Bill Hoppe - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres’ Phil Varone feeling good after goal in season debut

BUFFALO – Just 18 days ago, when the Rochester Americans made their yearly visit to the First Niagara Center, Phil Varone watched as a healthy scratch. At that point, almost halfway through his fifth professional season, the forward appeared to be on the outs with the Sabres organization.

Despite playing 28 NHL games last year and earning a contract worth $200,000 in the minors, Varone’s poor play and the Amerks’ glut of veterans helped him ... Read the full article

Sabres recall Phil Varone; Mark Pysyk in against Capitals

BUFFALO – Just a couple of weeks ago, the chances of Phil Varone earning another recall to the Sabres appeared to be slim. The center, 25, was struggling with the Rochester Americans, getting scratched thanks to a glut of veterans and a terrible minus rating.

When the Amerks played a game on Dec. 30 at the First Niagara Center, Varone sat out.

But Varone, the Amerks’ leading goal scorer with 10, has recently been the ... Read the full article

Third period dooms Sabres in loss to Bruins

BUFFALO – Those good feelings the Sabres created earlier this week by winning two straight road games vanished Friday in a mostly boring, uninspired 4-1 loss to the Boston Bruins inside a quiet First Niagara Center.

In No. 1 goalie Robin Lehner’s return after missing more than three months with a high ankle sprain, the Sabres lost for the for the seventh time in nine games and dropped their 16^th home contest (8-14-2).

Graying ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Marcus Foligno and Johan Larsson finally contributing

BUFFALO – For perhaps the first time all season, enigmatic forwards Marcus Foligno and Johan Larsson are playing well at the same time, meaning the Sabres have finally started receiving some notable contributions from their third line.

For the last four games, Foligno, Larsson and captain Brian Gionta have been one of the Sabres’ strongest trios, contributing some much-needed offense and grit while often facing the opposition’s best.

Larsson, the center, skated a season-high 17 ... Read the full article

Sabres goalie Robin Lehner to start against Bruins; Mark Pysyk still out

BUFFALO – On Thursday, after the Sabres recalled Robin Lehner from his three-game AHL conditioning assignment, coach Dan Bylsma thought his goalie looked tired.

Following Lehner’s final rehab game Wednesday in Albany, the Americans had a long bus trip back to Rochester in inclement weather. The Swede only slept three hours before practicing with the Sabres.

It appeared the Bylsma might give Lehner, out since Oct. 8 with a high right ankle sprain, more time ... Read the full article

Sabres goalie Robin Lehner ready to play

BUFFALO – During some tough days over the last three months, as Robin Lehner recovered and rehabbed from the injury he suffered opening night, the goalie leaned on his family and friends for support.

Lehner just endured an arduous 11 months, suffering a season-ending concussion last year with Ottawa and a high right ankle sprain Oct. 8, only 28 minutes into his debut as the Sabres’ new starter.

The Swede had never experienced a major ... Read the full article

Sabres goalie Robin Lehner ready to play; Linus Ullmark sent to Amerks

BUFFALO – Eleven months ago when Sabres goalie Robin Lehner suffered a season-ending concussion with Ottawa, Andrew Hammond, his replacement, played so well the Senators deemed the Swede expendable.

Lehner’s first major injury was difficult to come back from, but the 24-year-old, who was acquired for a first-round pick on June 26, returned to be the Sabres’ opening-night starter Oct. 8.

But Lehner suffered a high right ankle sprain just 28 minutes into his debut. ... Read the full article

Sabres recall goalie Robin Lehner, send Linus Ullmark to Amerks

BUFFALO – The Sabres recalled goalie Robin Lehner from his conditioning stint with the Rochester Americans this morning and sent rookie goalie Linus Ullmark to the AHL affiliate.

Lehner, out with a high right ankle sprain since opening night, played three game with Amerks, going 1-2 with a 3.36 goals-against average and a .888 save percentage. The Swede, 24, made his debut as the Sabres’ new starter Oct. 8. He made 35 saves in the ... Read the full article

Phil Varone one of Amerks caught in veteran crunch

ROCHESTER – One of the oddest situations in the minors is unfolding with the AHL Americans, the Buffalo Sabres’ high-priced affiliate. The club has too many veterans, meaning some notable talent earning six figures has been forced to sit out to comply with league development rules.

The Amerks scratched Jerry D’Amigo and Patrick Kaleta, two forwards with 379 games of NHL experience, Friday. Forward Matt Ellis, an alternate captain less than a year removed ... Read the full article

Sabres recall Mark Pysyk from Amerks

BUFFALO – The Sabres recalled defenseman Mark Pysyk from his AHL conditioning assignment today.

Pysyk, who turns 24 today, has missed last the 24 games with a broken foot. The former first-round pick played three games with the Rochester Americans, recording an assist. He hasn’t played an NHL game since Nov. 17.

With Pysyk back, the Sabres will have eight defensemen available for Tuesday’s road contest against the Minnesota Wild, meaning one more will have ... Read the full article