SabreSpace

'This could be 1999 again.' … [Read more...] about McKee glad to be back in playoffs

'Game time is 7 p.m. and the Sabres are expected to have a "white out". Which basically means they're ripping off Winnipeg and dressing the fans in white shirts.' … [Read more...] about Sabres vs. Flyers: Round 1, Game 1

'"It's been one of our strengths this year," said center Tim Connolly, who had 23 power-play points in only 63 games. "It's something we've worked on really hard both in practice and in games, and I think we've just found some chemistry. We have two pretty solid units that are both capable of scoring goals."' … [Read more...] about Sabres find safety in numbers

'"When I got here, I was too excited and needed to calm down," Miller said. "I have to take the same mind-set and focus in. I'm not saying I'm not going to use the energy and use the excitement. I definitely want to perform my best, but there's a way to approach it where you calm down, have fun and enjoy it. Enjoy the challenge. It is one of the greatest challenges you're going … [Read more...] about Miller embraces chance to play on the big stage

'"He's a guy that's had his ups and downs this year," Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said. "We'd like to get to him early. We'd like to test him. We'd like to get him in situations where we make him be the difference in the game."' … [Read more...] about Esche gets the call after up-and-down season

'"It's great they're back . . . it's a huge boost," said Johnny, an 11-year veteran bartender at City Grill on Main Street downtown. "They're a great young talent . . . win or lose, they're always exciting and they always play hard . . . Thank you, Mr. Golisano."' … [Read more...] about Sabres fever has WNY abuzz and in a tizzy

'The Buffalo Sabres averaged a 5.0 rating for games on MSG, up 56 percent from the 3.2 they averaged two years ago when the team didn't make the playoffs. The ratings should double for the first-round playoff series with the Philadelphia Flyers.' … [Read more...] about Sabres’ ratings climb

'Sabres are 6-3 all-time with home-ice advantage in the first round.' … [Read more...] about Sabres vs. Flyers

'The Flyers may have the experience edge, but Sabres co-captain Chris Drury says it won't be a factor. "He (Miller) is so mentally tough," Drury said. "Despite not having any NHL playoff games under his belt, he'll respond well."' … [Read more...] about Sabres are not hung up on playoff pressure

'"Throughout the season, everybody was expecting the calls to go down or the referees to stop calling the new rules, but they kept it going all year long," said Briere, a creative center who is one of the Sabres the Flyers must attend to during the best-of-seven Eastern Conference quarterfinal series that begins here tonight. "So I expect the same treatment in the playoffs."' … [Read more...] about Speedy Sabres capitalize on the new rules

'Skate, skate, skate, the simple buzzing of an opponent which takes away ice and wears out and frustrates an opponent, sapping their will.' … [Read more...] about Buffalo has to skate, skate, skate

'This series features a number of interesting contrasts: McKee vs. Hatcher again; a team which gorged itself at the free agency table vs. one that went with homebrews and a couple of smaller-named additions; a bullet offence vs. a tank defence; a team that never misses the playoffs vs. one that's there for the first time in five years; and, of course, a reprise of Hitch vs. … [Read more...] about One more time

Split personality (Philadelphia Inquirer) Speedy Sabres capitalize on the new rules (Philadelphia Inquirer) 'New NHL' put to test in playoffs (Philadelphia Inquirer) Esche in a zone of his own before games (Philadelphia Daily News) Miracle on ice (Bucks County Courier Times) A tough road ahead for Flyers, Hitchcock (Bucks County Courier Times) Forsberg must excel (Bucks … [Read more...] about Saturday’s Philadelphia Coverage (Updated 4:15 p.m.)

'“Ryan has been very good his last starts,” said Ruff, who answers every query about Miller by throwing Biron in the mix. “Marty’s game in Carolina was exactly what we wanted to see. Obviously, we don’t have a lot of postseason experience in that sense, but there are a lot of players that don’t. We got here we that experience and I think … [Read more...] about Who will play goal? Ruff isn&#8217t saying yet

'"Everybody was thinking we were just a team that, if we were lucky, we were going to be battling for a playoff spot," the Sabres co-captain said. "But we showed that we belonged with the best, and it's the same attitude that we're going to bring to the playoffs."' … [Read more...] about No-name Sabres ready to face Forsberg-led Flyers