SabreSpace

'Because while Hasek played the drama queen, his teammates' efforts could best be described as perfunctory. Both Buffalo goals were unspectacular. But Hasek was at his best and the Sabres' stingy defence -- tops in the NHL for good reason -- handled the rest in a dull, grinding fashion that got the job done.' … [Read more...] about Hasek delivers first strike

'The aging centerman set up one goal and scored what proved to be the game winner Wednesday night as the Sabres took Game One of their best-of-seven series with the Philadelphia Flyers.' … [Read more...] about Old-schooled by Gilmour

'It was not the Dominik Hasek show that dropped the Flyers last night in their opening round playoff game against the Sabres at the First Union Center, but the wall around him and the fall of Roman.' … [Read more...] about Cechmanek is soft as Sabres top Flyers

'Last night, the Sabres stifled the Flyers at one end with a strong forecheck and at the other with goalie Dominik Hasek, who frustrated the Flyers on those occasions when they were able to get up ice for a clean shot.' … [Read more...] about One depressing debut

'"It was huge," Buffalo center Chris Gratton said of Hasek's save. "Our whole bench jumped up with excitement. Dom's a game-breaker, and I think that save broke open the game for us."' … [Read more...] about Penalty-shot stop by Hasek sparks the Sabres' play

'Second round at the OK Corral Saturday at 1 p.m. There's no doubt Cechmanek will show. The challenge is too enticing for one of his caliber not to.' … [Read more...] about Dueling goalies will fight to finish

'Barber summed up the series before it began pretty much the way most people summed up the Flyers. "It's desperation," he said. "It's what our team stands for."' … [Read more...] about Barber relishing shot at coaching in playoffs

'The Sabres certainly weren't perfect in a 2-1 victory last night at the First Union Center - for a while there, they were in danger of getting windburn from the Flyers' odd-man rushes - but they seldom had to sweat down the stretch. The Flyers got a taste of why Buffalo allowed an NHL-low 184 goals this season.' … [Read more...] about Ominous overtones

'So if the Flyers are relying on Cechmanek to stop everything from here on out, they might as well just quit now.' … [Read more...] about Don't pin this loss on Cechmanek

'No, the definition of this game was in the large white area in front of Hasek for most of the game. It was found in the ability of Buffalo's quick defensemen to steer Flyers players wide of the Sabres' net for most of the night, and the willingness of the Flyers to shoot from out there.' … [Read more...] about Big Flyers come up small

'"I was a little surprised to see it go in," Gratton said. "But we watched a lot of video on him, and he tends to come out and really cut the angles down. I was just trying to get his feet moving a little bit.' … [Read more...] about Goal to start roll?

'"We got ready for the first game, and they got ready, also, but we scored one more goal than they did. I don't really care how good he played in the regular season. We scored two goals on him tonight."' … [Read more...] about First postseason game is no big deal to Barber

'Dominik Hasek finally got the best of Roman Cechmanek, but the Buffalo Sabres' team defense was the real "Dominator" last night.' … [Read more...] about Dominated

'Mark Recchi had a rare penalty shot, only the sixth in Flyer postseason history, midway through the first period. But although he made a good move on the play, the guy standing in goal happened to be one Dominik Hasek.' … [Read more...] about Recchi fails to fool Dominator

'"Hasek made the stops that were necessary," Flyers coach Bill Barber said, "and we didn't capitalize on some chances that we had."' … [Read more...] about Early edge goes to Hasek, Sabres