Buffalo Sabres News

Look for Lalime against Wild
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March 12
Buffalo News
 
"The Sabres had an optional practice today in HSBC Arena with about a dozen players on the ice. Ryan Miller was among those who took a well-deserved rest after Wednesday's 5-3 win over Dallas, Buffalo's third straight. Miller is probably getting more rest Friday night as it looks like Patrick Lalime will start in goal here against the Minnesota Wild. That would leave Michigan native Miller to play in his homecoming game in front of friends and family Saturday in Detroit. With three games in four nights, it was pretty obvious Lalime would play this weekend and you'd think Miller would be playing in Detroit. But the stats dictate that too; Lalime is 1-10 with a 4.85 goals-against average in ..."
Sabres hone home edge before heading out on road
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March 12
Buffalo News
 
"The Buffalo Sabres' three-game winning streak is a stroke of pretty good timing. It has virtually cemented them as a playoff team for the first time since 2007 and kept them at the top of the Northeast Division race. And it was really important when you look at what's left on the schedule. The Sabres have 17 games remaining — but just six at home, starting with tonight's visit by the Minnesota Wild. Following tonight, the next five are on the road (starting Saturday in Detroit). And five of the six games in April are also away from HSBC Arena. In fact, three of the remaining home games (against Montreal, Ottawa and Tampa Bay) come in a four-day span later this month. The Sabres were in an ..."
Tuneup day puts Vanek back in synch
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March 11
Buffalo News
 columnist Jerry Sullivan
"Lindy Ruff gave Thomas Vanek a break from practice on Tuesday, giving Vanek two days off in a row. Ruff said Vanek was suffering from some undisclosed, nagging injury. They both called it a "maintenance" day. Well, if this is what happens when a Sabre goes in for maintenance, we should all line up outside HSBC Arena for some minor rehab. I'm thinking of bringing my car in for a quick look. And seeing how we've had a nice break in the weather, maybe the trainers could do some maintenance on my golf swing. Vanek scored his team-leading 20th goal midway through the second period to snap a 3-3 tie Wednesday night and lead the Sabres to their third straight victory, a 5-3 win over the Dallas ..."
Sabres come alive with five, beat Stars
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March 11
Buffalo News
 
"It had been awhile since the Buffalo Sabres had fun in HSBC Arena. Sure, there have been a few victories at the foot of Washington Street, but most were low-scoring affairs with the only real smiles coming during the postgame celebration. The enjoyment finally returned Wednesday. Pucks were bouncing in the net at a rapid-fire rate. The players who are supposed to score actually did. Skaters were dashing from end to end to create chances. In the middle of all of it was Tyler Myers. The Sabres' rookie sensation scored just 55 seconds into the game and added three assists to help propel his team to a 5-3 victory over the Dallas Stars. The win was the Sabres' third straight, a streak they will ..."
Turco under siege in Stars' 5-3 loss to Sabres
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March 11
Dallas Morning News
 
"As hard as he tried, Marty Turco couldn't be Superman this time. Besieged once again in net, Turco faced 42 shots and allowed four goals en route to a 5-3 loss to the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday night at HSBC Arena. "I mean, if there's a 4-by-8 piece of plywood in there and you get that many shots on it, one or five are going to go through eventually," center Steve Ott said. "Marty played awesome. He's playing his heart out for us, and we have to be better." Turco stopped a career-best 49 shots Monday in an amazing 4-3 shootout win in Washington. But instead of fixing the breakdowns that led to that barrage, the Stars continued down the path of broken defensive coverage. Dallas was ..."
League GMs may act on hits to the head
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March 10
Buffalo News
 
"After years of talk and months of study, the NHL's general managers may propose a rule today to eliminate certain types of head shots. Eight GMs, including the Buffalo Sabres' Darcy Regier, have been studying statistics and video for the past four months. They convened Tuesday during the GM meetings in Boca Raton, Fla., and reached a consensus on harsher penalties for players who hit opponents deemed vulnerable. "I think there will be a specific set of rules or a rule that is going to identify and eliminate that particular situation," Regier told the NHL Network. "I think the most important thing is to remove those instances from the game. "We have a lot of information that we've never had ..."
Power-play woes are a killer for Sabres
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March 10
Buffalo News
 
