SabreSpace

'"His level of competing is up there where he's giving hits, taking hits," coach Lindy Ruff said. "He hasn't scored on a lot of his real good opportunities, where he's got himself situated in that shot lane and his shot's blocked. Overall, I've been very pleased with his game, and he's been rewarded with it. To a man, he's … [Read more...] about Satan's superlative start is a many-splendored thing

'"You go back to the start of last year, and the one thing that was evident was J.P. was in fabulous shape," Ruff said. "I think this year he wasn't quite at that level, and it was something I addressed early in training camp. We put him through a lot of extra drills and extra work. But I still don't think he's (there)."' … [Read more...] about Ruff questions Dumont's conditioning

'D Jason Woolley is tied with RW Miroslav Satan for the highest rating at plus-4.' … [Read more...] about Sabres vs. Blue Jackets

'Smehlik is also now being looked at as one of the senior members of the team. He takes it all in stride. "Six of us have been together on defense now for four seasons now," said Smehlik. "We work together very well. I just try to help out where I can."' … [Read more...] about Smehlik steps up

One of the first steps towards successful teamwork is good, solid leadership. And it looks like the Sabres have found it in Stu Barnes. … [Read more...] about Subtle Stu leads the best way of all n by example

Some trades stick out in our minds more than others. Like March 23, 1999. Somehow, either through hypnosis, blackmail or use of a shotgun, Darcy Regier convinced Florida G.M. Bryan Murray to take Mike Wilson off our hands and give us Rhett Warrener and a draft pick in return. What a day! Regier had pulled off one of the most lopsided trades in franchise history. … [Read more...] about Rhett Warrener: A natural born leader

'Any piece of mail sent to players at HSBC Arena always had been screened before being delivered. The level of scrutiny has been raised even more. "They're monitoring it for us," Warrener said. "That kind of takes it out of our hands." … [Read more...] about Fan mail getting extra attention

The cards were stacked against Lindy Ruff's team. So far this season, the Buffalo Sabres have won every game.... that is every even numbered game. Buffalo lost its opener to Atlanta, then Ottawa, promptly lost to the Rangers, won against Philly, lost in Detroit and finally beat the Penguins on Sunday. This was the odd night out for Ruff's Sabres. Another … [Read more...] about Little Spark in Sabres' tie

'"We don't have enough guys to call up to bench everybody," Ruff said after his team rallied from a two-goal deficit to salvage a 3-3 tie with the Nashville Predators. "I think if you look at the game, it was a collective effort. . . . We didn't skate very well, we didn't think very well. We may have seen some of the dumbest all-time plays … [Read more...] about Upon further review, Ruff fit to be tied

'"I don't think I worked hard the last game that I played. That's why I didn't play (Sunday or Tuesday)," Kalinin said, adding that the coaches expect him to be "working hard and finishing checks, and doing my job."' … [Read more...] about Benched Kalinin says he deserved to sit

'"When you're up 3-1 with 10 minutes to go, as a team, you've got to put those games away," Predators goalie Tomas Vokoun said. "We lost the same way to Edmonton. We could have had four points in the last two games and instead we have one. That's a huge difference."' … [Read more...] about Predators tied after losing 2-goal lead again

'Predators center David Legwand had dinner Monday night with Sabres center Tim Connolly. The 21 year-old Legwand and 20 year-old Connolly competed against one another in juniors for years, and have teamed several times on U.S. national junior squads.' … [Read more...] about History earns Vokoun a start

'Buffalo coach Lindy Ruff was happy with the Sabres' comeback. He found it troubling that they trailed by two goals in the first place.' … [Read more...] about Predators 3, Sabres 3

'The Nashville Predators suffered their second straight third-period collapse as Vyacheslav Kozlov and Richard Smehlik scored 92 seconds apart to lift the Buffalo Sabres into a 3-3 tie.' … [Read more...] about Nashville 3, Buffalo 3 (OT)

'The road team has won all five games in this series and Nashville was 12-7-3-0 against the Eastern Conference last season.' … [Read more...] about Today's Predators capsule