Sports News and Trade Rumors: Pro Sports Daily

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November 19

Buffalo News

columnist Bucky Gleason

"Lindy Ruff laughed when he was asked Wednesday whether there was a time he could have or should have been fired as coach of the Buffalo Sabres. He's among the most media-savvy coaches in the NHL, but it didn't take a degree in public relations to see where the line of questioning was going. Ruff has been a head coach for 12 seasons, one more if you count the lockout. He's been through two ownership changes, three if you count the NHL taking control the year Rigas & Son were headed for the clink. The Bills over the same span have had five head coaches, six if you count Perry Fewell after he replaced Dick Jauron. It's no wonder the only things Ruff was counting Wednesday, other than the ..."

Miller loses league leads

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November 19

Buffalo News

"Even though he gave up a season-high five goals, there's not much blame that can be passed goaltender Ryan Miller's way in the wake of the Buffalo Sabres' 6-2 loss Wednesday to Florida in HSBC Arena. Tip-ins, tap-ins and odd-man rushes were the order of the night for the Panthers to post their season-high output in regulation. Miller's main area of frustration centered around the go-ahead goal by Stephen Weiss that snapped a 1-1 tie 81 seconds into the second period and put the visitors up for good. Michael Frolik skipped past Steve Montador to get into the slot and unleashed a hard snap shot that Miller stopped but was unable to corral with his glove. As the puck landed near his feet, ..."

Panthers get revenge against Sabres

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November 19

Buffalo News

"There was no way the Florida Panthers were going to get blown out again. The Buffalo Sabres embarrassed them with five first-period goals in the teams' first meeting, an onslaught Florida had no desire to repeat. So the Panthers sat back Wednesday night in HSBC Arena, focused on defense and hoped Buffalo would make enough mistakes to give them an offensive chance or two. It worked. The Panthers snapped the Sabres' three-game winning streak, boring most of the 18,546 fans but earning them two precious points with a 6-2 victory. "They just played boring till they got the lead," Sabres goaltender Ryan Miller said. "Then they played more boring." The Panthers had a 2-1 advantage at the start ..."

Panthers get some payback against Sabres

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November 19

Miami Herald

"Soon after the Panthers scored yet another third-period goal, a Sabres fan was shown on the arena big screen pointing to the ice with one arm and holding his nose with the other. Beauty is definitely in the eye of the beholder. For the Panthers, Wednesday's game might as well have been put on canvas in oil as they scored four in the final period to run away with a 6-2 win at HSBC Arena. ``We finally held a lead in the third,'' captain Bryan McCabe said. ``We played assertive, played smart and didn't turn the puck over. We stuck with the program and it worked out.'' Wednesday's win avenged Florida's embarrassing 5-2 loss to the Sabres on home ice on Oct. 21 -- with an extra goal thrown in ..."

Panthers at their best, top Sabres

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November 19

Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel

"When the Panthers played the Sabres earlier this season, they were burned for three goals in the first five minutes and decidedly defeated. Then again, that was the seventh game, and up to that point the Panthers couldn't have been any worse of a team than they were, coach Pete DeBoer said. They haven't been any better this season than they were Wednesday night. They not only held off the Sabres late, but scored three goals in the final two-plus minutes for an impressive 6-2 win at HSBC Arena that drew loud boos from the few fans who stayed to the end. "We're starting to look more and more like the team I think we should look like," said DeBoer, whose team won for the sixth time in nine ..."

Sabres have a surplus at defense

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November 18

Buffalo News

"The Buffalo Sabres have too many defensemen and it's a good problem. Especially when Toni Lydman, the guy probably coming off the best season of any of them, is ready to return after missing 10 games with a groin injury. But it's not as simple as just plugging Lydman back into the lineup when the Florida Panthers come to HSBC Arena tonight. The Sabres won all three of their games last week without Lydman. They're 12-4-1 and the 32-year-old Finn has played in only four of the 17 games, none since Oct. 21. Lindy Ruff, like a lot of coaches, can be loathe to change a winning combination. It will be interesting to see what he'll do but Ruff wasn't tipping his hand Tuesday. "Toni is as close to ..."

