SabreSpace

'"Knowing Dom is back there allows all of us to go on the offense and maybe even cheat a little," Gratton said before Sunday's 4-2 triumph against Tampa Bay. "We know that 95 percent of the time he's going to make the save. That's a great feeling, the same kind I had the year we made the playoffs in Tampa. Puppa was winning games by himself … [Read more...] about A good goalie can help an offense

'"It's an awfully big hole to put yourself into against a club like that with Hasek in net. Instead of 2-1 it's 3-1," Tortorella said. "We end up battling back. I thought the guys worked very hard to try and get back in it. But again, it's that third goal."' … [Read more...] about Lightning needs its gamebreaker

'The win puts the Sabres just one point behind fourth-seeded Philadelphia, but also adds a two points to their now three-point over sixth-place Pittsburgh, with all three teams having four games remaining.' … [Read more...] about Buffalo outlasts Lightning, 4-2

'If this article started with 'the Lightning held the Sabres to just one shot in the first period' many would say April Fools! But for the 45th time this season the joke ended up on the Bolts as Buffalo won 4-2 on Sunday night at the Ice Palace. Alexei Zhitnik led the stampede with two goals.' … [Read more...] about Lightning Get Buffaloed 4-2 at home

'"I think the first 20 minutes, they were a better team," Hasek said. "We came back after that first period and we were sort of in command. Even when they scored the first goal, I think we dominated."' … [Read more...] about Sabres 4, Lightning 2

'Having already clinched a playoff berth, the Sabres moved back within one point of fourth-place Philadelphia in the Eastern Conference.' … [Read more...] about Buffalo 4, Tampa Bay 2

'With Toronto's 4-1 loss to Montreal Saturday night, the Leafs are no longer mathmatically able to overtake Buffalo, meaning the Sabres will finish anywhere from fourth to sixth in the East.' … [Read more...] about Buffalo travels to Tampa Bay Sunday

The Lightning have surprised their fans with a 5-4-0-1 run in their past 10 games. That enthusiasm no doubt will be magnified in the Sabres' game due in large part to the addition of long-time holdout goalie Nikolai Khabibulin. … [Read more...] about Sabres-Lightning "In the Buffalo Wings"

'Zhitnik arguably has been the Sabres' best skater the past two weeks, a trend he hopes to continue against the Tampa Bay Lightning tonight in the Ice Palace (6 p.m., Empire, Radio 107.7 FM, 1330 AM).' … [Read more...] about Zhitnik finds new zone

'"Sometimes you do (talk to the player beforehand), and sometimes you don't. A lot of times I will talk to them, but in J.P.'s case I didn't say anything. Sometimes there's a message there. Sometimes you do it for a specific reason."' … [Read more...] about Dumont's benching was on short notice

'[The Sabres have] given up four goals to the Lightning in each of their last two meetings.' … [Read more...] about Sabres vs. Lightning

'Heaven forbid anyone even thinks about next year. But, just for giggles, while accepting reality, let's say the Sabres don't win the Cup. What happens then with The Dominator?' … [Read more...] about Cup will send Hasek packing, but he doesn't want to talk about it

'"It's hard for me to understand everything Dominik says," said [John Rigas]. "But I understood very well he thinks he's "well-paid.' If we sit down in the future (for contract negotiations), I'll be sure to remind him of that."' … [Read more...] about A very public negotiation

'Plain and simple, you'll see free agents Jeremy Roenick, Keith Tkachuk and Michael Peca skating for the Sabres before you see Buffalo on an AHL schedule.' … [Read more...] about Sabres won't run their own AHL team

'"If I was a team at the top, I wouldn't want to meet the Sabres in the first round of the playoffs," Atlanta coach Curt Fraser said after Hasek's 4-0 shutout Friday night. "Whoever they play, they'll be trouble."' … [Read more...] about Sabres are the blueprint Bolts officials are going on