WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
Offseason Edition
Kyle Okposo (21) hurt his ribs Thursday. ©2017, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – With leading scorer Kyle Okposo week-to-week after hurting his ribs, instead of recalling a forward, the Sabres will dress Nick Deslauriers for tonight’s tilt against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Deslauriers, a healthy scratch the last four games, has zero points this season. Okposo has 19 goals and 43 points.
The Sabres can’t exactly fill Okposo’s void.
Sabres coach Dan Bylsma said Okposo has the same injury winger Evander Kane suffered opening night, meaning ... Read the full article
Dmity Kulikov has struggled all season. ©2017, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – In his first and probably only season here, defenseman Dmitry Kulikov has performed so poorly – the Russian has one goal, two points and a wretched minus-15 rating – the Sabres couldn’t even get a late-round pick for him before Wednesday’s trade deadline.
So for 19 more games, starting with tonight’s tilt against the Arizona Coyotes, the Sabres have Kulikov. Of course, that doesn’t mean coach Dan Bylsma will play him.
Kulikov, 26, ... Read the full article
Evander Kane skates today. ©2017, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Some trade deadline practice notes from KeyBank Center, where the media is gathered in the press room with a television tuned, of course, to TSN:
– Sporting some new lines, the Sabres practiced around 45 minutes today. Naturally, the looming deadline was felt a bit.
“A little of that lingers with an impending 3 o’clock deadline,” Sabres coach Dan Bylsma said. “But treat the situations and the players like they’re going to be ... Read the full article
Evan Rodrigues (71) wheels around Colorado’s Cody Goloubef on Feb. 16. ©2017, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – With the Sabres set to practice tonight in Colorado following a bye week, the team has recalled forwards Justin Bailey and Evan Rodrigues from the AHL.
The rookies spent four days back with the Rochester Americans, playing one game, Wednesday’s 3-2 overtime win at KeyBank Center.
To make room, the Sabres sent center Derek Grant to the Amerks. Grant has zero goals and three assists in 40 games with the Sabres this season. ... Read the full article
Vaclav Karabacek scored his third AHL goal Wednesday. ©2017, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – For an AHL team mired in 13th place in a 14-team conference, the Rochester Americans possess some impressive young forward talent.
Justin Bailey, Nick Baptiste and Evan Rodrigues just returned from successful NHL stints. Hudson Fasching made the Sabres out of camp. If he hadn’t suffered a groin injury early on, he likely would’ve earned more NHL action. And while Alexander Nylander, 18, has struggled recently, the eighth overall pick is ... Read the full article
Matt Moulson is at his best around the net. ©2017, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Early in Sunday’s 5-1 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks, Sabres winger Matt Moulson skated as a fourth-liner beside fill-in center Nick Deslauriers and Tyler Ennis.
But Moulson, as he has all season, didn’t stay with the same linemates long inside KeyBank Center.
Jack Eichel filled in for Deslauriers, a winger with zero points this season. Moulson also played on the top power-play unit, a promotion with winger Sam Reinhart out.
Moulson, 33, has ... Read the full article
Nick Baptiste beats St. Louis goalie Jake Allen on Saturday afternoon. ©2017, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – A positive trend has developed in the last few months for the Sabres. Each time they recall one of their forward prospects from the Rochester Americans, the youngsters make a strong case to stick around.
Rookies Justin Bailey, William Carrier and Evan Rodrigues have all seized their opportunities and started earning regular NHL duty.
After speedy winger Nick Baptiste’s impressive performance in Saturday afternoon’s 3-2 win against the St. Louis Blues – ... Read the full article
Justin Bailey has become an elite AHL scorer. ©2017, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Sabres coach Dan Bylsma believes given Justin Bailey’s recent history, the talented rookie winger will start scoring at the NHL level.
Over the past year, the Williamsville native has morphed into a lethal AHL scorer, compiling 39 goals with the Rochester Americans, including 19 in 39 games this season.
Sooner or later, Bylsma thinks that scoring prowess will translate to the NHL. Bailey has one goal and two points in 14 games ... Read the full article
Evander Kane (9) is upended as he attempts to drive between Toronto’s Roman Polak (46) and goalie Frederik Andersen on Jan. 17. ©2017, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Sabres winger Evander Kane joked he crashed into his “favorite wall” after scoring the overtime winner in Tuesday’s 5-4 thriller against San Jose.
After his 16th goal secured the Sabres’ most unlikely victory this season, Kane hit the boards hard behind the net, his face and his right hand taking most of the impact.
Kane, who’s questionable for tonight’s tilt against the Anaheim Ducks, also broke four ribs crashing into those same boards ... Read the full article
Josh Gorges had a hard time sitting out. ©2017, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The badgering has finally stopped. Josh Gorges is healthy, back playing after a hip injury cost him 12 games. So Sabres coach Dan Bylsma can walk by the defenseman again without getting an earful.
“Josh has been one miserable guy to be around,” Bylsma said Saturday morning. “I don’t walk by him without him saying he’s ready to play, and that was about 15 days ago.”
Gorges, 32, played in Saturday’s 4-0 win ... Read the full article
