SabreSpace

'Jaromir Jagr at 50% is better than 90% of the league. Jagr has to do whatever it takes to play Game 4. Shoot it up with novacaine or whatever the doctors would prescribe. The Penguins need him.' … [Read more...] about Sabres score 3 in third, beat Jagr-less Pens 4-1

'Pittsburgh captain Jaromir Jagr, bothered by an undisclosed injury that has left him unable to shoot effectively, was not in uniform for Monday night's playoff game against Buffalo.' … [Read more...] about Jagr sits out Sabres-Penguins game

'The Penguins' star sat out Pittsburgh's 3-1 victory Saturday in Buffalo with what was described as a charley horse, a bruised muscle that is bleeding. However, Jagr also has a sore groin -- the same injury that kept him out of four games against New Jersey in the 1999 playoffs. He also may have aggravated a shoulder injury Thursday during a 3-0 victory in … [Read more...] about Jagr not saying what hurts — or when he'll be back

'But ask any Penguins player and he will point to one player as being largely responsible for their string of six victories in seven games. It's the guy wearing the Moose helmet -- Hedberg.' … [Read more...] about So far, Hedberg dominating Hasek in Sabres-Penguins series

'While every player on Pittsburgh's roster is committed to defense -- from the left-wing lock to protecting rookie goalie Johan Hedberg -- one player seems to embody the philosophy more than anyone else: Kevin Stevens.' … [Read more...] about Stevens' new lease gives Pens playoff life

'Reports have Jagr's injury ranging from a charley horse to a groin pull to a shoulder problem, the latter of which is the current consensus. The Penguins have stood by their "charley horse" evaluation, but there clearly is something more severe. The team likely doesn't want opponents to target any particular area on his body shoud Jagr return, hence … [Read more...] about Jagr's injured, but how injured is anyone's guess

'Last year, it was Ron Tugnutt standing on his head, as the hockey cliché goes, leading the Penguins to a 2-0 lead over Philadelphia. Four games later, their season was over. Just that fast, things can turn in the Stanley Cup playoffs and the Penguins are looking to avoid a repeat of last year's fate.' … [Read more...] about Pens Sitting Pretty, But Still Wary of 2000 Fate

'Gary Bettman swore it was only coincidence. Pure circumstance that he hadn’t been in HSBC Arena since the 1999 Stanley Cup finals.' … [Read more...] about NHL's Bettman still hears about Hull's goal

Since the last seconds of Game 2 ticked down, the statistical history of the Buffalo franchise has been well documented: they have never come back to win a playoff series when trailing two games to none. That does not bode well for any Sabres' fan. However, there is a collective source of optimism to be found within the annals of Sabres history. … [Read more...] about If past is a clue, there's hope for Game 3

The Sabres aren't hanging by a thread yet, but the rope is certainly getting thinner with every loss. … [Read more...] about Sabres-Pens Game 3 "Scouting Report"

The Sabres have lost their depth, their offense and their confidence. … [Read more...] about Sabres-Pens Game 3 "Edge Matchups"

'It appeared the Sabres' 3-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins smacked them across their collective head Saturday. They have a daunting task awaiting them in the next three days and little room for error. The Eastern Conference series between the Sabres and Penguins shifts to Mellon Arena in Pittsburgh tonight, where Buffalo has won once in the last 12 games.' … [Read more...] about Groggy Sabres ready to answer the bell

'When team owner Mario Lemieux and coach Ivan Hlinka described Hedberg's emergence as a "surprise," they weren't kidding. The Pens were so surprised to see Hedberg play his way into the starting job that they neglected to make room for the 27-year-old first-year player.' … [Read more...] about Hedberg's success surprising to Pens

'Boy, the perception of a hockey team can change dramatically from one week to the next, can't it?' … [Read more...] about Scoring well has dried up for 'The Regier Six'

'Predictably, Jagr downplayed his confrontation with Hlinka. The conversation was in Czech, but sources said both raised their voices outside the Pens' dressing room and it appeared anything but friendly. At one point, Hlinka walked away with his arms folded in apparent disgust while Jagr pointed a stick toward his coach.' … [Read more...] about Jagr likely to sit again