Archives for November 2013

'“That was a fun team game,” Ott said. “Our compete, our work ethic right from the drop of the puck was pretty contagious on the bench throughout our lineup. It’s been a pretty awesome 48 hours in the sense of renewed energy and that clean slate. You’ve seen a lot of weight off a lot of guys’ shoulders out there.”' … [Read more...] about Ott translates fun into point production

'They forechecked hard. They actually escaped from their own zone often instead of sporadically. They backchecked with ferocity. They dove to clear pucks from the crease or beyond their blue line.' … [Read more...] about Sabres defeat Maple Leafs in Ted Nolan’s return

'“That made a lot of guys realize that game one is basically tonight and you throw those other 20 away,” said captain Steve Ott, who had a goal and two points in only the Sabres’ fifth win. “Honestly, it felt like a completely different room in there.”' … [Read more...] about Sabres beat Leafs in Ted Nolan’s debut, look like new team

'“It was total silence,” LaFontaine said. “He said, ‘You’re kidding me?’ I said, ‘Well, you got to take the job first for this year,’ and he said, ‘Are you kidding me?’”' … [Read more...] about Pat LaFontaine’s phone call to Ted Nolan left Sabres’ interim coach speechless

'"(Nolan) told us just play hockey and have a lot of fun," Foligno said. "There are a lot of little battles that we have to win. We are all focusing on that and not thinking about anything else."' … [Read more...] about Sabres Begin New Era With ‘Fun’ Win

'Even now, it looks like one big prank. Did the Sabres really fire Darcy Regier and replace him with LaFontaine, whose jersey hangs in the rafters? Did they really bring back Nolan from the coaching grave 16 years after he was coach of the year for them? Was nostalgia for the past really the answer for a better future? Maybe not. But it is not like it can get any worse.' … [Read more...] about How Ted Nolan found himself coaching the Buffalo Sabres, again

Maple Leafs fall short against Sabres (Toronto Sun) Leafs, Sabres play tame game in first meeting since rough pre-season tilt (Toronto Sun) Leafs getting surprising offence from Trevor Smith (Toronto Sun) Maple Leafs' Kadri surprised by suspension severity (Toronto Sun) Maple Leafs fall to new-look Sabres (Toronto Star) Maple Leafs’ Trevor Smith in penthouse, power play in … [Read more...] about Saturday’s Toronto Coverage (Part I)

'But Nolan won’t be able to do it alone in Buffalo. The Sabres are short on talent, and while Pegula has thrown his financial weight behind the team, the key is to find a general manager who knows how to spend that money wisely.' … [Read more...] about Desperate times in Buffalo

'“Maturity and history is a great teacher,” he said. “Somebody asked me the last couple days, do you have something to prove? I have nothing to prove. I stopped that when I was 23 years old, coming from where I came from.”' … [Read more...] about Bitterness Is Gone as Nolan and the Sabres Reunite

'Ryan Miller stopped 32 shots, and was particularly sharp in the final minute. He had his back turned to the play, and yet got a piece of Cody Franson's point shot.' … [Read more...] about Sabres beat Leafs 3-1 in Nolan’s return as coach

'"It brings a smile to my face," Miller said. "Christian Ehrhoff had the play of the game and saved our butts and then he put it away. It was a great turn of events there to watch him make that play on the back side, have great awareness to find it and help me out then get it down the ice and split the uprights."' … [Read more...] about Maple Leafs get plenty of chances, can’t finish in loss to Sabres

'"I'm not really too concerned of what they've done. I've never been. It's what we're going to do," Nolan said. "It's a new day, a new beginning. Let's start fresh."' … [Read more...] about Sixteen years later, coach Ted Nolan welcomes fresh start with Sabres

'"It was really fun for me to look up and see how much the fans were enjoying this game tonight," said Nolan. "Tonight, we looked really good. I really had to hold them in tight, its one of those things where you never know if it will happen again. It was an emotional game for me."' … [Read more...] about Buffalo 3, Toronto 1

'"Those 20 games or so have been thrown out the window," Ott said. "They came in and to a man they told every guy it's time to work for your ice time or work for your chances and tonight I thought every guy did as a man. It was a lot of fun to go out there and feel like the weight is off our shoulders. For the last little while, we've been playing with some pretty heavy backs … [Read more...] about Sabres win second straight, defeat Leafs

'Playing for the first time under Pat LaFontaine and Ted Nolan, the Sabres earned their second regulation win of the season on Friday 3-1 over the Maple Leafs. Steve Ott collected two points in the victory.' … [Read more...] about Sabres Beat Leafs 3-1 in Nolan’s Return