SabreSpace

'Two, filing for bankruptcy will help clear the way for prospective owner Mark Hamister to purchase the club. The bankruptcy process effectively flushes out all creditors and this "cleansing" process allows Hamister and his group to fully evaluate exactly what they're getting into.' … [Read more...] about Sabres to file for bankruptcy protection

'Seventeen of the NHL's other 29 franchises have had difficulties at the box office or on the bottom line since 1998, based on a Business First analysis of five years of attendance and financial data.' … [Read more...] about NHL woes not exclusive to Sabres

'Happy New Year, indeed.' … [Read more...] about Good times continue as Sabres edge Habs

'There's plenty of wriggle room to get this deal done, to reconstruct the math, satisfy everyone's agenda. And, for myriad reasons, the deal must get done.' … [Read more...] about State aid to Sabres a small price to pay

'The fact is the Canadiens - aside from José Theodore (29 stops) - had a bad game, the kind of a game that prompts general managers to deliver sermons to their teams before the next one.' … [Read more...] about Habs bobble it against lowly Sabres

'"If José didn't make the big saves he did, we would have lost 8-1," said Quintal. "We gave them far too many 2-on-1 chances and that was the difference. We had (defencemen) pitching in at the wrong times. There are times when you have to pitch in, but tonight wasn't a question of being down 4-1 and needing a goal. We have to play … [Read more...] about Habs come up short again

'The good news is that nine players who skated against Dallas in those 1999 Finals still are Sabres -- Barnes, Curtis Brown, Jay McKee, James Patrick, Rob Ray, Miroslav Satan, Vaclav Varada, Warrener and Alexei Zhitnik. The bad news is that several of the holdovers probably should be retired or playing somewhere else and two of the departed players were the heart and soul … [Read more...] about Sabres are on thin ice, but Ruff shouldn't be

'Despite erroneous widespread reports, the NHL's other 29 teams are not now supporting the Sabres. Nor does the league have any intention of soliciting funds from its clubs to meet the Buffalo payroll and operating obligations. Indeed, a bankruptcy filing would protect the NHL from assuming a further (or at least, immediate) burden in Western New York as George Pataki … [Read more...] about Sabres' story may add a sad chapter

'"I grew up in a rodeo environment, where if you get bucked off a horse you get right back on," Malarchuk, 41, said. "While the media was speculating my career was over, I was just saying, 'The sooner I get back in there, the better off I'll be.'"' … [Read more...] about Malarchuk's frightening injury

'``January's been good so far,'' Barnes said. ``We've played better and we're just taking it a game at a time and a day at a time. It's the old cliche but really for us, that's where we're at. It's still a long road ahead.''' … [Read more...] about Sabres 3, Canadiens 2

'"I'm so happy to be able to play here and win the game," said Biron, a Quebec native. "This win was so good for my confidence. I really felt I was focused. I wanted to play so badly. I'm glad the coach gave me a chance."' … [Read more...] about Buffalo 3, Montreal 2

Doug Flutie is often credited for saving the Buffalo Bills franchise. Everyone has been hoping for a "Flutie of hockey" to come around and spark as much interest in the Buffalo Sabres. Out of the dark gloom that has surrounded the Sabres since last summer with the arrest of owner John Rigas, there has emerged a fiery entity known as Ales Kotalik. Could he be the Doug … [Read more...] about Kotalik to the rescue!

The Buffalo Sabres haven't been able to really count on their “backup” goalie to win them a game since, well, Marty Biron was the backup goalie. Take away Ryan Miller's 4-1-0-2 record, and the team's record the last nine times someone other than Biron started in goal is 0-8-1, dating back to the end of last season. That doesn't even take into … [Read more...] about Ruff backs away from backup question

All you need to know about Ales Kotalik's game is that on the shift immediately after he scored the game-winning goal against the Boston Bruins on Friday night, he sent the puck deep into the Bruin zone, blood trickling down his chin from an accidental clip at center ice, and crushed Bryan Berard into the boards behind the net. … [Read more...] about Miller and Kotalik quickly becoming our long-lost pals

'RW Miroslav Satan has one goal in each of his last three games against the Canadiens.' … [Read more...] about Sabres vs. Canadiens