"As soon as Jason Pominville heard the topic of discussion was going to be the Buffalo Sabres' power play, the right winger rolled his eyes and muttered, "Oh, man." That about sums it up. The Sabres are on a two-game winning streak heading into tonight's visit by the Dallas Stars, but their power play is on a 10-game slide. It's a plunge that has them heading toward the NHL basement and scrambling their personnel. The Sabres will enter HSBC Arena just 1 for 31 with the man advantage in the past 10 games. That measly 3.2 percent success rate has dropped their unit to 23rd in the league at 16.9 percent. Before the famine struck, the Sabres ranked 13th at 18.9 percent. "Our special teams have ..."
Miller gets celebrity treatment on NBC's "Today" show
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March 9
Buffalo News
 
"Four diehard Buffalo Sabres fans from West Seneca were there. Some natives of hockey-crazed Minnesota were excited to be in his presence. An attorney from St. Louis handed out props even though he didn't know the name. And a few hundred others, most of whom had never heard of Ryan Miller, braved a chilly Manhattan morning to cheer and ogle at the Sabres goalie Monday on NBC's "Today" show. OK, so a lot of the yelling at the beginning of Miller's appearance was for host Matt Lauer. But by the end of the 2½-minute interview, Miller was getting plenty of hooting and hollering of his own from a crowd thrilled to see an Olympian wearing a silver medal in their midst. Lauer and Miller, wearing a ..."
Mancari gets back to the Garden
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March 8
Buffalo News
 
"Two games with the Buffalo Sabres this year, two appearances in Madison Square Garden. That's been the story for winger Mark Mancari, who joined the team here Sunday from Portland of the AHL and immediately took a spot on right wing with Derek Roy and Thomas Vanek. Mancari also played here Dec. 12, arriving via limo from Hartford about four hours before faceoff, but went right back to the minors. With Drew Stafford out with what's believed to be a severe groin injury, Mancari will likely stick around for a while. "That was a little strange. This time I didn't have to drive here the day of the game," Mancari said before Sunday's game. "... I played a little conservative I think, with the ..."
Kaleta comes through for Sabres
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March 8
Buffalo News
 
"Two offensively challenged teams spent Sunday night in a futile attempt to solve two goaltenders just off appearances in the Winter Olympics. The offenses were no match. In the end, Ryan Miller and the Buffalo Sabres outdueled Henrik Lundqvist and the New York Rangers. In a game that was scoreless for the first 54 minutes, the Sabres pulled out a 2-1 victory at Madison Square Garden on Patrick Kaleta's goal at 2:22 of overtime. The Sabres snapped their 0-6-2 skid on the road, winning away from HSBC Arena for the first time since Jan. 18 at Phoenix and taking a two-point lead over idle Ottawa in the Northeast Division. They are scheduled to be off Monday and return to action Wednesday ..."
Mancari called up for injured Stafford
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March 7
Buffalo News
 
"The Buffalo Sabres visited Madison Square Garden in early December. Mark Mancari was there. They'll be back in the World's Most Famous Arena tonight. Mancari will be there again. The Sabres recalled the big right winger from Portland on Saturday, and he'll play his second game of the season tonight against the New York Rangers. Mancari leads the minor-league club with 22 goals and is tied for the top spot with 40 assists. The 6-foot-3, 225-pounder has 10 points in the past seven games, including nine assists. "Hopefully, he can come up and give us a bit of an offensive burst," Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said. "He's actually the guy that's been going the best down there. We'll maybe play him ..."
Sabres seek solution to scoring slump
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March 7
Buffalo News
 
"Lindy Ruff admits it. He can be bullheaded at times, especially when the Buffalo Sabres' coach thinks he is right. Now is one of those times. The Sabres visit the New York Rangers tonight in an extended scoring slump. The way things have been going the last 16 games, the scoreboard operator in Madison Square Garden probably won't even have to count to three. Ruff sees a few reasons why. He hasn't liked the way his players have attacked opponents. He doesn't like their lack of presence near the net. He doesn't feel enough players have joined the offensive rush. A problem, apparently, is getting the players to continually see the same things. "Our habits have to lead to good scoring," Ruff ..."
Mancari up, Stafford out, Gaustad back
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March 7
Buffalo News
 
