SabreSpace

'Heinze sealed the win -- and his fifth career three-goal game -- by scoring into an empty net in the final minute. Acquired on Tuesday from Columbus, Heinze had a goal and assist in Wednesday's 6-3 win over the New York Rangers.' … [Read more...] about Sabres 4, Canucks 2

'The Buffalo Sabres found a new star. The Vancouver Canucks lost theirs. Steve Heinze recorded a hat trick in his second game with his new team as the Sabres posted a 4-2 victory over the Canucks, who likely lost captain Markus Naslund for the season.' … [Read more...] about Buffalo 4, Vancouver 2

'Heinze has four goals in just two games for Buffalo, including the go-ahead goal with 9:16 remaining to give Buffalo an important win to keep at least a share of fifth seed in the Eastern Conference.' … [Read more...] about Heinze's hat trick bottles Vancouver, 4-2

'"I'm going to put a lot of thought into that," Ruff said earlier this week. "I've been leaning along the lines of rotating the captaincy either on a couple-week basis or a five-game basis for the player who deserves it the most."' … [Read more...] about A 'C' of trouble?

'Vancouver is winless in six games (0-3-3), although the last three games have all been ties.' … [Read more...] about Sabres host Canucks Friday night

The Canucks may well be the surprise story of the NHL this season, surpassing many projections by everyone from the print media to the team's own management. … [Read more...] about Sabres can't look past struggling Canucks

Currently on a six-game winless streak, the Canucks know they need to pick up their play, especially in the defensive zone. … [Read more...] about Sabres can score on struggling Canucks' D

'The Sabres have a glut of forwards since trading for Audette and Steve Heinze on Tuesday. With no players from the roster getting dealt in return, Buffalo now has 16 front-line skaters.' … [Read more...] about Load of forwards gives Ruff a nice problem

'After missing eight games with a groin injury, Smehlik returned to Buffalo's lineup for 4 minutes, 32 seconds on Wednesday before leaving the game with torn rib cartilage.' … [Read more...] about Smehlik likely to miss two weeks

'Like most veterans, Gilmour doesn't feel he's slowed, just that there are bigger, faster players wandering around. Playing with young Pavel Bure-clone Maxim Afinogenov and the monstrous Chris Gratton, it's easy to see how Gilmour would be left with that impression.' … [Read more...] about Gilmour eyes final playoff

'The Sabres have the NHL's third best goals-against average (2.34), trailing only San Jose (2.27) and Colorado (2.31). Much of that is due to the NHL's most efficient penalty kill (87.1 per cent), a lead they share with the Sharks.' … [Read more...] about Canucks preview

'Defenseman Richard Smehlik, one of the Buffalo Sabres top penalty killers, will miss up to two weeks with a rib cartilage injury. Smehlik was hurt when he was checked into the boards in the first period of Wednesday's 6-3 win over the New York Rangers.' … [Read more...] about Sabres Smehlik out two weeks

'It will be two more days until Donald Audette can pull a Buffalo Sabres game jersey over his shoulder pads. And after watching his new team beat the New York Rangers, 6-3, Wednesday night in HSBC Arena along with 18,205 fans, that day can't come soon enough.' … [Read more...] about Heinze adds flavor to Sabres' victory

'The Sabres don't need thinkers. They need scorers. Heinze couldn't have asked for a better start to his career in Buffalo than the game he played Wednesday night in a 6-3 win over the Rangers. He found the net six minutes into his debut, joining Danny Gare, Rob Ray, Alexander Mogilny, Denis Hamel and J.P. Dumont among those who scored on their first shot for the … [Read more...] about Newest Sabre hits the ice in high gear

'The Sabres have yet to stitch the widely respected captain's "C" onto a jersey all season. That could change now that Tuesday's trade deadline has passed, making it a virtual lock that center Michael Peca won't be a Sabre this season . . . and quite possibly ever.' … [Read more...] about Ruff thinks about 'C' change