D'Agostini - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres’ Ville Leino feeling good about game

BUFFALO – The numbers, of course, are still bad. Fourteen games into his season, Sabres center Ville Leino has zero goals, three assists and just 10 shots.

That’s it.

But Leino, having played 20:19 and 19:23 in the last two games, is beginning to earn interim coach Ted Nolan’s trust.

Leino will pivot newcomer Matt D’Agostini and captain Steve Ott tonight against the Toronto Maple Leafs inside the First Niagara Center.

In Wednesday’s 3-1 ... Read the full article

Matt D’Agostini ready for any role with Sabres

BUFFALO – Matt D’Agostini had just experienced NHL waivers, what he described as “the most anxious 24 hours of your life.”

The Pittsburgh Penguins, his third team since the beginning of last season, released him Tuesday. The 27-year-old winger could’ve gone to the minors for the first time in four years.

But the hapless Sabres claimed D’Agostini on Wednesday, awarding him perhaps his final NHL chance.

So before D’Agostini spoke to the media Thursday ... Read the full article

Sabres lose Corey Tropp on waivers to Blue Jackets; Matt D’Agostini excited for new opportunity

BUFFALO – Losing Corey Tropp on waivers to the Columbus Blue Jackets isn’t disappointing, Ted Nolan said. Instead, the interim Sabres coach is happy the 24-year-old winger will enjoy an NHL opportunity he couldn’t here.

“Pittsburgh lost a guy to us,” Nolan said this afternoon inside the First Niagara Center. “That’s unfortunate we haven’t got enough room for him right now. It’s good for him to be picked up by somebody else and get his ... Read the full article

Late penalty dooms Sabres in loss to Canadiens; Matt D’Agostini expected to join team today

BUFFALO – Tyler Ennis said he was simply trying to hit his spot on the Sabres’ set breakout. Both wingers are supposed to loop. He had no intention of trying to pick Ryan White.

“All of a sudden he was going to my ice,” Ennis said Wednesday following the Sabres’ 3-1 loss to the Montreal Canadiens, their fifth straight defeat.

With the Sabres down 2-1 with 2:58 remaining, a referee whistled Ennis for interference, giving ... Read the full article

Sabres claim Matt D’Agostini off waivers from Penguins, waive Corey Tropp

BUFFALO – The Sabres claimed winger Matt D’Agostini off waivers from the Pittsburgh Penguins today.

The 27-year-old has one assist and four penalty minutes in eight games this season.

The Sabres are D’Agostini’s fourth team since last season. He also played for the St. Louis Blues and New Jersey Devils.

D’Agostini began his career with the Montreal Canadiens, tonight’s opponent.

He has 47 goals, 96 points and 125 penalty minutes in 275 NHL games.

The ... Read the full article

Sabres’ forward scratch will be game-time decision

BUFFALO – So, which Sabres forward will sit tonight against the Montreal Canadiens?

“It’ll be a game-time decision,” interim Sabres coach Ted Nolan said this morning inside the First Niagara Center.

Center Mikhail Grigorenko, the last forward off the ice this morning, said he’s playing. Tough guy John Scott, a healthy scratch last game, was off the ice early. The Canadiens haven’t been dressing their enforcer, George Parros. Nolan spoke to struggling fourth-line winger Marcus ... Read the full article