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'But tonight, it will all end. The veteran linesman with the tough head and the big heart will work his final NHL regular-season game, the 2,500th game of a marvellous career that includes 406 NHL playoff games, 19 Stanley Cup finals, three NHL all-star games and the 1998 Olympic hockey tournament in Nagano. Fittingly, tonight's finale will pit the Toronto Maple Leafs … [Read more...] about Scapinello nears end of the line

'"[Buffalo head coach] Lindy Ruff and his staff are busy with getting the team to play a system and spend plenty of time watching video, scouting the opposition," Martin said. "There is a tremendous amount of preparation in coaching a team, and there is room for a guy like me to come in and work on a skill like shooting."' … [Read more...] about Martin's influence felt in better shooting, scoring

'''I would say I've enjoyed myself far more than I thought I would,'' Golisano said. ''It doesn't mean we don't have some real challenges, and obviously financial are some of them. ... But I think we've made dramatic improvements to this team.''' … [Read more...] about Golisano upbeat despite Sabres projected financial losses

'Zhitnik says he can shoot with his bad shoulder, but trying to lean on a player or poke check somebody is still out of the question.' … [Read more...] about Zhitnik Out For The Weekend

'The first tiebreaker is victories, and the Sabres would own it in every conceivable tied situation.' … [Read more...] about Sabres hold their ground

'He still can control a game, to the amazement of Sabres coach Lindy Ruff, who reminisced about playing against Messier - in youth hockey. "It's amazing that he could play as well as he's playing at his age, and at times dominate the game still," Ruff said.' … [Read more...] about Messier makes Garden farewell

'"I'm a different person when I'm around them," Kadlubowski said. "I won't miss the winter nights picking them up at 1 or 2 in the morning and the snow is blowing all over the place. But seeing them and being with them is a great feeling. For me, it's been a great ride."' … [Read more...] about After 30 years, a busman's holiday

'The fans weren't rooting so much for the Rangers as they were rooting against the Sabres, who are trying to catch the Islanders for the final playoff spot in the East. While the Islanders did their part by whipping the Canadiens, the Sabres prolonged the suspense by edging the Rangers 4-3 to remain three points behind the Islanders. But there's little room for … [Read more...] about Isles fans fête rival Rangers – briefly

'Before the game, Messier posed for photographs with friends, family, staff members and fans. He also signed several commemorative sticks, which he played with during the game.' … [Read more...] about Rangers' Messier All but Says Goodbye to the Garden

'The eighth-place Islanders had already done what they had to do. Receiving two goals each from Parrish and Roman Hamrlik, they dominated the Montreal Canadiens, 5-1, and remained 3 points ahead of Buffalo with two games remaining. An Islanders victory or a Sabres loss will lock up the Islanders' third straight playoff berth.' … [Read more...] about Islanders Aren't Backing Into Anything

'Last night certainly looked like a farewell. From the presence of Messier's extended family - teenage son Lyon even stood behind the bench for the third period - to the dozens of sticks he autographed and used in the game to the photos for which he posed with teammates and trainers to the pregame phone call from Wayne Gretzky, it had all the trappings. The only thing … [Read more...] about Looks like Mess bows out

'Certainly everything pointed to this being the final chapter. In recent days, Messier posed for photos with everyone on the team, probably right down to the cotton-candy vendors.' … [Read more...] about For Garden goodbyes, this one is on the Mark

'Islander fans had become so desperate they also were willing to cheer for the despised Blueshirts on the scoreboard.' … [Read more...] about Isles 2 points away

'"This is a young man's game. You have to have the desire. It takes a lot, you have to be willing to do it. It's not easy, this is a demanding game, a dangerous game, and it's nowhere to be if you're hedging. I've been thinking about this a lot for the last month. Those are some of the things that have to be answered."' … [Read more...] about Fans shower love on Mess

'The Islanders need only one win to clinch, no matter what Buffalo does the remaining two games of its season. The Isles pick up the remainder of their schedule tomorrow in Carolina before wrapping up the regular season at home Sunday against the Flyers.' … [Read more...] about Islander re-birth one victory away