Crosby - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres’ Tyler Myers likely out against Penguins

BUFFALO – Sabres defenseman Tyler Myers will likely miss tonight’s tilt against the Pittsburgh Penguins after leaving Monday’s game early.

Myers (lower body) didn’t participate in the Sabres’ optional skate this morning. The 24-year-old could play Thursday in Ottawa, interim coach Ted Nolan said.

“It doesn’t look very good for tonight,” Nolan said inside the First Niagara Center. “Hopefully, he’ll be ready for tomorrow.”

Defenseman Chad Ruhwedel, a healthy scratch last game, will return. Center ... Read the full article

Goalie Ryan Miller knows his days with Sabres could be numbered

BUFFALO – Forget about the Olympics for a moment. Forget that Sabres goalie Ryan Miller will be playing in front of Pittsburgh Penguins coach Dan Bylsma tonight, a final chance to impress his bench boss at the upcoming Sochi Games.

Tonight could be Miller’s last appearance with the Sabres inside the First Niagara Center.

Rosters freeze 3 p.m. Friday for the NHL’s two-week Olympic break. The trade deadline hits one month from today.

Miller, an ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Zenon Konopka calls watching brain surgery ‘pretty intense’

BUFFALO – OK, so why was Zenon Konopka watching brain surgery this morning? The Sabres center tweeted a photo of himself wearing scrubs and a surgical mask and wrote, “Most interesting morning in a long time … Brain Surgery #unreal #frontrowseat #wow.”

Konopka’s charity of choice, Keith Primeau’s “Stop Concussions,” told him about the neurological department next to Buffalo General and Dr. Elad Levy, a world-renowned brain surgeon who’s also a hockey fan.

“He said ... Read the full article

Goalie Ryan Miller plays well against Penguins, Sabres still lose

PITTSBURGH – Despite one win in 15 starts this trying season, it appeared Buffalo Sabres goalie Jhonas Enroth would get Monday’s nod inside the Consol Energy Center.

The backup possesses strong career numbers against the mighty Penguins, who give franchise netminder Ryan Miller fits like no other team.

Besides, the Washington Capitals, a team Miller has dominated lately, are visiting the First Niagara Center tonight.

But Ted Nolan doesn’t care about Miller’s awful numbers against ... Read the full article

Mikhail Grigorenko refuses to report to junior, future with Sabres unclear

BUFFALO – Interim coach Ted Nolan said Mikhail Grigorenko “was a little bit upset” when the Sabres told the 19-year-old prospect he was going back to the QMJHL’s Quebec Remparts.

“But this is non-negotiable,” Nolan said Saturday inside the Riverside Ice Rink. “It’s one of those things that has to be done.”

The Sabres didn’t understand just how much the demotion irked the Russian center.

Grigorenko won’t be reporting to the junior club, his agent, ... Read the full article

Sabres goalie Ryan Miller named to Team USA’s Olympic squad

Not surprisingly, Team USA today named Buffalo Sabres goalie Ryan Miller to its Olympic roster for the upcoming Sochi Games.

It’s very likely the 33-year-old, who became a national hero while backstopping the Americans to a silver medal in 2010, will start.

Miller has performed splendidly for the struggling Sabres this trying season, posting a 2.69 goals-against average and .927 save percentage in 28 games despite facing 1,023 shots, the NHL’s second-highest total.

Detroit’s Jimmy ... Read the full article

Interim coach Ted Nolan wants to make Sabres work, evaluate new players

BUFFALO – Ted Nolan said he’s a straightforward type of guy. So after taking over as interim coach Wednesday, the 55-year-old requested one thing from the Sabres, whose work ethic has been lacking during their awful 4-15-1 start.

“The only thing I asked is you compete,” Nolan, the Sabres’ coach from 1995-97, said following practice inside the First Niagara Center. “Some guys play 25 minutes. Some guys play three minutes. To work for three minutes, ... Read the full article

Feeble Sabres fall to Penguins, left searching for answers

PITTSBURGH – Three defeats. Two goals. One team going nowhere fast.

For the first time in their 43-year history, the Buffalo Sabres have started a season with three consecutive losses.

In Saturday’s setback, a 4-1 loss to the high-powered Penguins before 18,641 fans inside the Consol Energy Center, the Sabres’ goal drought went on the length of more than two full games before Thomas Vanek scored with 4:54 left in the contest.

“It’s the same ... Read the full article