Flyers do Sabres' record book a favor

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November 18

Buffalo News

"The Buffalo Sabres held off the Philadelphia Flyers Saturday night in the Wachovia Center and the Flyers rebounded by holding the Sabres' place in the NHL record books Monday. Philadelphia's 3-2 win over New Jersey snapped the Devils' road winning streak from the start of the season at nine games — one shy of the Sabres' NHL record of 10 straight that started their 2006-07 Presidents' Trophy season. "You've got to give them a lot of credit," coach Lindy Ruff said of the Devils after Tuesday's practice in the Amherst Pepsi Center. "Any time you can string that number of games together on the road, it's not easy. They've had some key injuries and are playing real good hockey." The Sabres won ..."

Sabres' power play showing some spark

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November 18

Buffalo News

"The numbers say the Buffalo Sabres' power play is sputtering quite a bit compared to last year, especially on the road. A basic eye test says likewise. With point men such as Ales Kotalik and Jaroslav Spacek gone, the whole thing is a work in progress. But the Sabres connected twice with the man advantage in Saturday's 3-2 win at Philadelphia. And perhaps the most important numbers are these: They have at least one power-play goal in 12 of their 17 games. "With the talent we have, the power play can always be better," winger Thomas Vanek said after practice Monday in HSBC Arena. "It's certainly not any kind of panic time, not even close. But we know we can be better if we execute." The ..."

Ennis has evening to remember

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November 17

Buffalo News

"Tyler Ennis' agenda Saturday included waking up in Portland, Maine, heading off for a morning practice with the AHL Pirates and boarding a bus bound for Bridgeport, Conn. The itinerary didn't mention anything about scoring his first NHL goal and enjoying the greatest day of his life. The 20-year-old center with boyish looks and NHL hands gave the Sabres a 2-0 lead in the second period after taking a pass from Tim Kennedy and beating Ray Emery with a wrist shot en route to a 3-2 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers. It capped off a day that ended nothing like it began. "It was a special night," Ennis said. Ennis barely had time to pack his bags after the Sabres summoned him for their game ..."

Third straight win is icing on the cake for Sabres

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November 17

Buffalo News

"Broken down into a three-game segment last week, the Buffalo Sabres were in good shape long before taking the ice Saturday against the Philadelphia Flyers. They already had four points in the bag. The Sabres would gladly accept two wins every three games all season long, right? A loss to the Flyers hardly would have been devastating or signaled alarms given the factors involved. They were playing their third game in four nights. They were playing back-to-back games with travel from Buffalo to Philly in between. They were without Drew Stafford and summoned pipsqueak forward Tyler Ennis from Portland. Fair enough, but why not get greedy? Four points would have been satisfactory, but they ..."

Sabres' Kennedy sees the big picture

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November 17

Buffalo News

"Tim Kennedy hasn't taken a full lap around the NHL, but he already knows how it works. You want to score goals? Get your fanny to the net. You want to help your team and make a good living in the best travel hockey league in the world? Get your fanny to both ends of the rink. Kennedy was hardly fretting about a seven-game scoring drought that ended Saturday when he set up fellow rookie Tyler Ennis for his first NHL goal in the Buffalo Sabres' 3-2 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers. Instead, the South Buffalo native looked at a bigger picture that showed he was playing well for a Sabres team leading its division. "I don't really stress about [scoring] as long as our line is playing well," ..."

Sabres' power play showing some spark

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November 17

Buffalo News

"The numbers say the Buffalo Sabres' power play is sputtering quite a bit compared to last year, especially on the road. A basic eye test says likewise. With point men such as Ales Kotalik and Jaroslav Spacek gone, the whole thing is a work in progress. But the Sabres connected twice with the man advantage in Saturday's 3-2 win at Philadelphia. And perhaps the most important numbers are these: They have at least one power-play goal in 12 of their 17 games. "With the talent we have, the power play can always be better," winger Thomas Vanek said after practice Monday in HSBC Arena. "It's certainly not any kind of panic time, not even close. But we know we can be better if we execute." The ..."