"The Sabres, who will be without Drew Stafford "for a good period of time," have recalled forward Mark Mancari from Portland. The right winger will meet the team in New York for Sunday's game against the Rangers. Stafford suffered a groin injury during the first period of Friday's 3-2 overtime victory against Philadelphia. "He's not doing very good," coach Lindy Ruff said today at the ice facility in Amherst. "He won't even make the trip with us. It looks like this groin injury is going to be a good period of time." Mancari leads the Pirates with 22 goals and is tied with Tyler Ennis with a team-high 40 assists."
Ruff: Butler showing complacency
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March 7
Buffalo News
 
"Sabres coach Lindy Ruff is debating whether to reinsert defenseman Chris Butler into the lineup for Sunday's visit to the Rangers. The second-year pro was scratched Friday for the first time this season. "I don't think he's played well enough," Ruff said today. "He's a real good player, but I think there's been some complacency in his game. There's been a lack of desperation in his game. For a young man at the start of his career, if you get a little bit complacent or you get a little bit comfortable, I think your numbers end up where they're at." Butler is a team-worst minus-12. He was minus-2 during Wednesday's 3-1 loss to Washington."
Sabres notebook: Leighton solves Flyers' problems in goal
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March 6
Buffalo News
 
"Prevailing wisdom around the NHL was that the Philadelphia Flyers would get a goalie at the NHL trade deadline now that Ray Emery is done for the year and headed for hip surgery. But a deal didn't happen and former Sabres farmhand Michael Leighton is going to be the man. Leighton, a December waiver pickup from Carolina, has been doing the job well for nearly two months so the Flyers clearly think they can stay with him. The Buffalo Sabres found out why Friday night as Leighton made 33 saves and nearly stole a victory for the visitors before Buffalo rallied for its 3-2 victory on Tim Connolly's overtime goal. The loss broke Leighton's five-game winning streak and dropped him to 13-4-1 since ..."
Sabres end two-game losing streak
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March 6
Buffalo News
 
"Tim Connolly got mad. He didn't get even, though. He did something better. He got ahead. Connolly shook off an egregious error Friday night, allowing the Buffalo Sabres to shake their losing streak. The center scored with 2:29 left in overtime, giving the Sabres a 3-2 victory over the visiting Philadelphia Flyers. The goal completed Buffalo's rally from a late 2-1 deficit that Connolly created. The slumping Sabres have been finding various ways to lose, so they appeared to be in big trouble with 8:51 left in regulation when the Flyers took advantage of Connolly's major gaffe. The center got the puck at his own blue line and tried a cross-ice pass for Adam Mair. The Flyers' Mike Richards ..."
Flyers fall to Sabres in overtime
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March 6
Philadelphia Daily News
 
"Michael Leighton likened it to a chess match. Each strategic move had a response. No lead was safe. And there was quick back-and-forth action, impeded only three times with penalties throughout the course of game. "It was a chess game," the Flyers goalie said. "We were kind of just waiting to see who was going to make the mistake." Last night, it was Leighton's teammates. The Flyers squandered a 2-1 lead in the final 6 minutes. Unfortunately for Leighton, the strong spotlight from the rafters of a sold-out HSBC Arena danced around him when Tim Connolly's rebound shot bounced off both goal posts and in to give Buffalo a 3-2 victory 2:31 into overtime. Checkmate. "It's disappointing. I saw ..."
Ruff wants his players talking the talk
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March 5
Buffalo News
 
"Lindy Ruff was back in charge at practice Thursday in HSBC Arena, as his voice bellowed through the empty rink for most of the 50 minutes. Was Ruff agitated by his team's 1-6-2 slide that continued with Wednesday's 3-1 loss to Washington? Certainly. But what was a bigger concern from that game was his club's passive nature on the ice, particularly in its own zone. Ruff is demanding more communication from his players, especially the defensemen, when the Philadelphia Flyers hit town tonight. "Part of our play in the first 30 games stemmed from puck support, knowing where people are at, hearing another guy's voice, leaving the zone under control and being a five-man unit coming out of the ..."
Sabres' Torres reports for duty
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March 5
Buffalo News
 
