SabreSpace

'"(Cechmanek) played a little bit better. Everyone on that side played better," Audette said. "They played desperate hockey. When you are against the wall like that, you gotta play desperate. You have to expect that. We've got to match them."' … [Read more...] about Philadelphia 3, Buffalo 2

'Andy Delmore, scratched in both of the previous games, tipped the puck past Dominik Hasek with 8:54 remaining in the third period to provide the margin of victory.' … [Read more...] about Back in black

In the words of the great Mike Robitaille, this series notebook looks like a hound's breakfast... … [Read more...] about Sabres-Flyers Series Notebook

'Buffalo Sabres center Erik Rasmussen will miss Monday night's playoff game against the Philadelphia Flyers with a slightly separated right shoulder. Vladimir Tsyplakov, who sat out the first two games of the playoff series, will take Rasmussen's spot on Buffalo's checking line, Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said Monday. Rasmussen was listed as day-to-day.' … [Read more...] about Sabres' Rasmussen out for Game 3

'After getting their game broken up by the Philadelphia Flyers all year, the Buffalo Sabres apparently have found a way to put it together when it matters most.' … [Read more...] about Sabres’ playoff surge is right on time

'Two games hardly cement a reputation. But it could be that Rasmussen's time has finally come.' … [Read more...] about Rasmussen comes of age before our eyes

'Keith Primeau knows he could further injure his damaged left knee by playing tonight. He just doesn't seem to care.' … [Read more...] about Flyers' Primeau thinks he's well enough to play

'"We must play better. I think tomorrow we must play hard and create and play on defense," he said. "(The Sabres had) too many open (shots) and Buffalo had many breakaways and I told (the Flyers' skaters), we must play better on defense and neutral zone. All the guys must play better than in the last game."' … [Read more...] about A frustrated Cechmanek sends wake-up call to teammates

Although the obvious pressure is more squarely located on the Flyers' collective shoulders to climb back into this series, there's a definite urgency on the Sabres' side as well to take full control of the series and extinguish any possible momentum Philadelphia might gain with a victory. … [Read more...] about Sabres-Flyers Game 3 "Scouting Report"

'"Obviously, there is a possibility you can tear it," Primeau said. "It's two months before that ligament finally heals. If I waited till the end of the first round, there is no guarantee that ligament will be healed. . . . I want to get back in there. It's the competition thing."' … [Read more...] about Flyers seek boost from Primeau

'One possible sign that things are much different than last year, when the Flyers eliminated the Sabres in five games, came during Saturday's contest as the on-ice officials noticed a hole in the Buffalo net and repaired it.' … [Read more...] about Why the Sabres have an edge

'"You can bring that into your coaching: what it takes, what the pitfalls are along the way. Coaching . . . might be a little more difficult if you've never won the Stanley Cup. . . . There's that credibility factor. And he has it, being a member of a team that won something."' … [Read more...] about Barber has been there, won that

'"After the game, I was nervous," Cechmanek said quietly yesterday. "We lost. I wanted to be prepared, and I felt I was not as prepared. I don't know. The whole team must play better than we played. We did not play like this the whole season."' … [Read more...] about Cechmanek deals with Saturday's defeat

'Center Curtis Brown is single-handedly killing the Flyers. He has won 60 percent of his face-offs (35 of 58) and is plus-2 in the series with a goal.' … [Read more...] about Flyers at Sabres

'But the Sabres also have been resilient, and unlike the Flyers, who suffered injuries and sputtered into the postseason, Buffalo came in having won 10 of its last 13 games - including that season-ending loss to the Flyers in which the Sabres built a 37-17 shots edge.' … [Read more...] about McKee will trade puck for Cup