Red Wings' Henrik Zetterberg earns weekly NHL honor

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November 16

Michigan Live

"Detroit Red Wings center Henrik Zetterberg was named the NHL's first star for last week. Here is the release from the NHL: NEW YORK (November 16, 2009) -- Detroit Red Wings left wing Henrik Zetterberg, Atlanta Thrashers left wing Ilya Kovalchuk and Buffalo Sabres goaltender Ryan Miller have been named the NHL 'Three Stars' for the week ending Nov. 15. FIRST STAR -- HENRIK ZETTERBERG, LW, DETROIT RED WINGS Zetterberg led all scorers with nine points (four goals, five assists), tallied two game-winning goals and recorded a +5 rating, helping the Red Wings (10-5-3) post three consecutive victories. Zetterberg notched a pair of assists and a +2 rating in a 9-1 victory over the ..."

Third straight win is icing on the cake for Sabres

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November 16

Buffalo News

"Broken down into a three-game segment last week, the Buffalo Sabres were in good shape long before taking the ice Saturday against the Philadelphia Flyers. They already had four points in the bag. The Sabres would gladly accept two wins every three games all season long, right? A loss to the Flyers hardly would have been devastating or signaled alarms given the factors involved. They were playing their third game in four nights. They were playing back-to-back games with travel from Buffalo to Philly in between. They were without Drew Stafford and summoned pipsqueak forward Tyler Ennis from Portland. Fair enough, but why not get greedy? Four points would have been satisfactory, but they ..."

Sabres' Kennedy sees the big picture

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November 16

Buffalo News

"Tim Kennedy hasn't taken a full lap around the NHL, but he already knows how it works. You want to score goals? Get your fanny to the net. You want to help your team and make a good living in the best travel hockey league in the world? Get your fanny to both ends of the rink. Kennedy was hardly fretting about a seven-game scoring drought that ended Saturday when he set up fellow rookie Tyler Ennis for his first NHL goal in the Buffalo Sabres' 3-2 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers. Instead, the South Buffalo native looked at a bigger picture that showed he was playing well for a Sabres team leading its division. "I don't really stress about [scoring] as long as our line is playing well," ..."

Sabres morning skate report: Lydman closer

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November 15

Buffalo News

"Sabres defenseman Toni Lydman continued making progress today after missing nine straight games with a strained groin. He's not playing tonight against the Flyers but is hoping to be back in the lineup sometime next week. More details at the Sabres Edge blog."

Ennis has evening to remember

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November 15

Buffalo News

"Tyler Ennis' agenda Saturday included waking up in Portland, Maine, heading off for a morning practice with the AHL Pirates and boarding a bus bound for Bridgeport, Conn. The itinerary didn't mention anything about scoring his first NHL goal and enjoying the greatest day of his life. The 20-year-old center with boyish looks and NHL hands gave the Sabres a 2-0 lead in the second period after taking a pass from Tim Kennedy and beating Ray Emery with a wrist shot en route to a 3-2 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers. It capped off a day that ended nothing like it began. "It was a special night," Ennis said. Ennis barely had time to pack his bags after the Sabres summoned him for their game ..."

Third straight win is icing on the cake for Sabres

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November 15

Buffalo News

"Broken down into a three-game segment last week, the Buffalo Sabres were in good shape long before taking the ice Saturday against the Philadelphia Flyers. They already had four points in the bag. The Sabres would gladly accept two wins every three games all season long, right? A loss to the Flyers hardly would have been devastating or signaled alarms given the factors involved. They were playing their third game in four nights. They were playing back-to-back games with travel from Buffalo to Philly in between. They were without Drew Stafford and summoned pipsqueak forward Tyler Ennis from Portland. Fair enough, but why not get greedy? Four points would have been satisfactory, but they ..."

