SabreSpace

'Satan isn't just a sniper but a 29-year-old sniper. There's been much talk about reducing the age of unrestricted free agents as a bridge in the next collective bargaining agreement. Many believe the age for unrestricted free agency, now 31, could be 28 or lower. With labor strife threatening to wipe out next season and Satan pushing 30, it makes sense for the … [Read more...] about It's time for NHL to make its rules perfectly clear

'Buffalo, with a six-game unbeaten streak, entered Nassau Coliseum as the N.H.L.'s hottest team. The Islanders are now alone in seventh place in the Eastern Conference, 5 points ahead of the Sabres and 2 ahead of Montreal after the Canadiens lost to Toronto.' … [Read more...] about Bates Ends His Drought and Isles Bounce Back

'Just 1:07 after Bates' first goal since Dec. 13, Buffalo cut the Isles' lead to one on Dmitri Kalinin's one-timer that came off Rick DiPietro's failed clear. Seventy-five seconds later, though, Aucoin put the Isles up 3-1 after some grunt work down low opened up space at the right point for his floater that beat Sabres goalie Martin Biron.' … [Read more...] about Islanders move into No. 7 spot

'"It was probably our best 60 minutes we've put together," said All-Star defenseman Adrian Aucoin, who followed a minus-5 showing Thursday with a solid plus-3 night. "This was even bigger than the Ranger game."' … [Read more...] about Not playing Rangers, so Isles climb

'"It was huge," defenseman Adrian Aucoin said. "It was even bigger than the Ranger game. Obviously, the rivalry is huge, but I think they're buried pretty deep back there. And we're looking forward."' … [Read more...] about Islanders Rebound

'"It can seem like there's no light at the end of the tunnel. We thought our team was not going to survive," goaltender Martin Biron said. "But you know what? Lindy and the coaches stayed constructive the whole time. They were very patient, especially with the young guys. They didn't make decisions just so we win one game. They did things so we … [Read more...] about Reborn Sabres rev up offense, revive fan base

'"We've got a core group of guys who have taken over the team," Ruff said. "Dumont's a great example. He's a great player but now has a voice in the room you didn't normally hear. Hecht, he's been the silent killer on the team. He's not real vocal, but he does it on the ice. He's been our best two-way player. You can put … [Read more...] about Digging just a bit deeper

'Asked if he is now in scoreboard-watching mode, Ruff replied, ``I think we're all going to watch what happens in games from here on out. But remember, there's six or seven weeks left in the season. If you watch too much, you're going to go off the deep end. Yes, we've gotten some help, but we mostly helpedourselves.''' … [Read more...] about NY Islanders 4, Buffalo 1

'"I think we are all going to watch what happens in games," Buffalo coach Lindy Ruff said. "But when you've got six or seven weeks left in the season, if you are going to put the onus on every game, every night, I think we will all go off the deep end."' … [Read more...] about NY Islanders 4, Buffalo 1

'"I believe that the team you're seeing now is the team we've been capable of being," noted Briere. "That's not meaning that we're going to score seven goals a night all of the time. I'm talking about the wins category, the collective play that we're displaying out there."' … [Read more...] about Sabres turning fortunes around

'The Isles are 2-0 against the Sabres this season, having outscored them by a combined 10-2 margin. New York has won five straight meetings overall, including three straight at Nassau.' … [Read more...] about East race heats up on Long Island

'D Kenny Jonsson has a goal and three assists in two games against the Sabres this season.' … [Read more...] about Sabres vs. Islanders

'At home, however, the Isles are unbeaten (5-0-2) in seven, and their 20-8-2 home record stood fourth in the league at 42 points, with their 20 home victories second-most in the league.' … [Read more...] about Isles hearing footsteps

'The Sabres are two games above .500 for the first time this season and extended their unbeaten streak to six games for the first time since they won the Prince of Wales Trophy in 1998-99.' … [Read more...] about Sabres giveth and taketh in victory over Lightning

'The Sabres are starting to remind me of the lovable rough-and-tumble group in 1995 that punched first and asked questions later. It wasn't a playoff team, but it was learning how to win. They have become a likable, gritty team going in the right direction for the first time in the post-Dominik Hasek era.' … [Read more...] about Finally, Sabres are a new team