Thanks, Dan Hickling
Steve Ott knows that the odds of the Sabres making the playoffs are long. They got all the more longer when the eighth place Rangers defeated the Panthers on Thursday night.
Ott spoke about his team's resolve and beliefs system after the brief skate in Amherst on Thursday afternoon.
"I mean, we knew we had some tough games ahead, obviously tomorrow night's game (Rangers) is pretty much our season in the aspect of where we are and continue this push. Its a huge game that we all have to be ready for as if it were the last game of our lives. For us, thats the mindset we have to take. That "one game" mentality is a cliche, but its so true at this point", Ott said.
Teams that have failed so miserably, and have subtracted so many key contributors and suffer so many losses to injuries, usually pack their hockey bags and head home for the Summer. Not these Buffalo Sabres.
Otter says this Sabres team is unique. There's no quit in their group.
"Usually, it is, but there's so much to play for in the dressing room. I've said this many times. Obviously, playoff is an aspect of all of us. We all want a chance at the dance and thats something that we've been committed to each other for since day one. We said thats what we want to be, a playoff team. It doesn't matter if you are a minor league guy called up, or a guy staright out of college, you all want that same goal to play. There's so mush to play for, for a lot of pride in that dressing room. Guys playing for contracts next season, just just playing to be in the lineup, and in a Buffalo Sabres uniform. There's a lot going on for a lot to play for".
"Absolutely. We need help. With us having games in hand (on Rangers and Jets) we need help. We need to win our games and let other teams hopefully take care of themselves", Ott said.
Sabres interim head coach Ron Rolston spoke about how his players are believing in one another as they are fighting for their playoff lives.
“They still believe with every ounce of their body that they’re going to be in the playoffs,” said interim coach Ron Rolston, whose Sabres host the eighth-place New York Rangers tonight. “You just feel it on the bench.”
Thomas Vanek added that the young guys and vets banded together after the departures of captain Pominville, and veteran leaders Leopold and Regehr on trade deadline day.
“That’s the message since Day One we had when we started trading people away for picks,” Sabres winger Thomas Vanek said. “It’s just new opportunities. Keep going. It’s not over until it’s over.”
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Thanks for nothing NY Rangers. Torts and his troops threw a monkey wrench in the Buffalo plans to catch and tie the eighth place Rangers when the tewo teams meet on Friday night in Buffalo.
Thursday night began with the Sabres trailing the Rangers by only two points (46 points to 44) in the Eastern standings. However, the Sabres had played two more games than the Rangers (44 to 42).
The seventh place NY Islanders didn't help Buffalo either by beating Toronto 5-2. The Leafs led the game 2-0, then yielded five unanswered goals to MVP candidate John Tavares.
The ninth place Winnipeg Jets defeated the Carolina hurricanes. 4-3 in OT.
The Rangers jumped out to an early lead and never looked back, beating the Florida Panthers 6-1. With the win the Rangers remained in eighth place in the Eastern Conference, now with 48 points. The Rangers are now 6-2-1 in their last nine games.
Henrik Lundqvist stopped 34 of 35 shots to earn his 20th victory of the season.
The Sabres now face yet another must-win game against the Rangers on Friday night. If they win, they stay in the race. If they lose, they can kiss their playoff dreams goodbye.
Miller will man the Buffalo cage. Biron will likely get net for the Rangers.
A Sabres loss in regulation will eliminate them from the Eastern playoff race.
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