Archives for April 26, 2001

'The Sabres have two options in addressing Lemieux. They can put another defensive center on Lemieux's line or just roll out four lines in an attempt to wear down Pittsburgh, which has a shorter bench and often double shifts Lemieux.' … [Read more...] about Lemieux seeks 'killer instict' against Sabres

One of the greater debates in professional sports contests has always been equal to the chicken or the egg theory. Which wins out -- offense or defense? … [Read more...] about Sabres-Penguins Series Scouting Report

All that the national media is talking about is all the superstars the Penguins have. The Buffalo Sabres have one very special superstar of their own in Dominik Hasek. … [Read more...] about Sabres-Penguins Edge Matchups

'"(They) have a good goalie who will go upside-down to make a save," Kovalev said. "They really are not a big team, but they are quick and have some fast forwards. We're going to have to skate a lot ... It's going to be a tough, skating series."' … [Read more...] about Hasek Not Only Problem for Pens

'Ironically, the Buffalo Sabres have the utmost respect for Lemieux, but it's the very thing they must guard against when the meet the Penguins in the conference semifinals. Game One tonight in HSBC Arena will mark the first time Super Mario has played in Buffalo since Jan. 29, 1997, Dominik Hasek's 32nd birthday. This is no time for a celebration.' … [Read more...] about Project: Damage Control

'Audette and Heinze, downloaded by the Buffalo Sabres at the NHL's March 13 trade deadline, escaped hockey hell and are now working their way toward drinking from the sport's holy grail.' … [Read more...] about Trading places does the trick for Audette, Heinze

'Coach Lindy Ruff put them together as a defensive pair late in the 1998-99 season, and then watched as they helped propel the Sabres to the Stanley Cup finals. The two players have skated together ever since, providing the only stable unit on a team of ever-shuffling lines and rotating healthy scratches.' … [Read more...] about Warrener and McKee: So happy together

'Ruff made Barber look like an amateur. Changing lines on the fly, he got most of the matchups he desired. He assembled a true checking line (Curtis Brown, Vaclav Varada and Erik Rasmussen or Vladimir Tsyplakov) after spreading those duties around during the season. They kept the Flyers' stars in check. Brown scored an OT winner and Rasmussen set up another.' … [Read more...] about Come playoff time, Ruff is more than ready for the challenge

'There's one huge reason for the available tickets for the first three home games: Hefty ticket prices, which range from $39 to $154 per seat. So a pair of nose-bleed tickets goes for $78, a pair of 200 Club seats for $308. Those prices represent almost a doubling from the regular-season prices, an increase of between 86 and 89 percent for the various ticket … [Read more...] about Ticket shock

'Buffalo will find a way to limit Pittsburgh's offense and create enough turnovers to win in six games.' … [Read more...] about Pens not a two-man gang, but can they match Sabres' depth?

'"When I was in college, I roadtripped to a Buffalo Bills-New England Patriots game. So I was in the back of a Ryder truck for three hours with a bunch of Bills backers, and all I heard for three hours was 'Let's go Buffalo.' When I get bored, I guess I chant that."' … [Read more...] about Penguins weren't rooting for Sabres

'"They've got four good lines, and we're going to have to use four lines if we want to beat those guys," Lemieux said. "You can't play three lines because you'll get worn down as the series progresses."' … [Read more...] about Lemieux: We need to play all four lines

'The most intriguing candidate, Ted Nolan, was on Long Island yesterday and visited with Islanders general manager Mike Milbury at the team offices at Nassau Coliseum. Milbury refused comment and Nolan, who was staying at the Garden City Hotel, could not be reached for comment.' … [Read more...] about And Then There Were Three

'While there are many subplots to this series, the crucial match-up is sniper Lemieux against goalie Hasek, two of the NHL's all-time greats. Super Mario vs. The Dominator could be the individual feature of the playoffs.' … [Read more...] about Hasek, Mario a super match-up

'Is Mario Lemieux vs. Dominik Hasek in an NHL playoff series akin to Mickey Mantle facing Sandy Koufax in the 1963 World Series?' … [Read more...] about NHL's best vs. best: Hasek, Lemieux face off