Sabres snap Flyers' streak

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November 15

Philadelphia Inquirer

"The Flyers' offense, among the NHL's best this season, looked sluggish for 40 minutes tonight before awakening in an electric third period. It was too late. The Flyers huffed and puffed but couldn't overcome a 2-0 third-period deficit as they dropped a hard-fought 3-2 decision to the Buffalo Sabres in front of a sellout crowd at the Wachovia Center. "Playoff-like hockey, good intensity," Buffalo coach Lindy Ruff said after his team ended the Flyers' winning streak at five games. The Flyers, who averaged 4.6 goals a game during their winning streak, had more good scoring chances in the third period than in the first two periods combined. They outshot Buffalo by 15-5 in the final period, but ..."

Power outage costs Flames against stingy Sabres

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November 14

Calgary Herald

"Brent Sutter will take the point, but the Calgary Flames coach couldn't help but call out his power play for another lame effort. In a game that often dripped with playoff-style trimmings, featuring two of the hottest goaltenders in the National Hockey League, the Flames failed to capitalize on three straight power plays early in the second period en route to a 2-1 shootout loss to the home standing Sabres. Maybe it had something to do with it being a Friday the 13th or the fact they haven't won in this New York City since March 15 of 1996 but, whatever it was, the Flames went 0-for-4 with the man advantage to run their string to 0-for-10 through the first two games of this three-game ..."

Local fans enjoy chance to see Iginla

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November 14

Buffalo News

"Friday night was why folks pleaded with the NHL to return to its balanced schedule, the one in which every team plays each other. For three seasons — from 2005-06 to 2007-08 — the league tried building local rivalries and created a rotating system in which an Eastern Conference division skipped a division from the West. Among the teams the Buffalo Sabres avoided in 2007-08 were the Calgary Flames. Good for the Sabres, since the Flames went 42-30-10. Bad for Sabres fans because they missed Jarome Iginla, MVP runner-up that season. The balanced schedule returned last year, and Iginla returned to HSBC Arena on Friday. The Flames and their superstar hadn't visited Western New York since ..."

Sabres' Miller is tired of head shots

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November 14

Buffalo News

"Ryan Miller, as a member of the NHL's competition committee, has the ear of some very important people in hockey's hierarchy. He also has an acute feel for his fellow players, knows which topics they want discussed. He says the words aren't reaching the ears. The general managers' meetings this week offered further proof. Miller, who will be in goal for the Buffalo Sabres tonight when they host the Calgary Flames, says players have been demanding action on hits to the head. He said it's been an important agenda item for years. He's seen too many unnecessary injuries and is tired of a culture that allows them to happen. The general managers talked about head shots Wednesday during their ..."

Sabres have tough act to follow after topping Flames

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November 14

Buffalo News

"The Buffalo Sabres talked for two days about making a statement, about showing character. The Calgary Flames are a tough team, they said, but we can be, too. They have a world-class goaltender, but so do we. The Sabres made their statement Friday night. They were a little bit tougher, a little bit better. Ryan Miller edged Miikka Kiprusoff in the matchup of Olympic goalies, and the Sabres stood up to one of the NHL's toughest teams to earn a 2-1 shootout victory in HSBC Arena. "That was probably as hard as I've seen us play," Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said. "We talked about it for two days. We're going to get under people. We're going to go through people. We're going to try to be hard on ..."

If necessary, Kaleta will fill Grier's role

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November 13

Buffalo News

"For the team's sake, Patrick Kaleta hopes Mike Grier can play for the Buffalo Sabres tonight. In the likely event he can't, Kaleta is ready to assume Grier's role. Grier, who injured his groin during Wednesday's 3-1 victory over Edmonton, missed practice Thursday. He walked around Amherst Pepsi Center with the top of his right leg wrapped and is doubtful for tonight's visit by the Calgary Flames. "Mike is a little sore," coach Lindy Ruff said. "We don't anticipate it being too long, but he could miss a little bit of time. Could. There's still a chance he could play [today], too." Kaleta replaced Grier as the right winger alongside Tim Kennedy and Jochen Hecht. He would take the same spot ..."

