![Buffalo Sabres right wing Ales Kotalik of the Czech Republic skates into his zone against the New York Rangers in the first period of game one of the NHL Eastern Conference semifinals Buffalo Sabres right wing Ales Kotalik of the Czech Republic skates into his zone against the New York Rangers in the first period of game one of the NHL Eastern Conference semifinals](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/TXGJ1R/buffalo-sabres-right-wing-ales-kotalik-of-the-czech-republic-skates-into-his-zone-against-the-new-york-rangers-in-the-first-period-of-game-one-of-the-nhl-eastern-conference-semifinals-at-the-hsbc-arena-in-buffalo-new-york-on-april-25-2007-upi-photojerome-davis-TXGJ1R.jpg)
Buffalo Sabres right wing Ales Kotalik of the Czech Republic skates into his zone against the New York Rangers in the first period of game one of the NHL Eastern Conference semifinals
![Buffalo Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff (R) skates with defenseman Richard Smehlik June 16 at the Marine Midland Arena in Buffalo. The NHL Eastern Division Champions were practicing before their departure to Buffalo Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff (R) skates with defenseman Richard Smehlik June 16 at the Marine Midland Arena in Buffalo. The NHL Eastern Division Champions were practicing before their departure to](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/2D598PY/buffalo-sabres-head-coach-lindy-ruff-r-skates-with-defenseman-richard-smehlik-june-16-at-the-marine-midland-arena-in-buffalo-the-nhl-eastern-division-champions-were-practicing-before-their-departure-to-dallas-for-stanley-cup-game-five-ruff-is-a-former-sabres-player-and-smehlik-won-a-1998-olympic-gold-medal-playing-hockey-for-his-native-czech-republic-jtgb-2D598PY.jpg)
Buffalo Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff (R) skates with defenseman Richard Smehlik June 16 at the Marine Midland Arena in Buffalo. The NHL Eastern Division Champions were practicing before their departure to
![Florida Panthers' Michal Repik (32) of Czech Republic, shoots the puck under pressure from Buffalo Sabres' Chris Butler (34) and Jordan Leopold (3) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Florida Panthers' Michal Repik (32) of Czech Republic, shoots the puck under pressure from Buffalo Sabres' Chris Butler (34) and Jordan Leopold (3) during the second period of an NHL hockey game](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/2NC2BJ4/florida-panthers-michal-repik-32-of-czech-republic-shoots-the-puck-under-pressure-from-buffalo-sabres-chris-butler-34-and-jordan-leopold-3-during-the-second-period-of-an-nhl-hockey-game-in-buffalo-ny-friday-march-25-2011-ap-photodavid-duprey-2NC2BJ4.jpg)
Florida Panthers' Michal Repik (32) of Czech Republic, shoots the puck under pressure from Buffalo Sabres' Chris Butler (34) and Jordan Leopold (3) during the second period of an NHL hockey game
![Buffalo Sabres defenseman Jaroslav Spacek (6), of the Czech Republic, is congratulated on his goal against the Carolina Hurricanes by Sabres defenseman Brian Campbell, left, and forwards Maxim Afinogenov (61), of Russia, Buffalo Sabres defenseman Jaroslav Spacek (6), of the Czech Republic, is congratulated on his goal against the Carolina Hurricanes by Sabres defenseman Brian Campbell, left, and forwards Maxim Afinogenov (61), of Russia,](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/2PAR726/buffalo-sabres-defenseman-jaroslav-spacek-6-of-the-czech-republic-is-congratulated-on-his-goal-against-the-carolina-hurricanes-by-sabres-defenseman-brian-campbell-left-and-forwards-maxim-afinogenov-61-of-russia-and-jochen-hecht-right-of-germany-during-the-third-period-an-nhl-hockey-game-in-buffalo-ny-on-saturday-dec-1-2007-buffalo-won-8-1-ap-photodon-heupel-2PAR726.jpg)
Buffalo Sabres defenseman Jaroslav Spacek (6), of the Czech Republic, is congratulated on his goal against the Carolina Hurricanes by Sabres defenseman Brian Campbell, left, and forwards Maxim Afinogenov (61), of Russia,
![Boston Bruins forward Petr Tenkrat (17) of the Czech Republic and Buffalo Sabres Dmitri Kalinin (45) of Russia, both reach for a loose puck in the first period on February 1, 2007 Boston Bruins forward Petr Tenkrat (17) of the Czech Republic and Buffalo Sabres Dmitri Kalinin (45) of Russia, both reach for a loose puck in the first period on February 1, 2007](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/TXG2FH/boston-bruins-forward-petr-tenkrat-17-of-the-czech-republic-and-buffalo-sabres-dmitri-kalinin-45-of-russia-both-reach-for-a-loose-puck-in-the-first-period-on-february-1-2007-at-the-td-banknorth-garden-in-boston-upi-photomatthew-healey-TXG2FH.jpg)
Boston Bruins forward Petr Tenkrat (17) of the Czech Republic and Buffalo Sabres Dmitri Kalinin (45) of Russia, both reach for a loose puck in the first period on February 1, 2007
![Buffalo Sabres' Ales Kotalik (12), of Czech Republic, battles for the puck with Boston Bruins' Dennis Wideman during the first period of the NHL hockey game at HSBC Arena in Buffalo, N.Y., Buffalo Sabres' Ales Kotalik (12), of Czech Republic, battles for the puck with Boston Bruins' Dennis Wideman during the first period of the NHL hockey game at HSBC Arena in Buffalo, N.Y.,](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/2PAP8YW/buffalo-sabres-ales-kotalik-12-of-czech-republic-battles-for-the-puck-with-boston-bruins-dennis-wideman-during-the-first-period-of-the-nhl-hockey-game-at-hsbc-arena-in-buffalo-ny-monday-dec-10-2007-ap-photodavid-duprey-2PAP8YW.jpg)
Buffalo Sabres' Ales Kotalik (12), of Czech Republic, battles for the puck with Boston Bruins' Dennis Wideman during the first period of the NHL hockey game at HSBC Arena in Buffalo, N.Y.,
![Buffalo Sabres defenseman Jaroslav Spacek, of Czech Republic, skates past Florida Panthers Richard Zednik's trail of blood during the third period of a NHL hockey game in Buffalo, N.Y. on Sunday, Feb. Buffalo Sabres defenseman Jaroslav Spacek, of Czech Republic, skates past Florida Panthers Richard Zednik's trail of blood during the third period of a NHL hockey game in Buffalo, N.Y. on Sunday, Feb.](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/2PAFW4M/buffalo-sabres-defenseman-jaroslav-spacek-of-czech-republic-skates-past-florida-panthers-richard-zedniks-trail-of-blood-during-the-third-period-of-a-nhl-hockey-game-in-buffalo-ny-on-sunday-feb-10-2008-buffalo-won-5-3-zednik-was-taken-to-a-buffalo-hospital-after-his-neck-was-cut-by-a-teammates-skate-ap-photodon-heupel-2PAFW4M.jpg)