NJ at BUF
NJ at BUF
Should be a good one....
By TIM GRAHAM
News Sports Reporter
2/12/2002
Even the most ardent Buffalo Sabres fan must admit the prospects of making the postseason aren't favorable.
The odds were against a playoff berth before last weekend, and they appear even longer after Sunday's humbling 4-1 road loss to the New Jersey Devils - the very team the Sabres are chasing in the playoff race.
It was a big game supposedly.
Now, instead of gaining considerable ground on the Devils, the Sabres must win tonight's rematch in HSBC Arena (7, Empire, 107.7 FM) to reclaim the position they held days ago.
"If you wanted to call the game we played (Sunday) big, this one's even bigger now," Buffalo coach Lindy Ruff said. "They got their licks in on home ice. We've gotta make it a big night on our ice.
"You're hoping that (Sunday) was just a blip on the map, and a big one."
Another Sabres defeat would put them 10 points and four teams behind the Devils for eighth place in the Eastern Conference heading into the Olympic break.
"You never say "That's it,' but in this league 10 points behind is an extremely hard feat to overcome," Buffalo center Chris Gratton said.
"Anything other than two points (tonight) is going to be a major setback."
The Sabres have played well in the past month, but they fell farther behind in the conference.
Even before they went 8-4-2 with a five-game unbeaten streak prior to Sunday, they actually were one slot higher in the standings and only six points out of eighth place.
Several Sabres were asked on Monday how realistic their postseason playoff chances were.
Defenseman Jay McKee: "They're realistic if we play well. If we play like we did (Sunday) we have no chance."
Defenseman Rhett Warrener: "It's going to be tough, but our heart's set on making it. We're not that far off. We need a big win (tonight). That's the start of it."
Forward Erik Rasmussen: "It's real realistic. We're working toward something. Either we totally shut it down and just give up and say we're out of the race, or you go out there and give it your all."
Gratton: "Funnier things have happened. You're never going to count yourselves out of it. It's far from over."
Defenseman Jason Woolley: "It's something you always hope and believe is going to happen, no matter what it takes or whatever you gotta do. There's no one around here thinking we're not going to make it, and that's important."
The Sabres were embarrassed by their performance in New Jersey and vowed a noticeable difference tonight. But if they're unable to beat the defending Eastern Conference champs, the Sabres will have a long time to think about their predicament.
Buffalo doesn't play again until Feb. 26. The schedule is breakneck from there.
"When we get back it's going to be 25 games in 47 nights," Warrener said. "That many games in that short a time, if you play well you've got your-self set up. But if you get on a downward spiral, it's going to be the same way - it's going to be tough to get out because you have no time to regroup."
By DARREN EVERSON
Daily News Sports Writer
he question before the Devils Sunday, after they had won for the fourth time in six games under Kevin Constantine, was whether they're finally starting to feel better about their position in the Eastern Conference.
Bobby Holik was almost ready to answer affirmatively. Almost.
"Ask me that question on Tuesday," Holik said, "after the game."
Well, Tuesday is here, and with it comes a pivotal game. The Devils, who beat the Sabres, 4-1, Sunday, visit them tonight in their final game before the Olympic break.
The Devils (25-21-8-3) can achieve their first three-game winning streak since late October and further solidify their standing in the East, where they stood seventh prior to last night, tied with the Rangers.
"It's a very crucial, very crucial game for us to know where we're heading," Holik said. "Not where we are, but where we're heading. Whether we're heading in the right direction. Whether we're developing a pattern or still riding the roller coaster."
The pattern under Constantine so far has been more victories and fewer goals allowed. The Devils have allowed just eight goals in Constantine's six games, committing themselves to details like blocking shots.
"We're playing how Kevin wants us to play and we're getting better every game," captain Scott Stevens said.
All of the Devils made the trip to Buffalo yesterday, including nicked-up forwards Petr Sykora, John Madden and Valeri Kamensky.
Sykora missed the Sabres game with bruised ribs but hopes to play tonight. Madden bled profusely Sunday after taking a Denis Hamel stick in the nose, and Kamensky left after being hit in the right leg and colliding with a Buffalo player.
A Devils victory tonight would effectively turn the race for the final two playoff spots into a three-team derby ? the contestants being the Devils, Rangers and Canadiens. The Sabres (23-26-6-1) are already eight points behind New Jersey; the Penguins and Capitals were seven back prior to last night.
