Sale a relief to ex-Sabres

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Dave Andreychuk and Craig Ramsay watched the presumed salvation of the Sabres as members of the Lightning, but also as extended members of Buffalo's family.

Andreychuk, Tampa Bay's captain, began his career and played 11 seasons with the Sabres. Ramsay, the Lightning's associate coach, played 14 seasons for Buffalo and holds the team record of 27 short-handed goals.

"I think it's awesome," Andreychuk said of B. Thomas Golisano's bid to buy the team and keep it in western New York. "For me, still having a house here and having family and friends here, it's a relief it's finally been solved."

Said Ramsay: "I'm thrilled for this area. Hockey here is deeply rooted, and the people want it to be successful. But they need to believe that ownership is solidified and they are going to try to compete."

Golisano, a Rochester, N.Y., billionaire who founded the Paychex payroll processing company, offered $92-million for the team. The expected acceptance of the bid in U.S. bankruptcy court and by the league's board of governors lifts much of the uncertainty about the team's future.

"Two weeks ago, when you thought this team could have moved out of the city, it would have really been a shame," Andreychuk said. "For me, sooner or later, I'm going to be a fan here. I would like to see hockey here."

"They've got good players here, and it sounds like this ownership group is coming in with a plan of where they are and where they have to get to," Ramsay said. "I believe they're going to get the job done and it will be fun here in Buffalo."

RUFF GOING: The future is less certain for Sabres coach Lindy Ruff.

"Any time someone new steps in, you can expect change," Ruff said. "I don't know if that involves me, but I don't fear that."

Ruff did not come out and say he wanted to stay, but said, "With our team there are some good young players who have some good upside. ... Where does that leave me? I'm not welcoming change, but I'm not afraid of change."

AND COUNTING: Lightning center Tim Taylor played his 500th game in front of his father and friends, who made the 21/2-hour drive from the Toronto suburb of Stratford, Ontario, where Taylor grew up.

"You always think you'll get these numbers and be excited about them," Taylor said. "But when you're there, it's really nothing."

Taylor's brother, Chris, played his first game this season for Buffalo after being called up from AHL Rochester.

"He was always pounding the (expletive) out of me," Chris, 31, said of Tim, 34. "When I did something wrong, he was always the first to tell mother."

SCRATCHES: Defensemen Darren Rumble, Janne Laukkanen and Marc Bergevin, left wing Chris Dingman and right wing Jimmie Olvestad.