SabreSpace

Ruff was traded to the Rangers on March 7, 1989, which meant that his 13 games with the Rangers occurred after Laviolette had been returned to the Rangers' farm team in Colorado. "Was that true? Was Lindy on the team at the same time I was?" Laviolette asked Friday. "I think I was already up and down. I had my cup of coffee and was on my return trip to Denver. That was it for … [Read more...] about Laviolette, Ruff just missed being Rangers teammates

'Tony Lydman, defenseman: The ice-time leader (22:18 per game) of a no-name defense has an impossible plus-13 rating in 11 playoff games. None of the Canes is better than plus-5.' … [Read more...] about Watch these Sabres

'As far back as Little League, when he pitched Trumbull, Conn., to a world championship, Drury established himself as a clutch performer, a reputation he only enhanced with the Colorado Avalanche. He's been exiled from the playoffs since 2002, and in his return he has scored crucial goal after crucial goal for the Sabres. He is tied for fifth in playoff scoring with 13 points. … [Read more...] about Five Points

'Carolina in seven.' … [Read more...] about Who has the edge?

'"Looking around the beginning of the year, I think most of the experts were saying we would be battling for the 13th spot in the conference with the Hurricanes," Briere said. "So it's kind of ironic that both of us are here and playing for the Eastern Conference Final.' … [Read more...] about Canes, Sabres have similar stories

'"I don't know if we're all that similar ... the one thing that you hear about all the teams left is that they can skate," Brind'Amour said. "Every team is different. Our similarities match up against them more than New Jersey or Montreal."' … [Read more...] about Look-alike teams searching for what will be the series difference

Fans follow the Canes from around the globe (Raleigh News and Observer) Mirror images (Raleigh News and Observer) A coach on the move? (Raleigh News and Observer) Laviolette, Ruff just missed being Rangers teammates (Raleigh News and Observer) Watch these Sabres (Raleigh News and Observer) Five Points (Raleigh News and Observer) Who has the edge? (Raleigh News and … [Read more...] about Saturday’s Carolina Coverage

'Because hockey players tend to play down off-ice feuds, the networks should not count on any staredowns between Miller and Laviolette. But the way both came back after the Olympic break, charging through the final months of the season and the first two rounds of the playoffs, showed that each had something to prove.' … [Read more...] about Coach and Goalie Put Olympic Letdown Behind Them

'"I knew they were a tough team the first time we played them," Hurricanes captain Rod Brind'Amour said. "I remember the first game up in Buffalo, and I thought, 'Holy cow.' They really took it to us, even though we ended up winning the game."' … [Read more...] about Sabres, Hurricanes both make the most of their seasons

'"We're going to have to make sure we have a lot of traffic in front of him and try to go for the ugly goals, the rebounds and deflections," Dumont said.' … [Read more...] about Ward enters Eastern final with goaltending bragging rights

'The National Hockey League Buffalo Sabres play the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference finals of the Stanley Cup playoffs starting Saturday, but Chatham doesn't expect anything approaching football fever. "It would be a lot if there are 10 or 20 Sabres fans. There's just not a big following for them around here," she says, adding quickly, … [Read more...] about Ex-Buffalonians await hockey series

'"It's a nice thing, obviously, just being back in the lineup," Vanek said Thursday in HSBC Arena. "I'm trying to work hard every day in practice. I feel like I can do more in the next, hopefully, two rounds. I'm excited, and I'm excited to show what I can do."' … [Read more...] about Sabres choose to push Vanek button

'"You see things in the playoffs that you don't see game in, game out in an 82-game schedule," Ruff said. "You get more. You expect more, and if you don't get it you're disappointed. [In the regular season] you don't see things out of a lot of players, and I think in Al's case we needed him to be a big, physical force, and he's stepped up that part of his game."' … [Read more...] about Kotalik gets his shots in

'"It's about possession," Drury said Wednesday. "You don't want to be chasing all the time. It's nice to have it on your stick. It's a big challenge for all of us, and not only the centers. A lot of draws are neutral or in our feet or close by and the "D" and the wing can help you win draws."' … [Read more...] about Brind’Amour, Drury quick on the draw

'The Sabres have learned they need to be cautious about putting players with head injuries on an airplane.' … [Read more...] about Connolly ruled out for first two games