"Raffi Torres hit town late Wednesday night and was on the ice at practice Thursday morning. He joked that he's already dropped about $5,000 on tickets for friends and family from Toronto for his debut with the Buffalo Sabres tonight against the Philadelphia Flyers in HSBC Arena. Such is life when you're part of a trade in the NHL at the infamous March deadline. Goodbye, Columbus. Hello, Buffalo. And nice of you to come to town and immediately take over a struggling team's lead in goals. "Hopefully I can come in here, help out, pitch in along the way and hopefully liven it up around here," Torres said following his first Buffalo workout Thursday in the arena. Torres, who will be wearing ..."
Flyers-Sabres could be playoff preview
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March 5
Philadelphia Inquirer
 
"A lot of things can change in the final five-plus weeks of the regular season, but tonight's meeting between the Flyers and Buffalo Sabres could be a first-round playoff preview - and a goalie matchup between an Olympic hero (Ryan Miller) and a waiver-wire wonder (Michael Leighton). Buffalo stands fifth in the Eastern Conference and has 75 points, six more than the sixth-place Flyers. Despite going 1-6-2 in their last nine games, the Sabres are in position to climb past Ottawa and win the Northeast Division title - and finish as the conference's third seed. The third and sixth seeds meet in the opening round. The Flyers are 1-2 against the Sabres this season, including a 5-2 win against ..."
Sabres fine-tune their roster
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March 4
Buffalo News
 
"The trade deadline, Darcy Regier says, is a time of tweaks. It's an opportunity for teams to add to their core, not remake it. The Buffalo Sabres' general manager, therefore, was content to make a tweak Wednesday. He was even happier to keep his core. The Sabres added power forward Raffi Torres just prior to the NHL's trade freeze, and Regier didn't have to move one of his key players to do it. The Sabres sent little-used defenseman Nathan Paetsch and a second-round draft pick to Columbus for Torres in their marquee deal of the day. Buffalo also sent third-line left wing Clarke MacArthur to Atlanta for the Thrashers' third- and fourth-round selections in June's entry draft. The Sabres ..."
An adoring ovation for you know who — Ryan Miller
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March 4
Buffalo News
 columnist Jerry Sullivan
"Earlier in the day, Ryan Miller had seemed weary of it all. The Sabres goalie had the distracted air of an athlete who was tired of talking about himself and wanted to get on with his old routine, a man who wanted nothing more than to be with his teammates. It was understandable. For 10 days, Miller had been the focus of the Olympics, a new American hero. He took a nation and a hockey-mad community on an unforgettable ride, one that fell just short of a gold medal. But now it was time to put the silver medal in the drawer and move on. But there was one more piece of business for Miller to attend to before returning to the business of a potential Stanley Cup playoff run. This didn't involve ..."
Sabres acted quite wisely at deadline
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March 4
Buffalo News
 columnist Bucky Gleason
"Darcy Regier stepped to the microphone and faced the masses Wednesday with an unmistakable self-assuredness that's often absent at the NHL trade deadline. He was calm and unemotional as he thanked Nathan Paetsch and Clarke MacArthur for their service while welcoming gritty forward Raffi Torres to Buffalo. Two years ago, the Sabres general manager's lip quivered when announcing he was forced to trade away Brian Campbell months after nervously explaining away the Chris Drury-Daniel Briere debacle. Years ago, he was near tears after trading Stu Barnes to Dallas with the franchise in financial ruin. In all cases, there was a sense Regier was upset because he had reached the end of an era. His ..."
Sabres' homecoming night falls flat
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March 4
Buffalo News
 
"There will be no medals of any color given out for the performance the Buffalo Sabres put out Wednesday in HSBC Arena. Forget gold, silver or bronze. If this was Christmas time, you'd be looking at lumps of coal. The Sabres were particularly dreadful over the final 40 minutes of their 3-1 loss to the Washington Capitals that spoiled goaltender Ryan Miller's post-Olympic coming-home party. The crowd of 18,690 gave Miller a rousing standing ovation before the game and he was the best Sabre on the ice, making 37 saves against the NHL's No. 1 team. Of course, it wasn't hard to be the best player in blue and gold. The Buffalo offense was a mess, consistently turning the puck over in the neutral ..."
Thrashers trade for Clarke MacArthur
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March 3
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
 
"The Thrashers obtained Clarke MacArthur from Buffalo for a third- and fourth-round pick this year. McArthur, a left wing, has 13 goals and 13 assist in 60 games. The 24-year-old is 5-foot-11, 191 pounds."
Sabres get Torres
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March 3
Buffalo News
 
