Archives for November 16, 2013

Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Buffalo Sabres: Saturday game preview (Toronto Star) Sabres-Maple Leafs Preview (AP) Buffalo Sabres (5-15-1) at Toronto Maple Leafs (11-7-1) (The Sports Network) Sabres can sweep home-and-home vs. Maple Leafs (NHL.com) … [Read more...] about Saturday’s Toronto Coverage (Part II)

'“I love the way we came out in our first game with the big changes,” defenseman Tyler Myers said. “It was definitely our most fun game to play.”' … [Read more...] about Sabres turn over new Leaf in Nolan’s debut

'The Sabres skated well. There was passion and purpose. Steve Ott was a pest again, and dived headlong late in the game to beat Dion Phaneuf to a puck and clear the zone on a penalty kill.' … [Read more...] about Nolan makes a fine first impression

'“That was a fun team game,” Ott said. “Our compete, our work ethic right from the drop of the puck was pretty contagious on the bench throughout our lineup. It’s been a pretty awesome 48 hours in the sense of renewed energy and that clean slate. You’ve seen a lot of weight off a lot of guys’ shoulders out there.”' … [Read more...] about Ott translates fun into point production

'They forechecked hard. They actually escaped from their own zone often instead of sporadically. They backchecked with ferocity. They dove to clear pucks from the crease or beyond their blue line.' … [Read more...] about Sabres defeat Maple Leafs in Ted Nolan’s return

'“That made a lot of guys realize that game one is basically tonight and you throw those other 20 away,” said captain Steve Ott, who had a goal and two points in only the Sabres’ fifth win. “Honestly, it felt like a completely different room in there.”' … [Read more...] about Sabres beat Leafs in Ted Nolan’s debut, look like new team

'“It was total silence,” LaFontaine said. “He said, ‘You’re kidding me?’ I said, ‘Well, you got to take the job first for this year,’ and he said, ‘Are you kidding me?’”' … [Read more...] about Pat LaFontaine’s phone call to Ted Nolan left Sabres’ interim coach speechless

'"(Nolan) told us just play hockey and have a lot of fun," Foligno said. "There are a lot of little battles that we have to win. We are all focusing on that and not thinking about anything else."' … [Read more...] about Sabres Begin New Era With ‘Fun’ Win

'Even now, it looks like one big prank. Did the Sabres really fire Darcy Regier and replace him with LaFontaine, whose jersey hangs in the rafters? Did they really bring back Nolan from the coaching grave 16 years after he was coach of the year for them? Was nostalgia for the past really the answer for a better future? Maybe not. But it is not like it can get any worse.' … [Read more...] about How Ted Nolan found himself coaching the Buffalo Sabres, again

Maple Leafs fall short against Sabres (Toronto Sun) Leafs, Sabres play tame game in first meeting since rough pre-season tilt (Toronto Sun) Leafs getting surprising offence from Trevor Smith (Toronto Sun) Maple Leafs' Kadri surprised by suspension severity (Toronto Sun) Maple Leafs fall to new-look Sabres (Toronto Star) Maple Leafs’ Trevor Smith in penthouse, power play in … [Read more...] about Saturday’s Toronto Coverage (Part I)

'But Nolan won’t be able to do it alone in Buffalo. The Sabres are short on talent, and while Pegula has thrown his financial weight behind the team, the key is to find a general manager who knows how to spend that money wisely.' … [Read more...] about Desperate times in Buffalo

'“Maturity and history is a great teacher,” he said. “Somebody asked me the last couple days, do you have something to prove? I have nothing to prove. I stopped that when I was 23 years old, coming from where I came from.”' … [Read more...] about Bitterness Is Gone as Nolan and the Sabres Reunite

'Ryan Miller stopped 32 shots, and was particularly sharp in the final minute. He had his back turned to the play, and yet got a piece of Cody Franson's point shot.' … [Read more...] about Sabres beat Leafs 3-1 in Nolan’s return as coach

'"It brings a smile to my face," Miller said. "Christian Ehrhoff had the play of the game and saved our butts and then he put it away. It was a great turn of events there to watch him make that play on the back side, have great awareness to find it and help me out then get it down the ice and split the uprights."' … [Read more...] about Maple Leafs get plenty of chances, can’t finish in loss to Sabres

'"I'm not really too concerned of what they've done. I've never been. It's what we're going to do," Nolan said. "It's a new day, a new beginning. Let's start fresh."' … [Read more...] about Sixteen years later, coach Ted Nolan welcomes fresh start with Sabres