Archives for May 8, 2007

'"The guys talk about it," Vanek said during a teleconference yesterday. "You kind of really have to hate a team before you get a good rivalry going. Against the Islanders and the Rangers, it kind of took a few games. I don't think it's going to take long (against the Senators)."' … [Read more...] about Sabres rivalry simmers

'"It won't be easy to look at a game at Scotiabank Place, when you're in a group of maybe 20-25, against a crowd of 20,000," said the senior Briere, who plans to wear a Sabres cap, but not a Sabres jersey, while attending NHL games in Ottawa. ''I've done it before, but it's not easy in that arena."' … [Read more...] about Parents with Sabres connections tough out Senators fan frenzy

History lessened (Ottawa Sun) Ruff refuses to start fight (Ottawa Sun) Murray embraces trip to Round 3 (Ottawa Sun) Emery prefers Big Apple glitz (Ottawa Sun) Emery best suited for Stanley Cup run (Ottawa Sun) Sabres rivalry simmers (Ottawa Citizen) Meet new, improved playoff Spezza (Ottawa Citizen) Murray's way works (Ottawa Citizen) Parents with Sabres connections … [Read more...] about Tuesday’s Ottawa Coverage

'Still freshly etched in the minds of the Sabre players is the memory of Chris Neil's knockout blow of Chris Drury back on Feb. 22, a controversial hit that left the Buffalo co-captain out of the lineup for several weeks with a concussion.' … [Read more...] about Temper need for revenge

'Henrik Tallinder and Toni Lydman keep their Scandinavian rivalry boiling off the ice, but when the puck drops, they unite to stop the best forwards in the NHL.'' … [Read more...] about Ruff guess pays off with pair

'This is easily a much better Senators team than last season. But the Sabres are also better over 2005-06, too. It should be a lot of fun.' … [Read more...] about Sens can’t wait for shot at Sabres

'"In Buffalo, it's the here-we-go-again syndrome," said Ottawa Senators general manager John Muckler, a former Sabres GM who still maintains a home in Buffalo. "The [fans have] been burnt so many times they feel like every time they're on the verge of winning a championship, something happens to them. Whether it's a field-goal kicker missing by an inch or Brett Hull's foot in … [Read more...] about Sens-Sabres series a sad tale of two NHL cities

'When I think back on the 1999 Stanley Cup final between the Buffalo Sabres and the Dallas Stars, what stands out for me wasn't that the Stars won on that goal Brett Hull scored with one foot in the Sabres' crease. It is that Buffalo, an old school hockey market with fans who bleed for their team, lost it that way. You've never heard a sound like the one 19,000 people make when … [Read more...] about This time, East final will have meaning

'"I think when you play playoff hockey against a team, things happen in a series, whether they're intentional or otherwise, that bring out the competitive juices," he said yesterday. "And you know, we played them eight times again this year. So there's been a lot of contact between the two organizations and I think it's terrific."' … [Read more...] about Expect Eastern final to be a head banger

'So far this spring, the Senators have played a much more even-keeled game than have the mercurial Sabres. And Ottawa has been a little more defensively consistent. But the Sabres have also shut down big scorers when necessary, and checking forward Paul Gaustad's recent return from injury has yet to have the full impact that it will. Plus, both teams have demonstrated their … [Read more...] about The Fast and the Furious

'"We play with a bit of looseness, we give up chances to get them." But when this risk-taking pays off, Ruff said his team is willing to shift tactics and "forfeit some offence to lock it down" to cement a win.' … [Read more...] about Ruff promises firewagon hockey

'"Everybody knows what happened this year," Sabres forward Daniel Briere said after his team dispatched the New York Rangers in six games Sunday. "All I know for sure is it's going to be a battle."' … [Read more...] about What brawl? It’s postseason for Sabres, Senators

'Ottawa in six.' … [Read more...] about Conference finals breakdown: Sabres vs. Senators

'If you ask most Sabres fans, Ottawa is the team that scares them the most.' … [Read more...] about Sens, Sabres bring real venom to East finals

'Their team is days away from perhaps the most highly anticipated matchup of this year's NHL playoffs, but it seems that all Buffalo Sabres fans want to talk about is what happened over the weekend.' … [Read more...] about Buffalo still buzzing over Sabres’ dramatics