"Everywhere I went, people wanted to talk about that goal," said Sabres captain Rob Ray, whose team began another season with a 2-0 loss in Detroit Saturday night.

Some Sabres want to forget the controversial goal that gave the Dallas Stars the Stanley Cup last season and prompted a change in the rule book.

But others, like Ray, hope to convert last season's frustration into positive energy.

"It will probably be brought up throughout the year that we got robbed and we want to get back there and get what's rightfully ours," Ray said. "It's fuel for the fire."

Hull had one of his skates in the crease when he scored the Cup-clincher for Dallas in the third overtime of Game 6, appearing to violate the man-in-the-crease rule. But after watching the video replay, officials allowed the goal because Hull had control of the puck.

Many said the questionable goal tainted one of the NHL's greatest -- and one of the longest -- playoff games.

Buffalo coach Lindy Ruff was outraged the celebration wasn't halted and a replay announced. Goaltender Dominik Hasek demanded an apology from the league.

"We have no choice but to put that behind us and try to learn from last year and maintain that same level of excitement that we created," Sabres forward Dixon Ward said.

The old rule automatically nullified a goal if a player was in any part of the crease when the goal was scored. Under the new rule, which allows on-ice officials to decide if an attacking player in the crease interferes with the goaltender, Hull's goal in the third overtime of Game 6 would not have been reviewed.

While they still believe Hull's goal was an infraction of the man-in-the-crease rule as it then stood, the Sabres like the rule change.

"If you interfere with the goalie, the goal should be taken away," Buffalo defenseman Jason Woolley said. "But it shouldn't be taken away just because you have a hair in the crease."

Woolley and his teammates have more pressing problems, however, like facing off against the Red Wings minus four holdouts and with Hasek sticking to his retirement plans for the end of this season.

Hasek announced his retirement in the Czech Republic in July. But in a recent interview he said that while he hadn't changed his mind, he would try living without hockey for a while and see how it goes.

Whatever that means, Buffalo looks at this season as the last one for the two-time league MVP and 1998 Olympic gold medalist. Hasek's imminent departure lends a measure of urgency.

"Some of our guys have it in their minds that if we don't win this year we're not going to have the opportunity because Dominik's gone," Ray said. "But I don't believe that. It would nice to win this year for him. I just hope people don't think that we can't win next year without Dominik."

The timing of Hasek's announcement was meant to minimize distraction to the team, but it could create more hoopla as city after NHL city says goodbye to the world's greatest goalie.

"I don't think the players realize what's going to happen," said Woolley, a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins when Mario Lemieux retired after the 1996-97 season. "A thing like that can be a big-time distraction, but I don't think it will affect us. We can overcome anything."