Archives for April 5, 2001

Forget all the hype in the media and among the fans -- not to mention the lip service by the players -- about the “critical importance” of gaining home-ice advantage. The desire of the Sabres to start the playoffs on home ice could not -- and could never -- come close to matching the desire of the Bruins to start the playoffs on any ice. … [Read more...] about Sabres-Bruins "To the Point"

Although he had a relatively easy time in the latter stages of the game when the Sabres stumbled over themselves in frustration, Byron Dafoe earned his salary in the first period alone when he made several key saves to keep Buffalo off the board. … [Read more...] about Sabres-Bruins "Sharpening the Swords"

'The Boston Bruins played like a team in desperate need of two points Wednesday night, while the Buffalo Sabres played like a team in desperate need of a nap.' … [Read more...] about Dogged Bruins earn a key victory

'Mike Keenan doesn't know whether he'll have a job come Monday. The Boston Bruins have 10 days after the season to decide whether they want to pick up the first of two remaining options on his three-year contract to coach the team. If they make the playoffs, Keenan will likely stick around. If they don't, chances are he's headed for the gallows.' … [Read more...] about Keenan does his part for Bruins

'"Cechmanek will be the obvious favorite in Vsetin and the neighboring Moravian region..Still, Hasek is the national hero and will have a large following, too. I'd say it's split. And age is a huge factor. The kids never saw Hasek play here."' … [Read more...] about Czech Republic loyalties divided by goalies

'The win was the sixth in eight games for the late-charging, playoff-challenged Bruins.' … [Read more...] about Bruins keep pace, foil Sabres

'He turned down a two-year deal worth an average of $1.4 million in Columbus, leading to the trade that brought him to the shores of Lake Erie, where he now plays on a line with Curtis Brown and Miroslav Satan.' … [Read more...] about Variety suiting Heinze

'The B's got goals from Mikko Eloranta (No. 11), Brian Rolston (19) and Jason Allison (36), plus a big-time clutch effort from goalie Byron Dafoe (25 saves), as they beat the Sabres at their own game - smothering team defense and opportunistic scoring. That's a formula that works well in the playoffs, if the B's are still alive after the regular season … [Read more...] about B's work hard to keep up

'The Bruins had to silently thank Sabres coach Lindy Ruff for electing to start young Marty Biron in goal last night, instead of the red-hot Dominik Hasek. Biron played well, but committed a costly mistake that led to a Brian Rolston goal during the B's huge 3-2 victory.' … [Read more...] about Thankful for Ruff call

'The out-of-town scoreboard provided them with no help at all, so the Boston Bruins, locked in a three-team struggle for their playoff lives, had to help themselves. And they did, marching into the home rink of the Buffalo Sabres and walking out with a 3-2 victory before a crowd of 17,194.' … [Read more...] about Bruins nip Sabres, remain in the thick of the playoff hunt

'Plenty of players changed uniforms in deals made just before the league's March 13 trade deadline. But few of them have made as big an impact as Steve Heinze has made on the Buffalo Sabres.' … [Read more...] about Players staying cool despite a heated race to the finish

'The Sabres are a better team than the Bruins, the standings say so, but with the playoffs set for next week, Buffalo is largely in cruise control. The Sabres started Martin Biron in goal last night, and while Biron was fine, he wasn't Dominik Hasek who, by the way, has returned to the top of his game just in time for the post-season.' … [Read more...] about Bruins stay alive in race

'Both Boston and Carolina have two games left and, to make things even more interesting, are two points behind Toronto.' … [Read more...] about Bruins 3, Sabres 2

'The team fighting for its playoff life proved more desperate than the team fighting for home-ice advantage.' … [Read more...] about Boston 3, Buffalo 2

'However, the Sabres still remain in control of their playoff destiny, as they will still grab the fourth seed with a pair of wins over the weekend regardless of the rest of the games around the NHL.' … [Read more...] about Desperate Bruins outclaw the Sabres, 3-2