Archives for April 16, 2007

'The common denominator? Against the best, Drury is very average. Hurricane Rod Brind'Amour -- who finished third in faceoffs in the regular season a year ago -- ate Drury alive in the seven-game series, winning 54 of 86 draws.' … [Read more...] about Slow on the draw

'When they host the fifth game of that opening round series, the Sabres will have welcomed 841,050 people into HSBC Arena this season. Only the 1998-99 edition, which made it to the Stanley Cup finals, and the 2000-2001 team, which made it to the second round of the playoffs, accumulated better attendance marks.' … [Read more...] about With playoffs Sabres' gate keeps rising

'It just hasn’t felt like the playoffs yet. In fact, the Sabres’ lone preseason game at home back in September had more emotion than the first two games against the New York Islanders. I'm not trying to exaggerate a point, in fact, that is the point. These playoffs feel like preseason compared to what we grew accustomed to last spring.' … [Read more...] about Let’s get serious

'The Sabres are stacked from top to bottom, but it’s the top that has coach Lindy Ruff’s attention. The No. 1 line of center Daniel Briere, left wing Jochen Hecht and right wing Jason Pominville -- who combined for 85 goals and 134 assists in the regular season -- has been subpar. Briere, the catalyst, has just one shot in each game.' … [Read more...] about Sabres forwards disappear

'The Sabres are the Cup favorites for a reason. The one looming question is whether Miller can play at a consistently high level in the playoffs. He was great at times a year ago in his rookie playoff run. At other times, he was merely average. He was not a difference-maker in the conference finals against Carolina.' … [Read more...] about Sabres need Miller to win goalie battle

'“I think sometimes your game almost simplifies on the road,” Ruff said Sunday. “We have a lot better tendency of having a more basic game when we get on the road. You try to drive that home. If we take care of the little things, we’ll have success.”' … [Read more...] about Trends favor Sabres in Long Island opener

'The first night the Islanders arrived in Buffalo last week, he steered the coaching and training staffs to dinner in Lombardo’s Ristorante on Hertel Avenue. “We want them to get a taste of Buffalo,” said Timms, who is engaged to a local woman, Anne Uba.' … [Read more...] about Islanders&#8217 trainer grew up as a Sabres fan

' can't see it happening, but a first-round loss by the Buffalo Sabres to the New York Islanders would be as demoralizing to many sports fans in western New York as the Bills losing four straight Super Bowls.' … [Read more...] about It's win or bust for Knighthawks, Sabres

'Much like he did during last year's playoffs, Kotalik has disappeared in the first two games of the first round this season.' … [Read more...] about Kotalik must start producing

DiPietro’s Return Has Islanders Optimistic About Playoffs (New York Times) To Nolan & Isles, Yashin's just another fourth-liner (New York Daily News) Yashin on ice as Islanders knot series (New York Post) Yashin's benching is nothing new (New York Newsday) Concussions get inside your head (New York Newsday) DP fired up over return to ice (New York Newsday) Buffalo … [Read more...] about Monday’s New York Coverage (Updated 1:00 p.m.)

'"I think I made a huge case," said Dubielewicz. "It's something I always knew I could do. I don't know if anybody else thought so. It feels good inside."' … [Read more...] about Dubielewicz convinced he’s made his case to Isles

'If the Sabres are to regain control of this series and not have the Islanders' win turn a minor annoyance into a major upset, they will have to start driving to the net themselves. For all of their dancing around Saturday night, there was not a lot of heavy traffic right in front of DiPietro.' … [Read more...] about Return of DiPietro puts Isles back on winning track

'"In every game there's pressure, but not like when it's a 4-4 tie in the Stanley Cup final," Conklin said. "It was wild. But that's part of the job. I mean, you have to be prepared for it."' … [Read more...] about Always ready

'"We were trying to put on a bit of a show for our fans," head coach Lindy Ruff said of his team yesterday. And that was after they woke up in the second period.' … [Read more...] about Sabres need to simplify

'The Islanders, though, would not have won this game, and will not win others, without scoring from the point. Based on the early returns, this is a blueliner's series, with six of the 10 goals coming off the sticks of the defencemen, most of them from a distance. And those shots would have been ineffective without heavy traffic in front of, and around, the crease.' … [Read more...] about Isles avoid potential rout