Yap, yap, yap
War of words continues between Sabres, Capitals
Posted: Wednesday May 27, 1998 07:45 PM
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Ruff admits to being "a little bit" sarcastic (AP) |
BUFFALO, New York (AP) -- Lindy Ruff was at the top of his game this week, straight-faced to the end while
trying to keep everyone guessing about whether he was kidding or serious.
The Buffalo Sabres coach was a practical joker during his playing days, and he hasn't lost his sense of humor going into Thursday's Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Washington Capitals.
Sometimes Ruff's comments need an explanation. An example: "Ron Wilson's a genius, obviously." Translation: Ruff does not think the Capitals coach is a genius. Ruff admitted he was being "a little bit" sarcastic. Actually, Ruff was being sarcastic when h
e said "a little bit."
Ruff's comment came after Wilson apparently showed the Capitals a videotape of Sabres forward Matthew Barnaby's celebration after his game-tying goal in the final minute of Game 2. Barnaby pressed his face against the glass, taunted the Washington bench
and stuck out his tongue while waving to Caps fans as he walked to the dressing room. Washington won the game in overtime.
"That's his act after every goal," Ruff said. "Do I all of a sudden tell him not to celebrate after a goal? He was euphoric after he got the hat trick in Montreal."
Translation: Barnaby sometimes acts like a Powerball winner when he scores, even if a goal goes into an open net the way his third did against the Canadiens in the conference semifinals. And the sniping about his conduct is just the latest in a sometimes
-funny war of words in the Eastern Conference. Tied at 1-1 in the best-of-seven series going into Thursday's Game 3 at Buffalo, the Sabres and Capitals have been trading verbal jabs since last week.
Wilson delivered the first shot when he called the Sabres "chicken" before Buffalo's victory in Game 1. Wilson's remark came during practice while the coach was wearing a microphone for a local television station. He didn't realize the comment would wind
up on the air.
"We've got a good hatred going and building up on both sides," says Wilson (AP) | |
"It's the playoffs," Wilson said. "We've got a good hatred going and building up on both sides."
The series so far has been a tale of three videotapes -- the one of Barnaby, the one of Wilson and another that the Sabres sent to the NHL concerning two goals that they thought shouldn't have counted in Game 2. If this keeps up, both teams should have a
video library going into the Stanley Cup finals. Tune in Thursday for the next episode of How the Eastern Conference Turns.
"We don't care what their coach says or what tapes are sent into the league," Buffalo forward Dixon Ward said. "We don't care if Donald Duck was coaching them, and I'm not ripping Ron Wilson. I have nothing but respect for him. The fact is that it's the
20 guys that matter."
Buffalo had won eight straight before losing in Game 3 in Washington. The Sabres have not lost in four playoff games this year at Marine Midland Arena, where they haven't played in 18 days.
"The games will be tough up there," Caps center Dale Hunter said. "We have to be ready to play. You have to keep your composure and keep your head in the game. One letdown can cost you."
The Capitals tied the series when Todd Krygier, who grew up a Sabres fan outside Buffalo, scored three minutes into overtime in Washington's 3-2 victory on Monday. Washington effectively rattled Sabres goaltender Dominik Hasek by getting in front of the
net and roughing him up when possible. The Capitals also took 39 shots in Game 2 after testing Hasek just 19 times the first game.
"It's going to take a lot more work to score a goal against Dominik Hasek," Wilson said. "He doesn't have off nights and you're going to have to create opportunities. You've got to generate 15-20 [scoring] chances."
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NHL Finals
