Eichel - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Ray Sheppard’s rookie season still one of Sabres’ best

BUFFALO – As Sabres rookies Jack Eichel and Sam Reinhart put the finishing touches on two outstanding, high-scoring seasons, one name from the team’s past keeps popping up: Ray Sheppard.

Each week, it seems, the young forwards become the team’s first rookies to reach or approach milestones since Sheppard, who scored 38 goals and 65 points in 74 games in 1987-88 before fizzling out and re-emerging as one of the NHL’s most dangerous scorers.

Sheppard’s ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Jack Eichel, Ryan O’Reilly questionable for Devils

Buffalo Sabres centers Jack Eichel and Ryan O’Reilly are both questionable for tonight’s road game against the New Jersey Devils, coach Dan Bylsma told reporters in Newark.

Bylsma said Eichel enjoyed a maintenance from practice Monday. O’Reilly, meanwhile, rested something he hurt in Saturday’s 4-3 win against the New York Rangers.

Bylsma said he expects one to play “for sure.” That’s likely Eichel.

The Sabres could recall a forward, Bylsma said.

Update: The Sabres recalled ... Read the full article

Cal O’Reilly stars in Sabres’ win over Leafs

BUFFALO – Given Ryan O’Reilly’s wide smile and enthusiastic voice talking about his older brother Cal’s exploits in the Sabres’ 4-1 win against the Toronto Maple Leafs, it almost looked and sounded like he had just enjoyed the game of his life Thursday.

But Ryan O’Reilly was just excited to be a part of the first two-goal outing of Cal’s 141-game NHL career.

That Ryan earned the secondary assist on Cal’s first goal – ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Ryan O’Reilly productive during goal slump

BUFFALO – For almost three months, Ryan O’Reilly compiled the Sabres’ oddest stat line.

On Jan. 8 in Chicago, O’Reilly scored his 17^th goal. At that point, halfway through the season, the NHL All-Star was on pace for a career-high 34 goals.

Then, O’Reilly suddenly went dry, enduring a marathon drought before finally scoring short-handed early in Tuesday’s 5-4 shootout loss in Pittsburgh.

In that odd 24-game run, which was interrupted when a broken ... Read the full article

Sabres blow early lead, lose shootout to Penguins

PITTSBURGH – What was shaping up to be the Buffalo Sabres’ most impressive and unlikely win this season quickly turned into a nightmare Tuesday and ended with another loss to the Penguins.

After going up 3-0 before the first period ended inside a stunned Consol Energy Center, the Sabres completely imploded during a disastrous second, allowing four goals, including two late short-handed scores during the same power play.

“I thought we were feeling good, then ... Read the full article

Sabres rookie Jake McCabe knows late-season experience valuable

PITTSBURGH – Buffalo Sabres defenseman Jake McCabe understands how valuable the late-season NHL experience rookies Hudson Fasching and Casey Nelson have been gaining will be for their development.

Two years ago, McCabe, 22, left the University of Wisconsin following his junior year. McCabe loved college and wanted to stay with the Badgers. Still, as a former second-round pick ready for pro hockey, he knew he needed to join the Sabres.

“It made too much sense ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Evander Kane out against Penguins; Ryan O’Reilly to play left wing

PITTSBURGH – With Buffalo Sabres winger Evander Kane sidelined for tonight’s tilt against the Penguins, coach Dan Bylsma will shuffle his lines, moving No. 1 center Ryan O’Reilly to the left wing beside pivot Jack Eichel and Sam Reinhart.

The Sabres’ new “super line” has 62 total goals this season. No one else in the lineup has more than 10.

Bylsma said forward Cal O’Reilly, a healthy scratch the last two games, will return. ... Read the full article

Early Hudson Fasching goal helps Sabres beat Jets

BUFFALO – Prior to his NHL debut Saturday afternoon, Sabres winger Hudson Fasching told his family and friends he wouldn’t know what to do if he scored a goal in his first game.

The affable Fasching, who always seems to be bursting with energy, joked he might “blackout on adrenaline.”

“That was almost the case,” a smiling Fasching said after scoring a nifty goal 8:37 into the Sabres’ exciting 3-2 comeback win against the Winnipeg ... Read the full article

Former Sabres Tyler Myers, Drew Stafford happy with Jets

BUFFALO – Drew Stafford called it a “healthy separation.” The Winnipeg Jets winger said he has no ill will toward anyone here. He enjoyed his nine-year Sabres career.

As a struggling veteran months away from free agency last year, Stafford knew the rebuilding Sabres would trade him. Sure enough, Stafford, 30, was dealt with defenseman Tyler Myers on Feb. 11, 2015 in the blockbuster that brought defenseman Zach Bogosian and winger Evander Kane to the ... Read the full article

Sabres sign Hudson Fasching to entry-level contract

BUFFALO – The Sabres signed winger Hudson Fasching to a three-year, entry-level contract Monday, adding to their stable of talented forward prospects.

The 20-year-old will start with the Sabres immediately, according to multiple reports, meaning the first year of his deal will likely be used this season.

Fasching just finished his junior season at the University of Minnesota, scoring a team-high 20 goals, including seven game-winners, and 38 points in 37 games. The Sabres’ best ... Read the full article