying to arrive at the net without a plan.”’

‘“There’s not much you can do to defend yourself. You just have to hold your ground and keep the puck out…You just have to watch for those situations where guys are burying their heads and just trying to blow through the net.”’

‘”It’s a little bit scary when you’re standing still and a guy’s coming full-speed – well, usually two or three guys are coming full-speed – back to the net,” Miller said Thursday in advance of the Sabres’ game in Toronto against the Leafs. “There’s not much you can do to defend yourself.”‘

Kadri the Sabres Killer (Toronto Sun)
Reimer stellar, again (Toronto Sun)
Reimer in ticket trouble (Toronto Sun)
Kadri scores first of season as Leafs beat Sabres 3-2 (Toronto Star)
Sabres’ Miller calls for more penalties for crease crashers (Toronto Star)
Kadri winner sinks Sabres (Toronto Globe and Mail)
Kadri lifts Leafs to big win over rival Sabres (National Post)
Miller calls for NHL to address net collisions (National Post)
Kadri comes up big, scores Leafs’ winner after recall from Marlies (Hamilton Spectator)
Photo gallery (MapleLeafs.com)
Photo gallery (Sabres.com)
Photo gallery (AP)
Photo gallery (WGRZ-TV)

‘“I thought it was a very dangerous play,” said MacLean. “It was a bigger man hitting a smaller man, which is part of it, I believe but also the stick being across the hips and running up to behind his head was the dangerous part.”’

‘Buffalo is also reeling as it heads into the Christmas break. The banged-up team can use the time off as leading scorer Tomas Vanek left in the third period, making it seven regulars out of the lineup.’

‘”I think it’s just the way the game’s going,” Miller said before Thursday’s game against the Maple Leafs. “Obviously, I pay attention to other games in the league and I think it’s becoming a little bit of the guys are trying to arrive at the net without a plan.”‘