SabreSpace

'Dominik Hasek's yearning for an Olympic encore is the primary reason the Buffalo Sabres' superstar goalie is expected to scrap his retirement plans and play again next season. But will Hasek want to return if he's the backup for the Czech Republic, the team he carried to the gold medal in 1998 at the Nagano Games?' … [Read more...] about Hasek might lose Czech spot to Cechmanek

'We're told that Sather, who has already made one offer for Peca, intends to press the issue with Regier during the GM meetings that begin tomorrow at La Quinta.' … [Read more...] about Glen hot on Peca's trail

'The Buffalo Sabres collide with the NHL's best team this afternoon in Denver, and if the Colorado Avalanche are at full strength and play their typical game, we'll probably see why Las Vegas lists them as 3-to-1 favorites to win the Stanley Cup and the Sabres 15-to-1.' … [Read more...] about Avalanche figure to show why they're Cup favorites

'The Avalanche's power play ranks second in the NHL behind Detroit's, despite the fact that Colorado got Blake just nine days ago via a trade with the Los Angeles Kings. Adding Blake, who has scored as many goals (18) as the entire Buffalo Sabres' defense, was the hockey equivalent of pouring hot fudge on a pile of Hershey bars.' … [Read more...] about Sabres wary of Colorado power play

'Colorado vs. Buffalo. Goalies Patrick Roy against Dominik Hasek.' … [Read more...] about Avalanche-Sabres collision features duel of top goalies

'...Buffalo, fifth in the Eastern Conference, has won six of the its past eight games.' … [Read more...] about Sabres-Avalanche preview

'Prediction: The Sabres' pesky center, Michael Peca, will be no factor today. OK, so that's not exactly going out on a limb, unless the Sabres re-sign the holdout overnight and get him to Denver in time for the game. ...' … [Read more...] about Buffalo at Colorado

Set the VCR on rewind -- just as he was in the first two meetings between the two teams, the Czech "rookie" goalie Roman Cechmanek was a 'mini-dominator' in frustrating the Sabres on every chance. … [Read more...] about Cechmanek rules Sabres o again

'Veteran defenseman James Patrick, diplomatic by nature, summed up the game less generously. "There's no excuse for it," he said. "They just outplayed us."' … [Read more...] about Sabres no match for Flyers' muscle

'While a pair of Czech All-Stars minded the nets Thursday night, Buffalo's Martin Biron and Philadelphia's Brian Boucher got yet another 60 minutes to ponder the meaning of the word "backup."' … [Read more...] about More time on the pines for backups

'Roman Cechmanek had just beaten Buffalo's Dominik Hasek last night for the third time. The Flyers weren't handing out any trips to Disney World as a reward, but people wanted to know what it meant to the goalie. Is it special to play Hasek? "No," he replied amid laughter. Why not? "Because I must play him."' … [Read more...] about Defense saves the day for Flyers

'Cechmanek, who is four shutouts away from Parent's franchise record for a season, tied Dominik Hasek for the NHL lead in that category last night, slapping down Hasek and the Sabres, 2-0.' … [Read more...] about Roman cashes in another Czech

'Cechmanek, who turns 30 tomorrow, no longer stands in awe of the all-world Hasek. "I'm happy to beat him because five times he's the best in the league (Vezina winner)," Cechmanek said.' … [Read more...] about Roman bests Hasek for third time this year

. … [Read more...] about Czech mate

'It was billed as The Dominator vs. the Roman Empire, Part III. It might as well have been billed a tryout for the 2002 Winter Olympics.' … [Read more...] about Cechmanek records 8th shutout as Flyers defeat Sabres, Hasek