"The Sabres, in search of a top-six forward with scoring potential, have acquired left wing Raffi Torres from Columbus, according to sources. The 28-year-old comes to Buffalo in exchange for defenseman Nathan Paetsch and a second-round draft pick, according to TSN. Torres has spent most of the season on Columbus' second line and has 19 goals and 12 assists in 60 games. His best season came with Edmonton in 2005-06, when he scored 27 times and helped the Oilers advance to the Stanley Cup finals."
Blue Jackets Send Torres To Sabres For Paetsch, Draft Pick
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March 3
TSN.ca
 
"The Buffalo Sabres have gotten into the trade action as they have acquired forward Raffi Torres from the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for Nathan Paetsch and a second round draft pick. The 28-year old Torres has 19 goals and 12 assists in 60 games with the Jackets this season. This is his fourth NHL stop after stints with the Islanders, Oilers and Blue Jackets."
Sabres can't get started in loss to Penguins
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March 3
Buffalo News
 
"The Buffalo Sabres, according to their schedule, had a 16-day break between games because of the Olympics. They stretched it to 16 days and 23 minutes. The result of that extension? Another loss. The Sabres fell into their typical pattern of slow starts Tuesday night in Pittsburgh, then fell into their typical pattern of falling. Buffalo dropped a 3-2 decision to the Penguins in Mellon Arena, continuing an extended slump. The Sabres are just 1-5-2 since Feb. 1. They had hoped to end their Olympic respite with a second consecutive victory. The negative result cost them a chance to move ahead of first-place Ottawa in the Northeast Division standings. "After you have a break, you don't know ..."
Pens fans salute Sabres goaltender Miller
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March 3
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
 
"Ryan Miller sure is feeling the love from hockey fans despite not playing a game at Buffalo's HSBC Arena in almost three weeks. A leading Vezina Trophy contender for the Buffalo Sabres and the MVP of the men's Olympic hockey tournament as Team USA goalie, Miller was saluted by a sellout crowd at Mellon Arena with a standing ovation prior to the game against the Penguins on Tuesday night. "Usually I hear my name in other ways," he said. "It is nice that the Olympics can help bring that out of the crowds in the NHL because especially out on the East Coast you hear (jeers) a lot, and up in Canada they like to give you a hard time." Miller gave Canada (twice) and three international other ..."
Miller gives Regier reason to make move
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March 2
Buffalo News
 columnist Jerry Sullivan
"Ryan Miller has made his statement. Powerful and assertive, it resounds through the hockey world, two days after the close of the Olympics. Gold medal or not, Miller showed he is one of the world's elite goaltenders, capable of leading a team on a seemingly unimaginable ride. The next move belongs to Darcy Regier, the Sabres' general manager. The NHL trade deadline is 3 p.m. Wednesday. It's time for Regier to show his belief in his hockey team and let the world know he's serious about making a run at the Stanley Cup this year. How close are they, really? The Sabres are only two points out of second place in the East. But they blew a 13-point lead in the Northeast Division in a month. They ..."
Sabres' Miller gets night off; Lalime to start
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March 2
Buffalo News
 
"Ryan Miller, who carried the United States to a silver medal during an intense Olympic tournament, deserves a rest. Patrick Lalime is happy to give it to him. Lalime will start in goal for the Buffalo Sabres tonight when they visit the Pittsburgh Penguins. Miller and coach Lindy Ruff, who was an assistant for the gold medal-winning Canadians, were scheduled to fly from Vancouver to Pittsburgh to meet their team. Ruff will be behind the bench in Mellon Arena, while Miller will be on it. "I'm playing [tonight] and looking forward to it," Lalime said. "I think he deserves the rest." Indeed, Miller will need time to decompress after Sunday's 3-2 overtime loss to Canada. Lalime, meanwhile, is ..."
Sabres' Lydman, Tallinder facing reality
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March 2
Buffalo News
 