Sabres' Miller is tired of head shots

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November 13

Buffalo News

"Ryan Miller, as a member of the NHL's competition committee, has the ear of some very important people in hockey's hierarchy. He also has an acute feel for his fellow players, knows which topics they want discussed. He says the words aren't reaching the ears. The general managers' meetings this week offered further proof. Miller, who will be in goal for the Buffalo Sabres tonight when they host the Calgary Flames, says players have been demanding action on hits to the head. He said it's been an important agenda item for years. He's seen too many unnecessary injuries and is tired of a culture that allows them to happen. The general managers talked about head shots Wednesday during their ..."

Rookie Myers enjoying early ride

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November 13

Calgary Herald

"You're 19 years old, playing a leading role in the National Hockey League and your hometown team is coming to town. "I'm having a lot of fun," said Tyler Myers, the towering rookie rearguard with the Buffalo Sabres during a brief telephone conversation Thursday afternoon. "All the guys have been really good to me in helping me adjust, get over the bumps." And Myers, who was born in Houston, Texas and raised in the Calgary suburb of De Winton, has been good to the Buffalo Sabres. Three goals and five assists has him in the top five of both categories among rookie scoring leaders. A plus six. Plenty of hits and loads of ice time for the 6-foot-7, 211-pound member of last May's Memorial Cup ..."

Bounced in Buffalo

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November 12

Edmonton Journal

"The Edmonton Oilers' inability to score the tying goal during a five-minute power play in the final six minutes of their NHL game against the Buffalo Sabres cost them two points on Wednesday night. The Oilers, who tried to extract a pound of flesh from the Sabres after forward Clarke MacArthur sent winger Liam Reddox into the boards, but did not knock him out, couldn't find a way to beat goalie Ryan Miller during the long man advantage and tumbled 3-1 to the Sabres. "I was walking around on eggshells, watching the last power play on TV," said MacArthur, who apologized profusely for the hit on the defenceless Reddox. The Oilers, however, couldn't make MacArthur pay for his sins. Not only ..."

Lorentz, Crozier to join Sabres' Hall

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November 12

Buffalo News

"One of the most recognizable voices in Buffalo Sabres history is joining the team's Hall of Fame. So is the "Coach." Jim Lorentz, who parlayed his Sabres playing career into a 26-year run as a broadcaster for the team, was selected Wednesday as one of the newest members of the Sabres Hall of Fame. He will be inducted alongside Joe Crozier, who coached the Sabres from 1972-74 and has spent the past 26 years in various front-office positions. The enshrinement ceremony will take place Feb. 9 in HSBC Arena prior to the game against the Boston Bruins. Lorentz played seven of his 10 seasons with the Sabres, recording 134 goals and 331 points in 485 games. The most famous moment for the ..."

Khabibulin in Oilers' net against Sabres

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November 11

Edmonton Journal

"Last time the Edmonton Oilers played the Buffalo Sabres, the fans were shouting "we want 10." They were Oilers fans, derisively firing shots at the local squad which was being pummelled at Rexall Place last Jan. 27. The fans got their wish. Buffalo won 10-2, the most humiliating home loss, ever. Not only that Oilers' longtime equipment manager Barrie Stafford's nephew Drew had the biggest knife, sticking it in and twisting it. He scored three times. The Oilers players, at least the ones who suffered through the debacle in Edmonton, might want to extra a few pounds of flesh this time around. On the surface, it should be a fair fight — the Sabres have lost three of their last four after a ..."

