John Scott has already served three games. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

NHL suspends Sabres tough guy John Scott 7 games for head hit

BUFFALO – The NHL laid a seven-game suspension today on Sabres tough guy John Scott for his blindside headshot that concussed Boston’s Loui Eriksson last week.

In banning Scott, NHL discipline czar Brendan Shanahan noted that while Scott had never been fined or suspended, the 6-foot-8 winger has 217 hits in his 187-game career.

“While that works in Scott’s favor, it also takes away any argument on his part that illegal head contact is inevitable ... Read the full article

Steve Ott was named a co-captain earlier this month and was given the ‘C’ on Monday. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres captain Steve Ott will keep playing fierce style

BUFFALO – Steve Ott, the high-octane, fun-loving and helmet-licking agitator, won’t alter his style now that he’s the Sabres’ captain.

“I want to play a fine line edge of the game,” Ott said Wednesday after the Sabres prepared for tonight’s road tilt against the New York Rangers. “But I also can’t be a deterrent to my teammates, no difference if I was a captain or was not a captain.”

In Monday’s 4-3 loss to Dallas... Read the full article

Patrick Kaleta, shown here last year, has served nine games of his suspension. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres’ Patrick Kaleta mum on why he didn’t take suspension appeal further

BUFFALO – Sabres agitator Patrick Kaleta said his battle-scarred nose, which “had a bunch of stuff going on with it,” has a different look following his recent surgery.

“I think they straightened it out for me,” Kaleta said this morning inside the First Niagara Center. “My down break left turned into a little fade now.”

Kaleta said his Oct. 10 fight with Columbus’ Jared Boll, seconds after he hit Jack Johnson in the head, was ... Read the full article

Matt Moulson has become one of the NHL’s top scorers. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres’ Matt Moulson endured long road to becoming elite NHL scorer

BUFFALO – Four years ago, Matt Moulson’s career reached what he called “a fork in the road.”

Having spent the final six months of 2008-09 in the minors before Los Angeles let him go, the new Sabres winger began fretting.

At that point, Moulson had six goals in 29 NHL games. But at least the Kings had given him a shot. Pittsburgh, which drafted Moulson 263rd overall in 2003, never even signed him.

“It ... Read the full article

The Sabres traded Thomas Vanek on Sunday. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres retained money in Thomas Vanek trade with Islanders

BUFFALO – Some interesting new details have emerged about Sunday’s big swap, which sent Sabres co-captain and top scorer Thomas Vanek to the New York Islanders.

The Sabres retained 19.5 percent of Vanek’s $6.5 million salary in the trade, according to Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston. They also kept the same portion of his salary cap hit.

Perhaps that’s why the Isles, who sent high-scoring winger Matt Moulson to the Sabres, also parted with a ... Read the full article

Corey Tropp has missed the whole season. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres’ Corey Tropp nearing return from broken jaw

BUFFALO – Before Corey Tropp broke his jaw fighting Toronto’s Jamie Devane Sept. 22, the Sabres winger, who tore up his right knee last season, enjoyed some peace of mind.

The few doubts the 24-year-old had about the injury vanished during the preseason.

“I grew that confidence with each day of training camp,” Tropp, who could make his season debut this weekend, said this afternoon following practice inside the First Niagara Center. “‘Oh, ... Read the full article

Two Sabres fans show their appreciation to Lindy Ruff on Monday. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres’ Matt Moulson can’t spoil Lindy Ruff’s special night in Buffalo with Stars

BUFFALO – Eight hours before his Sabres debut, high-scoring winger Matt Moulson joked he wanted Lindy Ruff’s return to the First Niagara Center as the Dallas Stars’ coach to overshadow his night.

Moulson wasn’t letting on Monday morning, but the 29-year-old, having just been acquired Sunday with draft picks from the New York Islanders for star co-captain Thomas Vanek, was incredibly nervous.

“I’m not going to lie, that was probably the most nervous I’ve been ... Read the full article

Matt Moulson scored twice in his Sabres debut. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Matt Moulson endures long day to debut for Sabres

BUFFALO – Having grown up in nearby Mississauga, Ont., about a 90-minute drive, Sabres winger Matt Moulson said he’s well-acquainted with his new city.

“I used to love coming to Bills games,” Moulson said Monday inside the First Niagara Center prior to scoring twice in his Buffalo debut, a 4-3 loss to former Sabres coach Lindy Ruff and the Dallas Stars. “So it’s a great city. Who knows, it could be for a long time. ... Read the full article

Matt Moulson skates this morning with his new teammates. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Matt Moulson surprised to leave Isles, upbeat about joining Sabres

BUFFALO – Having grown up in nearby Mississauga, Ont., about a 90-minute drive, Sabres winger Matt Moulson said he’s well-acquainted with his new city.

“I used to love coming to Bills games,” Moulson said this morning inside the First Niagara Center, less than a day after being acquired with two high draft picks from the New York Islanders for co-captain Thomas Vanek. “So it’s a great city. Who knows, it could be for a long ... Read the full article

Coach Lindy Ruff leads Dallas’ morning skate. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Stars coach Lindy Ruff enjoying Dallas, ready to face Sabres for first time

BUFFALO – Lindy Ruff still catches himself.

At times, the Dallas Stars’ coach still refers to the Sabres, the team he coached for 15 seasons, as “we.”

“I’ve slipped up the odd time with that one,” Ruff, whose Stars face the Sabres tonight, said this afternoon inside the First Niagara, his first visit back since his Feb. 20 dismissal.

Other times, Ruff will thumb to the Sabres’ statistics page instead of Dallas’.

Breaking old ... Read the full article