SabreSpace

'"I think everything happens for a reason," Wesley said yesterday before Game 3 of the Eastern Conference final. "Coming back here, going through the lockout and rebuilding this team in the new NHL, no one was sure how it would work out. But it obviously did."' … [Read more...] about Return to Carolina worked for Wesley

'"If we're going to win, they need to play like that," said Ruff, who wants the line to be one that dictates play. "The challenge is just to rise to the occasion. It isn't a personal challenge. (Game 2) wasn't good enough."' … [Read more...] about Sabre stars stop Canes

'As in all their playoff wins, speed played a big part. This time it was in the form of captain Daniel Brière, who zipped past the Hurricanes for two key second-period goals that put the game in the Sabres' hands.' … [Read more...] about BriEere helps Sabres find their game

'After the Sabres were outshot by the Hurricanes in Game 2, Ruff had said Buffalo's top players would have to be better. They were.' … [Read more...] about Sabres shooters step up

'"You can be great in junior but you once you make the next step, it's a whole new game," Sabres teammate Jay McKee says. "If you don't make the best of when you do get the chance, guys can slip through the cracks pretty easy. Because for that one guy there's always five, 10, 20 guys behind him ready to take his job."' … [Read more...] about Briere making the most of his time

'"As much as you want him back, you don't want to mess with a guy's future," McKee said of Connolly, who has five goals and 11 points in eight games. "I'm sure he plans on having a family. He doesn't want to end up being one of those guys who's walking slow and talking slow because he risked playing."' … [Read more...] about Connolly urged not to rush back

'"This is about the quality of play. This is about how entertaining the product is on the ice. We couldn't ask for any more," he told reporters in Buffalo.' … [Read more...] about Lack of large-market success in NHL playoffs not at all a problem, Bettman contends

'Daniel Briere, Jochen Hecht and J.P. Dumont were put on notice more was expected and responded with a dominant performance last night, especially for much of the second period, as Buffalo built a 4-1 lead on the way to a 4-3 win and a 2-1 series lead.' … [Read more...] about Sabres up to the mark

'The Sabres were down to employing the No. 9 defenceman in their organizational depth chart, Jeff Jillson, for last night's third game against Carolina. They already had No. 7, ex-Bulldog Rory Fitzpatrick, playing as a No. 4 for mainstay Dmitri Kalinin, whose fractured ankle will keep him out a while yet, and used No. 8, Doug Janik in place of Teppo Numminen in Game 2, before … [Read more...] about Big ‘D’ rears its ugly head

'Welcome to Sabreland, where a mostly no-name hockey team is winning hearts and minds on both sides of the border.' … [Read more...] about No-quit Sabres ignite Stanley Cup madness

'It was mere coincidence, or serendipity, but as Kevyn Adams began peeling off his equipment after yesterday's pre-game skate, Bruce Springsteen's "My Hometown" was playing on the dressing room stereo.' … [Read more...] about Notebook

Sorry span sinks Canes (Raleigh News and Observer) Sabres line up and deck Canes (Raleigh News and Observer) Penalties take away series' promise (Raleigh News and Observer) Staal a no-show in June's GQ (Raleigh News and Observer) Turning point (Raleigh News and Observer) Whistle is blown on statues' Canes jerseys (Raleigh News and Observer) E-mail from hockey fans … [Read more...] about Thursday’s Carolina Coverage (Updated 9:00 a.m.)

'Buffalo, however, could be without a top defenseman Friday for Game 4. The Sabres, who are already without Dmitri Kalinin and Teppo Numminen, lost Henrik Tallinder to injury with about six minutes remaining.' … [Read more...] about The Diminutive BriEere Plays Big for the Sabres

'"I thought we probably played our best period of hockey in the second period," Ruff said. "I don't know if we did that well this year in one period."' … [Read more...] about Sabres brave Hurricanes 4-3 to take 2-1 series lead

'Briere said he hasn't scored many goals on his backhand the last few seasons. "For people who have seen the curve on my stick, they know I can't go to my backhand very often," he said. "I don't know how my shot got up like it did (in Game 1)."' … [Read more...] about Sabres’ Briere shows his skill with rare backhanded goal