WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
Offseason Edition
Jake McCabe (29) missed five games. ©2017, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – For weeks, Sabres coach Dan Bylsma said, defenseman Josh Gorges “has been one miserable guy to be around.”
“I don’t walk by him without him saying he’s ready to play, and that was about 15 days ago,” Bylsma said this morning inside KeyBank Center.
Gorges, out the last 12 games with a hip injury, can finally stop badgering Bylsma. He will return tonight against the Ottawa Senators. So will defenseman Jake McCabe, ... Read the full article
Justin Bailey has 18 goals in the AHL. ©2017, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
High-scoring Buffalo Sabres prospect Justin Bailey has been named a replacement for Monday’s AHL All-Star game in Allentown, Pa., the league announced today.
Bailey, 21, a Williamsville native, has a team-high 18 goals with the Rochester Americans, including 10 goals in his last 12 games. His recent seven-game goal-scoring streak is the AHL’s longest this season.
The winger, whose goal total ranks sixth in the league, also has 28 points in 38 AHL appearances. He ... Read the full article
Just Bailey has played nine NHL games this season. ©2017, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The Sabres sent winger Justin Bailey and goalie Linus Ullmark back to the Rochester Americans today.
Bailey’s assignment means winger Tyler Ennis, out since undergoing groin surgery Nov. 10, could return Monday against Dallas. Ennis began practicing with the Sabres again in late December.
The Sabres summoned Ullmark because goalie Robin Lehner was battling the flu.
Bailey has one goal in nine NHL games this season. Ullmark hasn’t made an NHL appearance ... Read the full article
Anders Nilsson makes one of his 39 saves Tuesday. ©2017, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – With about 10 minutes left in Tuesday’s 4-1 win against the Philadelphia Flyers, as the Sabres closed out an impressive start-to-finish effort, center Ryan O’Reilly said he felt differently.
For one of the few times this season, the Sabres were in total control late, cruising to a victory instead of trying to eke one out or overcome a deficit.
“It’s been a while since we kind of had that feeling, last 10 minutes ... Read the full article
Robin Lehner has played 27 games this season. ©2017, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The flu bug going around the Sabres dressing room has hit goalie Robin Lehner, so the Swede will miss tonight’s tilt against the Philadelphia Flyers.
Backup Anders Nilsson will sub, his third start in four games. Expect a goalie, most likely Linus Ullmark, to be recalled. Sabres coach Dan Bylsma wouldn’t confirm Ullmark was coming up, however.
Update: Ullmark has officially been recalled.
Bylsma said no other players are sick.
With ... Read the full article
Karen Buscaglia with her son Justin Bailey. ©2017, Margaret Hickling, Olean Times Herald
WILLIAMSVILLE – The emotional scene that followed Buffalo Sabres rookie Justin Bailey’s first NHL goal Tuesday night “was insane,” said his mother, Karen Buscaglia.
“I cried instantly when he scored,” said Buscaglia, who watched the game at her cousin’s house with five other family members. “Then I screamed and then I cried. We were just jumping up and down.”
As an elated Bailey celebrated in New York’s Madison Square Garden by bending over and pumping ... Read the full article
Justin Bailey played two NHL games earlier this season. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Instead of being given a spot on a scoring line Friday, winger Justin Bailey, the AHL’s hottest scorer, mostly practiced beside center Derek Grant and Nick Deslauriers, an odd place for one of the Sabres’ top prospects.
Grant and Deslauriers have zero goals and three assists between them in 45 games this season. Incredibly, Grant hasn’t scored a goal in 71 career NHL appearances. Deslauriers has more fights (14) than goals ... Read the full article
Justin Bailey has been on a tear in Rochester. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Sabres prospect Justin Bailey, the AHL’s hottest scorer, mostly practiced on the fourth line today beside center Derek Grant and Nick Deslauriers.
Grant and Deslauriers have zero goals and three assists between them in 45 games this season. Bailey, meanwhile, has scored five goals and seven points in his last five games with the Rochester Americans.
While Bailey, who was recalled this morning, might start on the fourth line Saturday afternoon in ... Read the full article
Tyler Ennis had surgery Nov. 10. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Without his explosiveness and the ability to juke opponents, speedy Sabres winger Tyler Ennis believes he’s “pretty useless out there.”
“I have to be able to use my agility, my speed, my quickness to create space,” Ennis said Thursday morning after skating with his teammates inside KeyBank Center.
Ennis, 27, couldn’t do any of that earlier this season. The longest-tenured Sabre said he felt something “gradually getting worse” in his groin. An examination ... Read the full article
Tim Kennedy spent all of 2009-10 with the Sabres. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
ROCHESTER – After a difficult few months in Sweden, South Buffalo’s Tim Kennedy was excited to return home and resume his career in his hometown organization.
Just days after Kennedy and Lulea HF of the Swedish Hockey League mutually parted ways last week, the Rochester Americans, the Buffalo Sabres’ top affiliate, quickly signed the forward to an AHL contract.
Kennedy, 30, was waiting at a hotel Saturday before the Amerks’ game against the St. John’s ... Read the full article
