Archives for January 11, 2003

Doug Flutie is often credited for saving the Buffalo Bills franchise. Everyone has been hoping for a "Flutie of hockey" to come around and spark as much interest in the Buffalo Sabres. Out of the dark gloom that has surrounded the Sabres since last summer with the arrest of owner John Rigas, there has emerged a fiery entity known as Ales Kotalik. Could he be the Doug … [Read more...] about Kotalik to the rescue!

The Buffalo Sabres haven't been able to really count on their “backup” goalie to win them a game since, well, Marty Biron was the backup goalie. Take away Ryan Miller's 4-1-0-2 record, and the team's record the last nine times someone other than Biron started in goal is 0-8-1, dating back to the end of last season. That doesn't even take into … [Read more...] about Ruff backs away from backup question

All you need to know about Ales Kotalik's game is that on the shift immediately after he scored the game-winning goal against the Boston Bruins on Friday night, he sent the puck deep into the Bruin zone, blood trickling down his chin from an accidental clip at center ice, and crushed Bryan Berard into the boards behind the net. … [Read more...] about Miller and Kotalik quickly becoming our long-lost pals

'RW Miroslav Satan has one goal in each of his last three games against the Canadiens.' … [Read more...] about Sabres vs. Canadiens

'"Al's just refreshing," Ruff said. "He goes out there and works extremely hard. He scores a couple goals and immediately afterwards goes and runs somebody through the end of the rink."' … [Read more...] about Once again, Kotalik comes to rescue

'Connolly hadn't scored since a 3-2 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Nov. 15. Since then, he's been battered more than the New York State budget, stepped on more than the Rockettes' practice floor and trashed more than a landfill.' … [Read more...] about For Connolly, goal feels good, win better

'Several state officials raised concerns Friday that the type of loan being requested by Hamister could violate provisions of a 2000 debt-reform law that bans the state from lending money for noncapital purposes.' … [Read more...] about Hamister is forced to make new deal

'County projections show a minimum loss of $15 million to $20 million just in sales tax revenue over the next 23 years if the Sabres leave. That's money that will have to be made up somewhere, likely through higher taxes or reduced expenses - that is to say, more layoffs.' … [Read more...] about Sabres support

'To no one's surprise, given the ineptitude of the two sides (a combined 5-18-2-1 over the last five weeks), the first 40 minutes could not be classified as a barnburner.' … [Read more...] about Bruins' grade again incomplete

'Following John Grahame's third-period meltdown in net Tuesday night, the Bruins suited up Steve Shields here to face his ex-Sabres teammates.' … [Read more...] about Thornton has minor elbow surgery

'They took the ice desperate for a win, and dedicated to an ultra-cautious team defensive posture that may be pure boredom for the folks in the seats, but is known as ``good road hockey'' to the guys on the ice. They worked very, very hard. They led by two goals in the third period. And it still didn't work.' … [Read more...] about Another bad blow

'"It's a bad loss for us," said Bruin coach Robbie Ftorek. "A real bad loss."' … [Read more...] about Bruins singing familiar refrain