SabreSpace

'His shutout of the Senators is by no means verification that his slump has ended. He's had three other shutouts this season. He put them up back-to-back against the Islanders and Devils in mid-November only to slip into his recent funk. He needs to show some magic over five games, maybe 10, either way a streak that begins with the number one.' … [Read more...] about HASEK HITS ONE STRAIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE

'When the Penguins reached into the attic for No. 66, all the theories surrounding the Eastern Conference playoff race came tumbling down with it. No longer does it seem possible the Sabres can earn a No. 4 seed via a second-place finish in the Northeast Division. The conference's three division winners receive home ice. The No. 4 seed goes to the team with the next best … [Read more...] about LEMIEUX ALTERS LOOK OF SABRES’ PLAYOFF QUEST

'"It's very frustrating for me and, I'm sure, lots of guys in this locker room," Hasek said, "because I feel my responsibility, and I know I didn't do what I think everybody expects me to do. However, I still believe I can do it. There are many questions, and the people they can question whatever. But the way I feel, I believe I can play better, and I will play better. … [Read more...] about RUFF STANDS BY HIS MAN IN GOAL

'The Sabres blew a two-goal lead, Hasek blew his stack, and the Penguins blew out of town with a 5-3 victory before a sellout crowd in the Arena. The Sabres were booed off the ice after showing little inspiration and less discipline against a Penguins team known for its skate-and-shoot attack.' … [Read more...] about ANGRY HASEK EXITS EARLY GOALIE PULLED AS SABRES LOSE TO PENS

'Maybe it's not time to give Biron the No. 1 job. But the kid surely deserves to play more. The days of Hasek playing five or 10 games in a row, because he's being paid the big bucks and thrives on the work and is the "greatest goalie on the planet" should be over. He can't handle that sort of work load anymore.' … [Read more...] about DOMINATOR CAN’T HANDLE HEAVY LOAD

'Brown sprained the medial collateral ligament in his right knee Saturday when San Jose winger Owen Nolan rolled into the side of his leg early in the second period. Brown still had a slight limp while leaving HSBC Arena after receiving treatment Tuesday.' … [Read more...] about INJURED BROWN TO MISS A MONTH

'The Sabres aren't worried. Afinogenov's language skills will be developed as he develops as a player. He picks his words carefully, contradictory to his out-of-control style on the ice. Like many others before him, from Gilbert Perreault to Alexander Mogilny to Dominik Hasek, his performance will force him through the communication barriers.' … [Read more...] about MAXIM PROGRESSING WITH WORDS AND HOCKEY

'"It's been working," Dumont said. "It doesn't matter who plays right or left. We didn't care. He's playing right. I'm playing left. We thought, if it didn't work, we would change it. Right now, we don't want to switch."' … [Read more...] about OFFENSIVE FEEDING FRENZY BY SATAN, DUMONT SWALLOWS SHARKS

'Ray's annual ride with police is for hope. Without him, many families wouldn't celebrate Christmas. And, without the families, his Christmas wouldn't be quite the same. This is not about hockey. This is about helping.' … [Read more...] about TOUGH GUY RAY’S HOLIDAY TENDERNESS HELPS A FAMILY GET BACK ON ITS FEET

'"The fortunate thing about this team is all the guys involved in the locker room understand when we play our best and when we don't," center Stu Barnes said. "We have enough character in this room to realize what the situation is and realize that's not acceptable and we have to be better."' … [Read more...] about SABRES HOPE SLUMBER HAS ENDED

'"They outworked us," said Sabres coach Lindy Ruff, obviously disgusted with his team's performance. "They had a better night. There's no getting around it. They played a little bit smarter. They played a dump-and-chase game. We refused to dump it in and played a lot of one-on-one hockey. Passing was horrendous, which really eliminated any transition game."' … [Read more...] about SABRES HIT FLAT NOTE IN LOSS

'That's what happened to the Sabres. They began to outyawn the Caps. Taking a short nap under those circumstances is understandable, but the Sabres went into outright hibernation. In the third period they were limping along with one shot until the last 48 seconds of the game when it was beyond reach.' … [Read more...] about BONDRA STILL LOOKS GOOD IN CAPS’ JERSEY

'"It's a lot of fun," Buffalo defenseman Jay McKee said about the consecutive matchups. "Anytime you have back-to-back games, home and home, tempers are going to flare. Guys get under guys' skin. I heard some guys tonight saying they're going after some of their guys. That's what happens in back-to-back games."' … [Read more...] about SABRES START SERIES ON EVEN KEEL

'"Buffalo is still my No. 1 choice -- it always has been," Peca said by telephone, "but at some point you get perilously close to saying, 'I don't care what they're offering -- $2 million, $5 million or whatever -- I'm not playing for this organization no matter what they're offering me.'"' … [Read more...] about PECA APPROACHING POINT OF NO RETURN

'"In the offseason, the most part (he realized) is that nothing can change your past," Zhitnik said Tuesday. "Whatever happens is going to stay with you for the rest of your life. You can make the future better or worse for yourself. It's pretty much up to (you). You can go up or down."' … [Read more...] about ‘OLD’ ZHITNIK RETURNS