Hammerin' Hecht battles to score

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November 11

Buffalo News

"For the first time in his career, Jochen Hecht has established a fighting streak. With that out of the way, he can focus on getting rid of his all-shot, no-goal skid. Hecht, the most soft-spoken member of the Buffalo Sabres, upped his fisticuffs total to two fights in two seasons during Saturday's visit to Boston. While that's a number Rob Ray could reach in one period back in the day, it qualifies as a pugilistic onslaught for Hecht. Going back to the 2001-02 season, according to HockeyFights.com, Hecht had dropped the gloves only once every other year. He dotted the eye of Tampa Bay's Vincent Lecavalier last season, and Saturday's major with Mark Stuart gave Hecht a fight in back-to-back ..."

Mair remains with team after clearing waivers

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November 11

Buffalo News

"Adam Mair believes he can help the Buffalo Sabres. He still has the chance. Mair remains in Buffalo after the other 29 NHL teams failed to claim him off waivers Tuesday. The Sabres had the option of sending the 30-year-old to Portland of the American Hockey League, but they decided to keep him in Buffalo for now. "It's just status quo," coach Lindy Ruff said. "He'll stay." Mair practiced with his longtime mates in Amherst Pepsi Center, filling the role of 13th forward. He's expected to be a healthy scratch for the seventh time in nine games tonight when the Edmonton Oilers visit HSBC Arena. "Nothing has changed as far as my approach to the game, my approach to the team and the guys," Mair ..."

Sabres' Mair remains on waivers until noon today

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November 10

Buffalo News

"Adam Mair's only plan overnight was to make sure his phone was on and within reach. Other than that, there wasn't much he could do regarding his hockey future. Mair, whose seven-season run in Buffalo is the second longest among Sabres forwards, was placed on waivers Monday. He was to remain on the waiver wire until noon today, with the other 29 teams free to claim the forward. "I guess it's just wait and see what the next 24 hours hold," Mair told The Buffalo News after practice Monday afternoon. "It's something fresh and new in my career that I haven't been through. I'll just wait it out, and if I get claimed then I get an opportunity to go play somewhere, and if not I'll either stay here ..."

No hard feelings from Paille

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November 9

Buffalo News

"Daniel Paille had no hard feelings for the Buffalo Sabres and wished them no ill will after they traded him three weeks into the season. The winger would be more likely to send General Manager Darcy Regier a neatly written "Thank You" card for giving him another opportunity. Paille was still fighting through the adjustment phase Saturday, about three weeks after he was shipped to the Boston Bruins for two draft picks. For now, he's living in a hotel while getting the lay of the land, which is a general way of saying he's figuring out how to navigate through the mishmash known as the streets of the North End. "The one thing I can say is that I'm very fortunate to have gotten to move on as ..."

Bruins spoil debut of Sabres' Enroth

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November 9

Buffalo News

"The easy way out for the Buffalo Sabres would have been to blame the kid for their second straight loss. Rookie goaltender Jhonas Enroth gave up a goal on the first shot he faced in the NHL. He allowed three on his first 13 shots and spent most of his debut scrambling around the crease. In fact, it would have been much too easy to blame the 21-year-old when the Sabres had so many other problems around him. Enroth was shaky at times Saturday night in a 4-2 loss to the Boston Bruins before 17,565 in TD Banknorth Garden, but he wasn't solely responsible for any of the four goals in a game littered with missed nets, poor communication and mistakes. Let the facts show what they show. The Sabres ..."

Ruff goes soft to keep team playing hard

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November 9

Buffalo News

columnist Bucky Gleason

"Just before the season, Lindy Ruff pulled his leaders aside and told them they needed to take over the Buffalo Sabres' dressing room. He made it clear that he was finished barking after every poor performance. This was their team, he told them, and taking ownership was their responsibility. It was as if Ruff recognized that his style had grown stale, that he knew adjustments were required if his team was going to go anywhere. He has said numerous times this season that the Sabres' core is no longer a bunch of kids. They're pros who know what's needed to win and should be treated accordingly. Ruff hasn't undergone a total makeover, but the shift in his approach has been obvious all year. ..."

