SabreSpace

'"We didn't know for sure until (Tuesday), but it was no big surprise," Hasek said before the Sabres' 2-1 loss. "I won't change anything. There are two more games on the road trip. I hope I play at least one of the next two games. I just spend more time on the ice for practice and wait for my next chance."' … [Read more...] about HASEK SHRUGS OFF RESERVE ROLE

'All four have been allowed by Dominik Hasek, who recorded a 1-1 and 3-3 tie with the Toronto Maple Leafs last week. Backup Martin Biron is working on consecutive shutouts, so it would surprise nobody if Ruff called upon him again tonight (10:30. Empire, 107.7). But the Sabres weren't even considering a possible goaltending controversy.' … [Read more...] about BIRON MAY START AGAIN TONIGHT

'Biron has posted consecutive shutouts, including a 2-0 win over Nashville on Saturday. If it were Hasek, this would be a no-brainer. The Dominator would be in net. But this is a delicate issue because it involves the Sabres' marquee player. Ruff always said he would play his strongest lineup, and the current one doesn't include one of the best goalies in NHL history.' … [Read more...] about BIRON’S PLAY HANDS SABRES A GOALTENDING PREDICAMENT

'"Our job is to be at our best every night or the closest we can be to our best," center Stu Barnes said. "We mentioned it before the game. The guys were saying it was such an emotional series against Toronto that we didn't want to have a letdown."' … [Read more...] about SABRES, BIRON TOP PREDATORS

'Obviously, Peca would play for less than $3.5 million per season. Otherwise, he would have submitted his captaincy, severed his ties with the Sabres and publicly vowed to never play for them again. Case closed. It's one way of putting muscle behind his position.' … [Read more...] about IT’S TIME FOR PECA AND SABRES TO REACH A MIDDLE GROUND

'Without Gilmour, the Sabres lose one of the most entertaining games this season. He set up Dave Andreychuk with a perfect saucer pass for Buffalo's second goal. He had the primary assist on Alexei Zhitnik's tying goal in the second period and was named the game's first star.' … [Read more...] about GILMOUR FINDS HIS GROOVE IN SABRES’ TIE WITH LEAFS

'It seems like Gratton has been around the game forever but he's only 25 years old. He's just begun to near what should be the prime of his career. He entered the league amid expectations he would be a great scorer after netting 55 goals his final year of junior. The Sabres have taken on the task of molding him into a more complete player. Unlike Dumont, they didn't get him … [Read more...] about GRATTON STILL SEARCHING FOR HIS COMFORT ZONE

'"You can't explain it," Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said. "Gratton's goal should have counted. I'm sure if they look at it again they'd agree with it. There's been a lot more goals scored this year where guys have been on top of goaltenders, there's been two or three guys in there."' … [Read more...] about CREASE CALLS LEAVE SABRES BEFUDDLED IN TIE

'Ray is expected to receive a suspension of at least three games for his actions in the Bruins game. Ray objected to an uncalled penalty by trying to confront referee Don Van Massenhoven following a Boston goal. He was intercepted by the linesmen and eventually led to the Buffalo bench, from where he threw a stick that sailed over the head of a linesman and onto the ice. He … [Read more...] about RAY AWAITS STICK-TOSS VERDICT

'Boulton figured he was on the verge of donning his uniform for the first time since Dec. 23 when he saw Ray launch a stick from the Sabres' bench area, over the head of a linesman and onto the ice during Buffalo's 4-3 loss to the Boston Bruins on Monday. "As soon as I saw that, it was like 'I'm definitely in for the next game,' " Boulton said Tuesday.' … [Read more...] about SABRES’ BOULTON THRUST INTO FRAY AGAINST LEAFS

'The Sabres might have found themselves alone atop the Northeast Division today if they had covered the Bruins as well as most of them covered their tracks in the aftermath of their third loss in their last five home games. Few players made themselves available to lend insight into how the Bruins continually profitted from Buffalo's shoddy, inattentive team defense.' … [Read more...] about SABRES LOSE THEIR COOL AND A GAME

'The rest of the Sabres came to the game limp of zeal. They must have made a New Year's resolution about not having any serious contact with opposing players. Unlike the players of days past, the current Sabres have a reputation for attending to business, not mixing pleasure with work.' … [Read more...] about PACIFIST SABRES PITCH NO-HITTER AGAINST BRUINS

'"It's one of those things if you let it slip at all, have one bad game, all of a sudden it's two games or three games or four games or five games. It's something that we definitely need to address and improve right away and not let it get to a point where it's becoming a problem."' … [Read more...] about SABRES SEEK WAYS TO PUT SPARK BACK IN POWER PLAY

'Dominik Hasek and Martin Biron became the first Sabres goaltending tandem in nearly 21 years to record shutouts in consecutive games when Biron throttled the Isles, 2-0, Saturday night in the ghost town of Nassau Coliseum.' … [Read more...] about THIS TIME, IT’S BIRON’S TURN TO GET INTO SHUTOUT ACT FOR SABRES

'Michael Peca warmed up but elected not to play in Sunday's final of the Spengler Cup hockey tournament. Peca's Canadian teammates lost to Davos, 4-2.' … [Read more...] about PECA SITS AGAIN, CANADA BOWS IN FINAL