WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
Offseason Edition
Evander Kane was injured Oct. 13. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – For the next little bit, Evander Kane will likely have to endure some pain on the ice. The Sabres winger, out since breaking four ribs Oct. 13, hasn’t quite healed 100 percent.
“I don’t think anything is really healed kind of right when I get back, but it’s healed enough to where I can play and come back,” said Kane, who will return tonight against the Ottawa Senators. “I’m sure there’ll be ... Read the full article
Kyle Okposo has gotten off to a hot start. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Kyle Okposo’s quick acclimation and productive start have been welcomed by the Sabres, whose previous high-priced free agents quickly turned into disasters.
Remember Christian Ehrhoff? How about Ville Leino? Both lasted three seasons before the Sabres exercised buyouts. Both are out of the NHL, now cautionary tales for the dangers of free agency.
The rest of Ehrhoff’s 10-year, $40 million contact is being paid through 2027-28. The remainder of Leino’s six-year, ... Read the full article
Robin Lehner made 32 saves Saturday. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
OTTAWA – Buffalo Sabres goalie Robin Lehner, coach Dan Bylsma said recently, gets a twinkle in his eye whenever he plays the Senators.
Lehner, 25, clearly relishes beating his old team, which traded him to keep Saturday’s counterpart, Craig Anderson, who’s 10 years older.
“Absolutely I can tell that,” a grinning Bylsma said following the Sabres’ 2-1 comeback win, a game in which Lehner starred, stopping 32 shots.
The Swede dazzled strong throughout his ... Read the full article
Nick Baptiste played his first NHL game in Ottawa on Saturday. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
OTTAWA – As a native of nearby Barrhaven, about a 10-minute drive from the Canadian Tire Centre, Buffalo Sabres rookie Nick Baptiste had quite the cheering section for his sixth NHL game.
“There’s going to be a lot of people here tonight – a lot of family, friends, teachers, people in the area,” Baptiste said prior to Saturday’s 2-1 comeback win against the Senators, his first NHL appearance here. “My brother’s whole hockey team is ... Read the full article
Marcus Foligno had four shots last game. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
OTTAWA – It was almost a year ago, around the time, not coincidentally, Marcus Foligno began the most consistent stretch of his career, that the Buffalo Sabres winger finally developed a shoot-first mentality.
By the end of 2015-16, Foligno had pumped a career-high 81 shots on goal. Considering he registered only nine shots in his first 20 games, the number was significant.
These days, Foligno’s consistently shooting the puck. No, he’s not exactly Alex Ovechkin. ... Read the full article
Nick Baptiste has played well in his first NHL games. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
OTTAWA – As a native of nearby Barrhaven, about a 10-minute drive from the Canadian Tire Centre, Buffalo Sabres rookie Nick Baptiste will have quite the cheering section tonight for his sixth NHL game.
“There’s going to be a lot of people here tonight – a lot of family, friends, teachers, people in the area,” Baptiste said after the Sabres’ optional morning skate. “My brother’s whole hockey team is coming. There’s going to be quite ... Read the full article
Marcus Foligno has finally developed consitency. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
OTTAWA – There’s no obvious nickname for the trio of Marcus Foligno, Johan Larsson and captain Brian Gionta, the Buffalo Sabres’ most consistent and sturdiest line in years.
The first letters of their names don’t form a witty acronym. They don’t have a common background.
They do, however, share a digit. Foligno wears No. 82, Larsson wears 22 and Gionta wears 12.
“I heard someone call us ‘Deuces’ because we all got 2 ... Read the full article
William Carrier should make his NHL debut Saturday. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – If William Carrier had stayed healthy late last season, the Sabres prospect likely would’ve earned his first trip to the NHL. But Carrier, an often overlooked winger, broke his hand in March.
When this season started, the Sabres passed on him twice to recall Justin Bailey and Nick Baptiste. Carrier, meanwhile, kept impressing in the AHL, compiling three goals and four points in seven games.
The Sabres decided Carrier, 21, deserved a chance, ... Read the full article
Sabres goalie Robin Lehner stops Toronto’s Leo Komarov on Thursday. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – With just under 12 minutes left and Toronto clinging to a one-goal lead, the Sabres, as they consistently did throughout Thursday’s 2-1 loss, pumped a string of shots on Maple Leafs goalie Frederik Andersen in close.
After Andersen denied Sam Reinhart, Tyler Ennis backhanded a shot on net, grabbed his own rebound and released a quick wrist shot through traffic from the slot.
When Andersen’s quick left glove hand snared the puck, Ennis, ... Read the full article
Jhonas Enroth signed a one-year contract with Toronto in August. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – This city, Jhonas Enroth said, will always “have a soft spot in my heart.” The Swede grew up with the Sabres, often performing like the team’s goalie of the future during his 118-game run here.
But almost two years after his last appearance with the Sabres, “the feeling is starting to cool down a little bit,” Enroth said Thursday prior to the Sabres’ 2-1 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The Leafs are ... Read the full article