"Toni Lydman is no dummy. The Buffalo Sabres' defenseman knows this is the time of year when players like him get traded. Lydman's biggest worry, however, has nothing to do with his uncertain future. He's more concerned about his longtime buddies in Blue and Gold. Lydman, an unrestricted free agent this summer, might play his final game as a Sabre tonight when Buffalo visits the Pittsburgh Penguins. As a veteran with an expiring contract, he's a candidate to be moved by Wednesday's 3 p.m. trade deadline. "I'm one of the probable guys," Lydman conceded Monday. If he does go to a new team, he hopes the Sabres make the postseason without him. "The biggest fear concerning the trade deadline ..."
Regier, NHL GMs have little time to shop
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March 1
Buffalo News
 
"Lindy Ruff recently made a key switch to the Buffalo Sabres' power-play unit. No longer content to have two defensemen in the infancy of their careers on the blue line — Tyler Myers and Chris Butler — the coach put center Derek Roy at the point with the man advantage. Ruff said he likes the setup. There are veteran defensemen with power-play skills available, however. If the Sabres want one, the clock to get him is ticking. The NHL's Olympic roster freeze ended at midnight Sunday, giving general managers the green light to tinker with their personnel. They can't go for long, though. The trade deadline is 3 p.m. Wednesday, meaning teams have 63 hours to ready their roster for playoff ..."
Miller and Team USA fall one miracle short
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March 1
Buffalo News
 columnist Bucky Gleason
"Lindy Ruff shook his hand last after it was all over Sunday and the two teams began going their separate ways. He met Ryan Miller near center ice, put his left arm around his shoulder, patted him on the back and whispered in his ear, the Sabres coach and his goaltender reunited again. "You had a hell of a tournament," Ruff told Miller. "You did a great job." Miller nodded and thanked Ruff. The compliment sounded hollow under the circumstances, but Miller will be fine over time. He introduced himself to the rest of the world in the 2010 Winter Olympics and took his place among the best goalies on the planet. One shot from Sidney Crosby for the gold medal in overtime changes nothing. But he ..."
Sidney Crosby saves Canadian bacon, beats Ryan Miller and Team USA to win gold
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March 1
New York Daily News
 columnist Flip Bondy
"The Americans had the momentum, the spirit, the young legs, the hot goaltender. They had everything on their side but Sidney Crosby. Everything but the kid with the Hall of Fame career and a loose puck ahead of him on his stick. That puck got away from Brian Rafalski and then, as all of Canada gasped with relief, Crosby swooped in from the left side and shot through the legs of Ryan Miller, who was expecting Crosby to deke, maybe to move to his right. Miller stood straight up, didn't look behind him. "I knew we lost," Miller said. He deserved so much better. The Americans did, too, all of them. Their coach, Ron Wilson, unfortunately turned to an assistant and said on international TV, ..."
Sidney Crosby beats Ryan Miller in overtime as Canada grabs Olympic hockey gold over Team USA
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March 1
New York Daily News
 
"At the end of an irresistible four-part drama that played out across 68 minutes Sunday, the best U.S. hockey player of the Olympic tournament fell forward, flat on the ice. The puck was behind him. The gold-medal game was over, the Vancouver Olympics were over, and the scoreboard told the terrible truth: Canada 3, USA 2. As a red wall of noise went up all around him, Ryan Miller skated slowly out of his net. "It felt like (bleep)," Miller said. Fifty years to the day that the U.S. won its first Olympic hockey gold medal in Squaw Valley, the Americans battled the premier team in the world to a virtual draw, making a heroic comeback from a two-goal deficit, getting one of the biggest goals ..."
Miller and Team USA fall one miracle short
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March 1
Buffalo News
 columnist Bucky Gleason
"Lindy Ruff shook his hand last after it was all over Sunday and the two teams began going their separate ways. He met Ryan Miller near center ice, put his left arm around his shoulder, patted him on the back and whispered in his ear, the Sabres coach and his goaltender reunited again. "You had a hell of a tournament," Ruff told Miller. "You did a great job." Miller nodded and thanked Ruff. The compliment sounded hollow under the circumstances, but Miller will be fine over time. He introduced himself to the rest of the world in the 2010 Winter Olympics and took his place among the best goalies on the planet. One shot from Sidney Crosby for the gold medal in overtime changes nothing. But he ..."
Goalies have the game - and the gold - in their hands
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February 28
Globe and Mail
 