Fourth line carries Flyers to win over Sabres

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November 7

Philadelphia Daily News

"Waking up yesterday in Buffalo, Flyers coach John Stevens must have picked up the local newspaper and read the Sabres report. The Buffalo News touted the Sabres as one of the deepest teams in the NHL with their scattered scoring threat. A highly statistical approach, the report said that the Flyers' first two lines accounted for 86 percent of the team's points. That meant that the Flyers' other two lines contributed to only 14 percent of their 72 points. Last night, the Flyers showed why they - and not Buffalo - are one of the deepest teams in the Eastern Conference with a comprehensive 5-2 beating of the Sabres at a sold-out HSBC Arena. Dan Carcillo notched two goals, including an ..."

Sabres fall flat, Flyers take advantage

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November 7

Buffalo News

"It's something that hasn't been said often this season, but there was no debate this time. From the crease on out, the Buffalo Sabres were the inferior team. The Philadelphia Flyers halted the feel-good vibe sweeping Sabreland by delivering a one-sided performance Friday night. They were better at every position and skated out of HSBC Arena with a 5-2 victory. "They executed better. They competed harder. They were the better team," Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said. "I can't find any argument against that. They made better plays, had better support. "It's disappointing. ... I'm not going to try to mask it at all. It wasn't a good night for us. It wasn't a good night for most of the team." The ..."

Sabres left behind in trying to step up

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November 7

Buffalo News

columnist Jerry Sullivan

"Lindy Ruff didn't bother addressing his team after this one. The Sabres were outplayed, outworked and outclassed in Friday night's 5-2 loss to the Flyers. Ruff let them talk it out among themselves. Evidently, Mike Grier did most of the talking. "It's a little disappointing," Grier said. "Good thing we have a game [tonight] to bounce back. I told the guys we've got a good record and everyone knows it. The league is going to watch how we do in these games. Teams are going to try to push us out of games. We've got to show we won't back down." Translation: When you're on top, expect to get teams' best shot. If you're going to pose as a legitimate Stanley Cup contender, you ought to act like ..."

Centers hope to stay quick on the draw

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November 6

Buffalo News

"The Buffalo Sabres absolutely dominated one of the NHL's best faceoff teams. It should be interesting to see what they do against one of the worst. The Sabres trounced the New York Islanders on draws Wednesday, winning 39 and losing eight. Despite the lopsided defeat, the Isles still ranked sixth in the league Thursday with a 51.9 percent success rate. Tonight, the Sabres host the Philadelphia Flyers, who were tied for 20th at 48.2 percent. It seems like a chance for the Sabres to improve their fourth-place ranking and 52.6 percent success rate. "Let me tell you, it's a lot easier game when you don't have to chase down the puck all night," captain Craig Rivet said Thursday. The Sabres' ..."

Sabres bounce back, shut out Islanders

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November 6

Buffalo News

"There might be something to this whole "don't lose two games in a row" thing. During the Buffalo Sabres' previous two seasons, the motto rang hollow. They couldn't stop losing streaks from happening. Judging by their lack of conviction when invoking the catchphrase, it sounded like they knew it. This season is different. They seem to sincerely believe they can win every night if they play their game. So far, some of their best games have come after losses. The Sabres responded to a 5-0 shutout against the New York Islanders with a shutout of their own. Ryan Miller made 24 saves and Derek Roy scored his first goal of the season to help Buffalo to a 3-0 victory over New York. "That's what ..."

Sabres continue their balancing act

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November 6

Buffalo News

"The 12 forwards who will play for the Buffalo Sabres tonight have 73 points. The 12 forwards expected to dress for the Philadelphia Flyers have 72. Sounds like two similar groups, right? Not even close. In fact, it would be tough to find teams with more wildly different philosophies. The Sabres will take the HSBC Arena ice intent on using all four lines equally. Offensive depth has been an early trademark, with each three-man unit capable of doing enough offensively to win the game. The Flyers, meanwhile, are extremely top-heavy. If their forwards are going to score, it's usually two lines that are going to do it. "Over time, I think absolutely it's going to benefit us," Sabres captain ..."

