SabreSpace

'Dominik Hasek made 21 saves and was rewarded with his fifth shutout this season. It was the second consecutive strong performance for The Dominator, who also earned his first victory of the New Year. The Sabres basically built a fortress around the net, the way they did for backup Martin Biron when this road trip began in Nashville last Saturday.' … [Read more...] about SABRES BLANK NOT-SO-MIGHTY DUCKS

'"It was a tough decision to make," he said. "It was a decision I probably should have made earlier, but you always hold out that little optimism. I asked for the trade in October, and I really stuck by that. I knew how far we were going to be apart. Having put it behind me now really sets me at ease."' … [Read more...] about FRUSTRATED PECA SAYS ‘C’ YOU LATER, SEVERS TIES TO SABRES

'"We were pretty flat," Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said. "We came out of it by the second and third period but we missed way too many opportunities to get back into it."' … [Read more...] about SLOW START COSTLY IN LOSS TO KINGS

'Sources said Thursday that Peca has told Sabres General Manager Darcy Regier that he's no longer interested in playing in Buffalo and advised the team to reassign his captaincy. Regier will hold a one-on-one meeting with Peca today in a last-ditch effort to settle what has become a bitter contract dispute.' … [Read more...] about PECA SAYS HE WANTS TO SHUFFLE OFF FROM BUFFALO

'"He's one guy we count on in both ends of the rink," Ruff said. "He's been good in his own end, but in the other end he has to pick it up. It's one area we really need him, to score and produce. . . . In key (defensive) situations, he'll see some of that ice time. Otherwise, we're looking for offense just like anybody else."' … [Read more...] about BROWN GAUGES SUCCESS IN WINS

'"I don't think we set it up once in their zone," winger Miroslav Satan said. "The question is how we're going to fix it. We have to talk about it and try to figure it out for next game. We definitely don't want to see it (again). It was like last year. We couldn't get anything going. We had almost no shots. It was just nothing."' … [Read more...] about POWER PLAY FAILS SABRES IN DEFEAT

'"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