SabreSpace

'The Sabres found just enough holes Wednesday night to squeeze out a 2-1 victory in the series opener before 19,543 fans in the First Union Center. For one game anyway, it appeared the Sabres had found an answer for the one goalie who tormented them like none other in recent history. He looked human.' … [Read more...] about Czech, please: Sabres cash in

'Curtis Brown says he's noticed the change over the last few weeks. He could see it in Doug Gilmour's eyes, the glowing anticipation of an athlete who had been there many times before, and could hardly wait to get back again. "Oh, yeah. He's ready to go," Brown said before Wednesday's playoff opener against the Flyers. "He's been … [Read more...] about Gilmour lights Sabres' lamp with spirit

'Hasek was momentarily shaken up but quickly recovered after he was bowled over with 8:13 remaining in the first period. It appeared Flyers center Peter White pushed Sabres center Curtis Brown into The Dominator during a scrum just outside the crease. The play happened just six seconds after Hasek stopped Mark Recchi on a penalty shot.' … [Read more...] about Hasek gives teammates a scare

'In his first NHL playoff game, Cechmanek looked more like Snow or the Beezer than Hasek, coughing up two softish first period goals on nine shots after allowing that many on 102 shots in four regular season games against Buffalo.' … [Read more...] about Sabres' D, veteran stars too much for Flyers

'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?