Isles' win streak snapped

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November 5

New York Post

"The Islanders can't win them all. Ryan Miller made 24 saves for his second shutout of the season and 14th overall, and Thomas Vanek had a goal and assist in the Sabres' 3-0 victory over the Islanders last night. The Islanders were attempting to win five in a row for the first time since a six-game run in February 2008. Derek Roy and Paul Gaustad also scored to help the Sabres (9-2-1) rebound from a 5-0 loss to the Islanders on Saturday on Long Island."

Roy's line letting chances go by the boards

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November 5

Buffalo News

"Every game, often more than once, the glorious scoring opportunity arises. Derek Roy and Thomas Vanek create a two-on-one, or Drew Stafford joins them for an even better odd-man rush. And every game, often more than once, the chance fades without a goal. The Buffalo Sabres' most potent scoring line is creating anxious moments for goaltenders on a nightly basis. The goalies, though, get to exhale in relief when no shots come their way. The trio has eight goals this season on, oh, about 200 opportunities. OK, so it's not that many. But they've come away empty way more than they've celebrated. "We could have had eight the other night," Roy said Monday in HSBC Arena. "We hit two posts, missed ..."

Pominville's population rises

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November 5

Buffalo News

"Jason Pominville smiled every time. While sitting in the hospital, overjoyed with the birth of his first child, Pominville would hear the same line whenever a nurse came to visit. "So, the population of Pominville went up, huh?" The Buffalo Sabres' alternate captain relished the comment each time it was repeated. He and his wife, Kim, had just welcomed Jayden John into the world Monday, so anyone could have said anything over and over and Pominville would have grinned. "We're all excited," Pominville said Tuesday. "It was probably one of the best days of my life. It's awesome. It's tough to describe what it really is." The newest numbers in Pominville's life are 6 pounds, 13 ounces, the ..."

Enroth to possibly get a start

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November 5

Buffalo News

"Jhonas Enroth may be days away from his NHL debut. Enroth, the Buffalo Sabres' top goaltending prospect, joined the team for Wednesday's 3-0 victory against the New York Islanders because of an injury to Patrick Lalime. The veteran backup suffered a groin strain during practice Monday, and there is no time table for his return. "You never know with groins," Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said. "We hope it's not long. It depends on how it responds." The Sabres are on a run in which the schedule forces them to play three games in four nights for five straight weeks. Ruff used starter Ryan Miller in all three games last week. It doesn't sound as if that is the coach's plan for this four-day run. The ..."

Sabres bounce back, shut out Islanders

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November 5

Buffalo News

"There might be something to this whole "don't lose two games in a row" thing. During the Buffalo Sabres' previous two seasons, the motto rang hollow. They couldn't stop losing streaks from happening. Judging by their lack of conviction when invoking the catchphrase, it sounded like they knew it. This season is different. They seem to sincerely believe they can win every night if they play their game. So far, some of their best games have come after losses. The Sabres responded to a 5-0 shutout against the New York Islanders with a shutout of their own. Ryan Miller made 24 saves and Derek Roy scored his first goal of the season to help Buffalo to a 3-0 victory over New York. "That's what ..."

Biron-Sabres reunion would fit like a glove

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November 5

Buffalo News

columnist Jerry Sullivan

"Last July, after Martin Biron became a free agent, he drove his wife, Anne Marie, and three children from Philadelphia to Buffalo. Biron got off Interstate 90 at the Pembroke exit so he could take a nice, leisurely drive through the country roads. "We drove down Main Street and got to our house in Clarence," Biron said Wednesday before the Islanders lost to the Sabres, 3-0, at HSBC Arena. Biron made 36 saves. "We told each other it felt like we were coming home." Biron has never really left Buffalo, not in his heart. Maybe that's why the former Sabres goalie got that standing ovation here last month. Fans know he's one of them, a Buffalo guy, an NHL player who came of age here and grew to ..."

Sabres News