Archives for May 2007

'For just the second time in the playoffs, the Sabres wore their blue "third" uniforms with the old team logo---two crossed swords underneath a plains Buffalo----emblazoned on the front. The throwback uniforms were worn by the team at several pre-determined points during the regular season but were used in Game 5---at the request of the players---to try to shake up the team's … [Read more...] about Sens deserved to win

'Leave it to Alfredsson, the player who has appeared in all of the franchise's 94 playoff games to finally push them through. Accepting Heatley's pass on the fly, Alfredsson broke over the blue line. He used Sabres defender Brian Campbell as a screen, and had his shot sneak in inside the right post.' … [Read more...] about Ottawa 3, Buffalo 2, OT

'Drury was standing in front of the Ottawa net while the Sabres had a two-man advantage when Tim Connolly let go a slap shot from the right point that hit Drury flush in the mouth, sending the co-captain to the ice with his mouth dripping blood.' … [Read more...] about Sabres C Drury briefly leaves game after being struck in face by puck

'The Sabres' future is now uncertain going into the summer, with co-captains Daniel Briere and Chris Drury both eligible for unrestricted free agency. High-scoring winger Thomas Vanek could also leave if the restricted free agent receives an offer from another team that Buffalo can't, or won't, match.' … [Read more...] about Sabres’ trophy-winning season ends without big prize

'There are 11 Stanley Cup banners hanging from Scotiabank Place's rafters, including seven that date to championships won before the league's formation in December 1917. None of those banners belong to the expansion franchise that in 1992-93 returned NHL hockey to Ottawa for the first time since 1934.' … [Read more...] about Senators in Stanley Cup finals for first time … sort of

'But as has been the case for most of the series, the Sabres couldn't contain Ottawa's star-studded big line.' … [Read more...] about Alfredsson the overtime hero to lift Ottawa Senators into Stanley Cup final

'Asked if he was expecting trouble, one idle officer unfolded his arms long enough to chortle. "Are you kidding?" he asked, from behind his wrap-around shades. "We'll see what happens in the wee hours when people have finished drinking."' … [Read more...] about NHL’s Senators send staid Ottawa into paroxysms of contentment

'"I did see (the shot coming), but I couldn't move," said Drury, who returned in overtime. "I don't know if it was going in the net or on net or where, but I just didn't have time. ... Eight (stitches) on the outside (of my mouth), three on the inside. I didn't take X-rays because I've got to go to a dentist for that."' … [Read more...] about Senators advance to first Stanley Cup Finals with OT win

'But midway through the first overtime period, Alfredsson skated between three Buffalo defensemen and using Brian Campbell as a screen, slipped the puck inside the right post to end the series.' … [Read more...] about Sabres Ousted by Ottawa

'No joke. I get a call this afternoon from a buddy of mine, livid about NBC's decision to dump overtime of the elimination game between Buffalo and Ottawa onto Versus. "I can't believe it," he moaned. "They cut off the strongman competition I was watching for a stinkin' hockey game!"' … [Read more...] about Pulling pucks for ponies

'Heading into overtime for the fifth time in the past ten playoff meetings with Ottawa, destiny - a friendly accomplice for most of the Sabres' inspiring regular season - chose to smile on their hungrier opponent this time, serving an end result that sent the Senators on to their first Stanley Cup Finals appearance and the favored Sabres into an offseason of doubt, … [Read more...] about ECF # 5: Senators 3, Sabres 2 (OT)

'Don't get me wrong -- the team's performance in Games 4 and 5 was commendable, gritty, and aggressive. But they shouldn't have needed three straight losses and a backs-against-the-wall situation to get to that point, even against a team as tough as Ottawa.' … [Read more...] about Grading the Sabres: Game 5

'The Senators easily have been the most impressive team in the playoffs, winning seven of eight games on the road (including all three in Buffalo), scampering to the final in a mere 15 games. Ottawa might have played two bad periods -- the third period in Game 2 against Pittsburgh in the first round and the first period against Buffalo in Game 4 -- but they haven't … [Read more...] about Just desserts

'Now that they are in the finals, it is reasonable to wonder just how good a team the Senators are.' … [Read more...] about How good are the Senators?

'"It's definitely a tough thing to handle," said Sabres forward Jason Pominville, choking back the tears after Buffalo was eliminated from the Eastern Conference final in overtime by the Ottawa Senators. "It's not too often that you get an opportunity to get this far two years in a row, and this is a great group of guys, but this might be the last … [Read more...] about Sabres add more angst for suffering Buffalo fans