"So many times, he's been there for Canada. On the bench in a ball cap, opening the door, supporting his teammates, ready if needed but for the most part, dying on the inside. Roberto Luongo is one of the most competitive people you will ever meet, yet his international hockey résumé reads like that of a career understudy. He has been Martin Brodeur's caddy, despite his world-class talent, until the 2010 Winter Olympics. "You've worked hard your whole career to get to a point like this," said Luongo, Canada's starting goaltender for the Olympic gold-medal game against the United States today. "It's an unbelievable stage." There were some exceptions. The Vancouver Canucks goalie won ..."
Miller backstops a nation as a hero of Buffalo
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February 28
Buffalo News
 columnist Jerry Sullivan
"The big question for a lot of people right now is when can they see Ryan Miller again in person? Can they meet him at the airport, the way they did Dominik Hasek in 1998? The Sabres haven't decided whether Miller will join the team in Pittsburgh on Tuesday, or travel straight from Vancouver to Buffalo to get a little rest. Every hockey fan in Western New York will want to be in HSBC Arena on Wednesday night, when Ryan Miller skates onto the ice before the game against Alex Ovechkin and the Capitals. Imagine what the ovation will be like, especially if Miller has a gold medal around his neck. Miller is one step from becoming a national hero. At 3 p.m. today, he will be in goal again when ..."
MSNBC deked by phony Miller
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February 28
Buffalo News
 
"The voice was a poor imitation of Ryan Miller. The words were even worse. MSNBC, however, thought it was the real deal. The cable channel and host Willie Geist believed they had the Buffalo Sabres' goaltender on the phone Friday night to chat about Team USA's appearance in the Olympic gold-medal game. It was not Miller. "We were the victims of a prank," Geist said later Friday when he returned with an update during the station's "Hardball with Chris Matthews" show. "Luckily, we have the real Ryan Miller. "First and foremost, Ryan, please accept our apology. It's a mistake that never should have happened. We misrepresented your name, and we regret it deeply. I personally feel terrible about ..."
The real Ryan Miller stands up
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February 28
Buffalo News
 
"MSNBC had two words for Ryan Miller: Oops. Sorry. The cable channel was the victim of a prank Friday and believed it was conducting a phone interview with the Sabres' goaltender. The voice was not even close to sounding like Miller, and the words were even worse -- the prankster all but guaranteed a victory over Canada in Sunday's gold-medal game."
Luongo and Miller joust for one last precious medal
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February 28
Toronto Star
 columnist Damien Cox
"Eight years ago, when Canada's best hockey players last jousted for Olympic gold with their American counterparts, the goaltending matchup pitted two accomplished veterans against one another. Mike Richter, the U.S. goalie, had won a Stanley Cup with the New York Rangers in 1994, and two years after that had backstopped the Americans to a stunning victory in Montreal over Team Canada at the inaugural World Cup of Hockey. Canada's Martin Brodeur, six years younger, had won two Stanley Cups with the New Jersey Devils, the Calder Trophy, the Jennings Trophy and would soon begin a run of multiple Vezina trophies."
Sabres enjoy Miller's ride through Olympics
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February 26
Buffalo News
 
"Jason Pominville laughed at the story. Ryan Miller — his teammate for nine years, the guy he used to ride buses with in the minor leagues — was interviewed this week by "American Idol" host Ryan Seacrest? And they talked about Miller's actress girlfriend? "I've got to hear that interview somehow," a chuckling Pominville said Thursday, "but good for him if he can get on there." Miller's rapid ascent to celebrity status certainly has some Buffalo Sabres teammates astonished. What doesn't have them the least bit shocked is why people are flocking to Miller. The goaltender has been the best hockey player in the Olympics, leading the United States into the semifinals today against Finland. "I'm ..."
Wings' Drew Miller rooting for big brother Ryan on Team USA
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February 26
Detroit News
 
"Like his older brother, Drew Miller is a relatively calm person. It takes a bit to rile him up. Rest assured, however, that his blood will be pumping a bit harder today as he watches Ryan Miller and the United States Olympic team play in the semifinals against Finland. "Everyone in the U.S. is rooting for that team," said Drew, who is four years younger that Ryan. "Yeah, I mean it's tough to watch when your brother is the goalie. "I am on the edge of my seat and a little nervous. But he's playing well and solid. So, it's been fun. "Beating the Canadians in Canada, after all the hype, that was impressive and moving on to the Final Four is huge. Their goal is to win the gold, but it's a ..."
Sabres start ramping up to play again
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February 25
Buffalo News
 
