Zach Bogosian hasn’t played this season. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres’ Zach Bogosian progressing

BUFFALO – When general manager Tim Murray pulls the trigger on the Zach Bogosian trade, coach Dan Bylsma joked, it’ll help the Sabres.

After all, the Sabres will be receiving a minute-munching first-pair defenseman.

“It’ll be a good trade made when Tim makes it,” Bylsma cracked this afternoon inside the First Niagara Center.

Fourteen games into the season, Bogosian, who suffered a lower-body injury early in training camp, is still sidelined. There is, however, some ... Read the full article

Linus Ullmark has won two straight starts. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Will Sabres goalie Linus Ullmark start Thursday?

BUFFALO – Just three games into his career, Linus Ullmark’s strong play has some observers already wondering if the Swede, 22, could be the Sabres’ goalie of the future and present.

Right now, Sabres coach Dan Bylsma won’t let himself think about that. He wouldn’t even say if Ullmark will make his third consecutive start Thursday against Tampa Bay.

Given Ullmark has won two straight nods and has a 2.03 goals against average and a ... Read the full article

Pascal Dupuis (9) celebrates Ben Lovejoy’s goal againt Sabres goalie Chad Johnson on Thursday. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres can’t complete comeback against Penguins

PITTSBURGH – A year or two ago, as the Buffalo Sabres rebuilt their lineup from the ground up, a game like their exciting 4-3 loss to the Penguins on Thursday would’ve turned into an utter annihilation.

But against a team that usually destroys them, the Sabres roared back from an early 2-0 deficit inside the Consol Energy Center, their personal house of horrors, tying it before the first period ended.

When the Penguins went up ... Read the full article

Mike Weber played his 10th game in Pittsburgh on Thursday. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres’ Mike Weber understands role well

PITTSBURGH – By now, after years and years of getting scratched, gritty veteran Mike Weber knows sitting out occasionally accompanies his role as the Buffalo Sabres’ sixth or seventh defenseman.

“You never want to come out,” Weber said Thursday, “so I understand it’s kind of unfortunately built into my role for reasons unknown. … I just continue to come to the rink determined to work hard and be a good teammate, and when I get ... Read the full article

Mike Weber will return tonight. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres hope they can close gap against Penguins

PITTSBURGH – Just how lopsided did contests between the Penguins and the Sabres become as Buffalo infamously fielded a less-than-stellar lineup for two seasons?

Well, the Penguins have outscored the Sabres 25-3 in their six straight victories against them!

Last year, they throttled the Sabres 5-0, 6-1 and 2-0. Yes, the Sabres scored once in 180 minutes of hockey.

The Sabres haven’t beaten the Penguins since a 4-2 triumph here April 23, 2013.

These days, ... Read the full article

Evander Kane (9) is helped off the ice Saturday by trainer Tim Macre and Jake McCabe. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres know Evander Kane’s loss will hurt

BUFFALO – The bad news, in some odd way, was still good for the struggling Sabres. A left MCL injury will only sideline winger Evander Kane four to six weeks, coach Dan Bylsma said.

At least the former 30-goal scorer will play again this season.

After New Jersey’s David Schlemko hit Kane hard into the corner boards late Saturday in the Sabres’ 4-3 loss, it appeared he might be finished as he writhed in pain ... Read the full article

Evander Kane (9) battles Toronto’s Matt Hunwick on Wednesday. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres’ Evander Kane out 4-6 weeks with MCL injury

BUFFALO – A left MCL injury will sideline Sabres winger Evander Kane four to six weeks, coach Dan Bylsma said this afternoon.

So a 2-6 team with only 15 goals all season is now missing arguably its most natural goal scorer.

Bylsma said he didn’t know if the injury is a sprain. Kane doesn’t need surgery.

“It could’ve been a lot worse,” Bylsma said inside the First Niagara Center. “I don’t know if I sighed ... Read the full article

Evander Kane grimaces in pain after hurting his knee Saturday. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres lose game to Devils, Evander Kane to injury

BUFFALO – It’s not even Halloween, and the Sabres’ season is already starting to fall apart.

If losing for sixth time in eight tries wasn’t bad enough, winger Evander Kane left the Sabres’ 4-3 loss to the New Jersey Devils with what appeared to be a left knee injury after David Schlemko hit him hard into the corner boards with 9:31 left in the game.

Kane, perhaps the Sabres’ most natural goal scorer, stayed down ... Read the full article

Jake McCabe (29) and Mark Pysyk (3) are good friends. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Jake McCabe, Mark Pysyk forming strong defense pair for Sabres

BUFFALO – Their competitions are a bit one-sided. Any game Sabres defense partners Jake McCabe and Mark Pysyk play against each other, Pysyk inevitably loses.

“Yeah, I always beat him,” McCabe said proudly Thursday. “Any game.”

There’s the Rory McIlroy golf video game for Xbox.

“He’s unbelievable at it,” Pysyk said. “He must not have any friends in the summer.”

Then there was the little one-timer contest they had following practice Thursday.

“That’s why he’s ... Read the full article

Cody Franson (46) sat out today. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Chad Johnson giving Sabres chance to win; Cody Franson day-to-day

BUFFALO – The numbers lie. In five games this season, Sabres goalie Chad Johnson has accumulated some below-average statistics – 1-4 with a 2.70 goals-against average and a .896 save percentage – subbing for injured starter Robin Lehner.

Still, Johnson, 29, has given the 1-4 Sabres “a chance to win every game he’s played,” coach Dan Bylsma said this afternoon.

“I don’t know if you can ask for much more from him,” Bylsma said following ... Read the full article