Archives for February 17, 2013

‘“We know that they’re playing well,” Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said. “They’ve probably got as much team speed as Boston. I think the depth of their lineup is just as deep as Boston. Maybe the Boston defenders have a slight edge when it comes to the back end, but I think overall they’re one of the teams that you’re going to have to deal with if you want to get to the top in the East.”’

‘Nothing clicked as the NHL’s top scorer failed to increase his lead. Instead, Vanek enters today’s game against Pittsburgh with zero points in his last three outings.’

‘The eighth-place Rangers were on pace for 55 points. If that’s the magic number for the final playoff spot, and it will be in that neighborhood, the 6-8-1 Sabres need 44 points in their final 33 games to have a sniff. It means finishing with a 19-10-4 record, or the equivalent.’

‘“I think because of the way we played (last season) people just maybe thought we’d been together a while,” Ennis said Saturday after the Sabres prepared for this afternoon’s tilt against the Pittsburgh Penguins inside the First Niagara Center. “But it was still new and fresh. There’s learning curves. We’re having fun with it, though. We need to keep improving.”’

‘“I think there’s a lot of different things,” Crosby explained. “He’s got a great shot. He doesn’t need much time or space to put the puck in the net. He goes to the tough areas. He’ll go to the front of the net and score those gritty goals that you have to score. He’s patient. Sometimes he’ll hold the puck it seems like forever and then dish it off or find some way to kind of tuck it around the goalie.”‘

‘In case you haven’t heard, the scam artists are at work again, as evidenced by the ripoff from a guy who reportedly told a buyer he could pick up the four tickets Thursday at the will-call window at the First Niagara Center. They were to be left under the name of “Presley Elvis,” which should have raised eyebrows before the buyer handed over more than $150.’

‘”[Friday] night’s game was a huge statement win for us, a huge character win for us. We want to stick with it, come back against a team like that. We know we’re going to have the same kind of game [from] Pittsburgh, and we have to be ready for that.”‘

‘This season, he has played with a consistency that has never been his hallmark.’

Sabres hope to feed off comeback victory (Pittsburgh Post Gazette)
Vanek’s scoring touch poses problems (Pittsburgh Tribune Review)
Penguins-Sabres Preview (AP)
Pittsburgh Penguins (10-5-0) at Buffalo Sabres (6-8-1) (The Sports Network)
Penguins visit Sabres in battle of high scorers (NHL.com)
What to Watch For: Pens vs. Sabres (PittsburghPenguins.com)

‘One fan told WIVB he met the seller at an area mall and handed over $150. The man told him he could pick up the tickets at the will-call window, left under the name “Presley Elvis.”‘