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'"The fortunate thing about this team is all the guys involved in the locker room understand when we play our best and when we don't," center Stu Barnes said. "We have enough character in this room to realize what the situation is and realize that's not acceptable and we have to be better."' … [Read more...] about SABRES HOPE SLUMBER HAS ENDED

'"They outworked us," said Sabres coach Lindy Ruff, obviously disgusted with his team's performance. "They had a better night. There's no getting around it. They played a little bit smarter. They played a dump-and-chase game. We refused to dump it in and played a lot of one-on-one hockey. Passing was horrendous, which really eliminated any transition game."' … [Read more...] about SABRES HIT FLAT NOTE IN LOSS

'That's what happened to the Sabres. They began to outyawn the Caps. Taking a short nap under those circumstances is understandable, but the Sabres went into outright hibernation. In the third period they were limping along with one shot until the last 48 seconds of the game when it was beyond reach.' … [Read more...] about BONDRA STILL LOOKS GOOD IN CAPS’ JERSEY

'"It's a lot of fun," Buffalo defenseman Jay McKee said about the consecutive matchups. "Anytime you have back-to-back games, home and home, tempers are going to flare. Guys get under guys' skin. I heard some guys tonight saying they're going after some of their guys. That's what happens in back-to-back games."' … [Read more...] about SABRES START SERIES ON EVEN KEEL

'"Buffalo is still my No. 1 choice -- it always has been," Peca said by telephone, "but at some point you get perilously close to saying, 'I don't care what they're offering -- $2 million, $5 million or whatever -- I'm not playing for this organization no matter what they're offering me.'"' … [Read more...] about PECA APPROACHING POINT OF NO RETURN

'"In the offseason, the most part (he realized) is that nothing can change your past," Zhitnik said Tuesday. "Whatever happens is going to stay with you for the rest of your life. You can make the future better or worse for yourself. It's pretty much up to (you). You can go up or down."' … [Read more...] about ‘OLD’ ZHITNIK RETURNS

'"We talked about this before the game," Rasmussen said. "We knew Trevor Kidd's a big goalie and he covers a lot of the net. In order to get anything on him you had to get traffic on him and you had to get the puck high."' … [Read more...] about SABRES POST NET GAINS VARADA’S GRITTY PLAY CRUCIAL IN 3-2 VICTORY OVER FLORIDA

'"It felt pretty good," Gilmour said. "I was just trying to keep my shifts short at the start and trying to last out there. I think throughout the next week, going through the games and practicing, that'll tell what's going on."' … [Read more...] about GILMOUR GOES ALL-OUT, PASSES INJURY TEST

'"You don't mind getting beat when you're outworked and you're outplayed," Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said. "We spent a good deal of time in their end. We just made some stupid mistakes."' … [Read more...] about SABRES’ TURNABOUT LEADS TO LOSS TO HURRICANES

'Satan's experience with the Snipers Curse explains why he's not saying much to J.P. Dumont over the last few days. Satan wants to wait until the air clears from Dumont's smoking stick, which has produced the Buffalo Sabres' last five goals.' … [Read more...] about DUMONT ENJOYING HOT STREAK

'Hasek, seething after surrendering a five-spot to the Rangers last Friday, did his job Tuesday night while J.P. Dumont earned his second career hat trick as the Sabres rolled over the Boston Bruins, 3-0, before 13,369 fans in the FleetCenter.' … [Read more...] about HASEK, DUMONT UP TO OLD TRICKS DOMINATOR BAFFLES BRUINS

'"It was packed," Dumont said. "I had two goals and one assist. They threw me on the ice and told me to stay out there until I scored. I was so tired with about 30 seconds left that I came back to the bench to change (lines). They threw me out there right away."' … [Read more...] about DUMONT’S HAT TRICK GIVES HIM TEAM’S LAST FIVE GOALS

'Peca made $1.6 million last season while scoring 41 points. He's considered one of the best two-way forwards in the league, and has been seeking $3.5 million per season.' … [Read more...] about PECA VETOES SABRES’ NEW OFFER

'"He felt we weren't going to make the playoffs," said Sabres winger Dave Andreychuk, who was traded with Bourque. "He made his decision not to play anymore until he got traded. From that point on, everybody had to swallow it."' … [Read more...] about BRUINS STUCK IN REVERSE

'The Buffalo Sabres goaltender aced the 170-yard 12th hole at Glen Oak in Amherst on Wednesday then aced the Washington Capitals at the Norfolk Scope Arena in leading the Sabres to a 2-0 victory before 6,677 here Thursday. It was the Sabres third win in four preseason starts. The other game ended in a tie.' … [Read more...] about BARRASSO LIFTS SABRES PAST CAPS