"Patrick Kaleta came off the ice Wednesday and could barely breathe. The flush-faced winger for the Buffalo Sabres, sweat pouring off his head, plopped into his locker stall and begged for a beverage. Man, the team took a break for only 10 days and the players were already this out of shape? Not exactly. The Sabres' one-hour practice, their first gathering since Feb. 13 because of the Olympic hiatus, went fine for the team's 18 non-Olympians. Kaleta, Chris Butler, Craig Rivet and Steve Montador, however, were feeling rambunctious from their time away, so they got rid of some energy with a WWE-style battle royal. Yup, the boys are back in town. "They were in great spirits," associate coach ..."
Regier keeps his eyes on Portland prospects
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February 24
Buffalo News
 
"Darcy Regier's weekend was a relaxing one. The Buffalo Sabres' general manager lounged in the stands of Rochester's Blue Cross Arena, taking in two days of hockey featuring the Portland Pirates. It was nice to just sit back and watch games without the intense emotional involvement that accompanies Sabres' outings. Still, there was research to be done. Regier and the team scouts surrounding him need to figure out if the Sabres' prospects are the future of the organization, short term and long term, particularly on defense. "It's fun to watch," Regier said in Rochester. "They're all different players, different types of players, and you sit here and say, "Well, that will work in the NHL, and ..."
Miller, Team USA produce hockey blight in Canada
Comment
February 22
Buffalo News
 
"The Americans didn't believe in miracles. They just believed. And they pulled off the biggest Olympic hockey upset since the 1980 Miracle on Ice, stunning Canada, 5-3, on Sunday to advance to the quarterfinals of an already mixed-up tournament. Brian Rafalski scored two goals, Ryan Miller held off a flurry of shots and the Americans quieted a raucous, pro-Canada crowd that came to cheer its dream team, only to see it upstaged by a bunch of unproven kids. One day short of the 30th anniversary of the country's greatest hockey victory — the unfathomable win over the Soviet Union in Lake Placid — these underrated Americans were faster, more disciplined and more determined than Canada's ..."
Schumer wants Pirates to skate their way to Albany
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February 18
Buffalo News
 
"Politicking, intrinsic to Albany's legislative halls, has made its way to the ice rinks. Sen. Charles E. Schumer is urging the Buffalo Sabres to help bring their minor-league team to the state capital. The Portland Pirates' lease with the Cumberland County Civic Center expires following the season, and ownership is investigating a move from Maine to Albany. The capital is losing its American Hockey League team to Charlotte, N.C., and Schumer hopes the Sabres' affiliate fills the hole. "Albany is a first-class hockey town, and any AHL team — but especially an upstate New York team like the Sabres — would make a wise choice to move there," Schumer said in a statement. "Creating a Sabres fan ..."
Sabres offer rare smile entering Olympic break
Comment
February 15
Buffalo News
 columnist Jerry Sullivan
"Team Fragile snapped out of its funk Saturday night. The Sabres caught a good San Jose team on a bad night, easing into the Olympic break with an easy 3-1 victory at HSBC Arena. Now we have to wait 16 days to find out if this was a genuine revival or a moment's pause in an inevitable collapse. There's a little more fuel in Lindy Ruff's "hope tank" after the first win in seven games. But one win doesn't change the fact that the Sabres came unraveled over the past month and blew a 13-point division lead. They were a reeling crew, lacking in confidence, leadership and physical presence on the ice. Ryan Miller, their goalie and most valuable player, accused them of playing like "fragile little ..."
Mental rest on Sabres' minds at Olympic break
Comment
February 15
Buffalo News
 
"The getaway process was rapid. Bags were filled and sticks bundled so quickly that echoes of fans' applause were still carrying through the HSBC Arena hallways. Yes, the Buffalo Sabres were eager for their break. The team split till Feb. 24 following Saturday's 3-1 victory over San Jose, a feel-good effort that ended a six-game winless streak. Center Paul Gaustad commented on what his teammates were thinking — it's time for a rest — but he was quick with a caveat. "Guys need to get away a little bit — not too far away," Gaustad said. "We've got to hit the ground running when we come back. We're still in-season. We're still focused. Get our rest and then come back at it." Indeed, the ..."