Archives for April 2, 2014

‘“The trying times you go through, all the adversity, it reveals the true character of some guys,” Stafford said Tuesday before a 3-2 shootout win over New Jersey. “I definitely was able to stick with it and pretty much drag my career out of the abyss. That being said, I feel like I have a lot more to go, and the glass is definitely half full.”’

‘“I didn’t know if they were going to boo or cheer, so I was pretty happy about that,” said Leino, who scored to join goaltender Nathan Lieuwen in delivering a 3-2 win. “It was actually pretty awesome. I just wanted to score for them, and they gave me a little extra effort there.”’

‘“It was pretty fun,” Leino, sidelined by a migraine last game, said about scoring. “Sometimes I miss a little bit of that feeling. But today was awesome. Obviously, we haven’t been winning that much, so it’s tough times. But those kind of moments, you get a little extra energy, extra effort to want to put it in.”’

‘“We want to see where he best fits with the team moving forward,” Nolan said about Hodgson. “Maybe he’s a better winger. Also, you have to get him with the right people, get him the puck because once Cody has the puck within a certain footage of that net, he has a good chance of putting it in.”‘

Devils fall to Sabres, 3-2, after nine-round shootout (Newark Star Ledger)
Devils talk like they know their ship is sinking after falling to 0-11 in shootouts (Newark Star Ledger)
Studs and duds from Devils’ shootout loss No. 11, this one to NHL’s worst team (Newark Star Ledger)
Devils fail in another shootout in 3-2 loss to Sabres (Bergen Record)
Ryane Clowe ‘fine’ (Bergen Record)
Photo gallery (NewJerseyDevils.com)
Photo gallery (Sabres.com)
Photo gallery (Buffalo News)

‘After adjusting to the league his first two years, Kea burst onto the scene last year with 22 goals and 26 assists to shatter his career marks, and he had 22 goals and 27 assists this year, despite missing 10 games with a broken hand.’

‘Leino had not scored a goal all season in regulation and has been the subject of catcalls in Buffalo, but drew a roar of approval with his shootout tally.’

‘Leino used a heavy wrister to beat Cory Schneider before Nathan Lieuwen made a right-pad save on Mike Sislo’s backhand attempt for the win.’

‘Much-maligned Buffalo left winger Ville Leino scored in a shootout, lifting the Sabres to a 3-2 victory over the Devils, who fell to 0-11 in shootouts this season.’

‘Ville Leino, who has yet to score an official goal for the Sabres, provided the shootout winner for Buffalo on Tuesday in a 3-2 victory over the Devils. Nathan Lieuwen stopped seven of nine New Jersey shooters and made 33 saves overall.’