Winter Edition
BUFFALO – Winger Kyle Okposo, who left Friday’s 6-2 loss to the New York Rangers after fighting defenseman Tony DeAngelo, will accompany the Sabres on their three-game road trip, coach Phil Housley said.
Okposo, 30, did not practice this morning inside Harborcenter. Housley said Okposo, who has a concerning history of concussions, did not suffer another one.
“Kyle’s doing well,” Housley said inside KeyBank Center. “We just kept him off the ice as ... Read the full article
BUFFALO – Sabres center Evan Rodrigues figured David Quinn would stay put at Boston University until the coach guided the Terriers to a national championship.
Quinn’s success at the NCAA level, of course, generated plenty of interest from the NHL. Still, Rodrigues, whose dynamic exploits nearly helped BU win a title in 2015, enjoys a close relationship with Quinn.
“You can always go into his office and talk about anything to him,” Rodrigues said prior ... Read the full article
BUFFALO – Defenseman Zach Bogosian, who ranks second on the Sabres in ice time, will return tonight after a lower-body injury sidelined him two games.
To make room, defenseman Matt Hunwick will be scratched against the New York Rangers.
A lower-body injury, meanwhile, will force center Casey Mittelstadt to miss his second straight game. The rookie skated this morning and is day-to-day, Sabres coach Phil Housley said.... Read the full article
BUFFALO – It has become a regular occurence this season, Jason Pominville’s 14th in the NHL and 10th with the Sabres. Every few weeks or so, the popular winger seems to reach a new milestone or move up among the franchise’s all-time leaders.
Pominville, whose focus has been a huge asset over his splendid 1,037-game career, hasn’t paid much attention to any of it.
“I try to just enjoy the moment, live in the moment,” ... Read the full article
BUFFALO – Sabres defenseman Zach Bogosian and center Casey Mittelstadt practiced today for the first time since suffering lower-body injuries over the weekend.
Now, will the regulars be ready to play Friday against the New York Rangers, the end of a seven-game home stand?
“Not ruling either one out,” Sabres coach Phil Housley said inside KeyBank Center.
Both players said they responded well to the session. Neither, however, skated on a regular pair or line.... Read the full article
BUFFALO – Before Robin Lehner and Thomas Greiss morphed into the NHL’s best goaltending tandem, they struggled mightily a year ago, enduring rough seasons.
In 2017-18, Lehner, 27, battled personal problems while tending goal for the hapless Sabres, the league’s worst team. Meanwhile, Greiss, 33, played behind the New York Islanders’ porous defense, which allowed a league-high 293 goals.
But these days, the goalies are thriving, enjoying career-best campaigns for the upstart Islanders, who showcase ... Read the full article
BUFFALO – Sabres center Casey Mittelstadt suffered a “little bang” and is game-time decision for tonight’s tilt against the New York Islanders, coach Phil Housley said.
If Mittelstadt can’t play, another rookie, winger C.J. Smith, will move in. Mittelstadt left the ice a little early this morning.
Update: A lower-body injury will force Mittelstadt to miss tonight’s game.
Having compiled two goals and seven points over the last 10 games, Mittelstadt, 20, is enjoying ... Read the full article
BUFFALO – Since recovering from a neck injury that sidelined him the first 33 games this season, Sabres defenseman Matt Hunwick’s action has been extremely limited.
After playing two straight contests before Christmas, Hunwick, 33, watched 13 consecutive games as a healthy scratch.
Following a strong outing Jan. 29, Hunwick sat out another five games until Sunday afternoon, when Zach Bogosian’s lower-body injury – coach Phil Housley said he is day-to-day – pressed him ... Read the full article
BUFFALO – A lower-body injury will force Sabres defenseman Zach Bogosian to miss this afternoon’s tilt against the Winnipeg Jets, meaning Matt Hunwick will move in for just the fourth time this season.
Sabres coach Phil Housley said Bogosian, 28, is day-to-day.
Hunwick, 33, missed the first two and half months this season recovering from a neck injury. The veteran has been a healthy scratch 18 of the last 19 contests.
Still, Hunwick’s one ... Read the full article
BUFFALO – This is probably only a temporary benching. Sabres coach Phil Housley plans to give winger Tage Thompson another opportunity soon.
But for the first time since Nov. 8 and the eighth time this season, Thompson, 21, sat out as a healthy scratch Thursday.
Center Johan Larsson replaced him for the Sabres’6-5 overtime loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. Thompson, a big piece of the Ryan O’Reilly trade with the St. Louis Blues, had played ... Read the full article
