SabreSpace

'"I was really surprised," Kraft said. "[Friday] after practice, we had a meeting about how to play against Hershey. ... Then, my cell phone rings, and Glenn Patrick told me, 'You got called up.'"' … [Read more...] about Recall's timing catches Kraft by surprise

'Buffalo has had a 3-2 lead in a best-of-seven series twice in its history, and both times the Sabres won Game 6. The first came in the second round of the 1975 playoffs against the Canadiens, the second 14 years later in the same round against the Bruins.' … [Read more...] about Penguins Report

'What the Penguins really need is for their star players to score, their special teams to click and their luck to change.' … [Read more...] about Penguins aim to force Game 7

'"We got ourselves into some tough situations over the last few years," Brown continued. "It just seems that every time we get into that situation, we look at ourselves and say `we're not going to quit'. We can't guarantee anything, but we're going to keep working hard and do whatever we can to try to get back in this.'' … [Read more...] about Sabres 'no quit' attitude has worked

'Buffalo has been so banged up on defense that it should be apparent to everyone that the Pens have needed to dump it in and make the Buffalo defensemen work. Force them to go back and chase it every rush and rattle their already bruised bodies. Instead, the Pens have stubbornly try to finesse their way through a team that is much faster and deeper. It's not working, … [Read more...] about Will Game 6 be Jagr's swan song here?

'The Sabres have outscored the Penguins 8-0 since the end of the second period over the past three games.' … [Read more...] about Sabres disagree with fatigue theory

'This one looks like what Malcolm in the Middle might look like if television ever allows him to grow up.' … [Read more...] about Little guy Barnes pots big goals for surging Sabres

'The Penguins were the NHL's most-penalized team during the regular season, a curious distinction for a team not known for thuggery or goonism. That reputation for taking unnecessary penalties, often at the most inopportune times, is haunting them against the more disciplined Sabres.' … [Read more...] about The biggest penalty of all: Penguins facing elimination by Sabres

What better way to show your respects to your former team than to score an overtime goal against them in the Stanley Cup playoffs? That is exactly what Stu Barnes did Saturday afternoon in Buffalo. Stu Barnes ripped a shot off the cross bar that got behind Pittsburgh Penguins' goalie Johan Hedberg 8:34 into overtime to give the Buffalo Sabres a 3-2 sudden death victory … [Read more...] about Barnes' burner puts Pens on the brink

The Sabres will make franchise history in the next four days, one way or the other. If the Sabres win the series, they will be the first team in their history to come back from a 2-0 deficit in a best-of-seven series. If they drop the last two games, they'll be the first to lose a 3-2 series lead. … [Read more...] about Sabres-Penguins Game 5 "Clearing the Crease"

Again, Lindy is the better coach in this series. He is proving the point over and over again that the team that has depth is the team that you have to watch out for. He is constantly rolling his four lines, and you don't know where the goals are going to come from. … [Read more...] about Sabres-Penguins Game 5 "Saints and Sinners"

'Heinze is always quick to smile and offer some self-deprecating humor. But here he offers a trace of melancholy. He's fighting right along with the rest of the Sabres and enjoying a gratifying playoff run, but there's a touch of regret for what has passed in Columbus and a bit of apprehension about what lies ahead in free agency. He is in one of the most … [Read more...] about NHL playoffs leave Heinze in stitches

'For a team that keeps repeating history, the Pittsburgh Penguins don't seem to learn from it.' … [Read more...] about Penguins number could be up again in Game 6

The Sabres were down 2-0. Their power play was 0-4. They had exactly one goal in over seven periods at home against Johan Hedberg and the Penguins, who both suddenly looked unbeatable again. And there was Super Mario playing like someone deserving of a Selke, not a Hart, Trophy. It got eerily quiet in HSBC Arena. … [Read more...] about Comeback has Sabres singing a different tune

It was a given that the Penguins would go to their superstars, Mario Lemieux and Jaromir Jagr, in the pivotal swing game of the series. Lindy Ruff had to thus rely on his defensive ace to match up and contain the two -- and Curtis Brown excelled in perhaps his best outing of the playoffs. … [Read more...] about Sabres-Penguins Game 5 "Sharpening the Swords"