Taylor Fedun has scored two NHL goals. ©2017, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres’ Taylor Fedun waiting for another goal

TORONTO – On a delayed penalty early in Monday afternoon’s 4-1 win, Buffalo Sabres defenseman Taylor Fedun thought he had scored his third NHL goal.

The puck went in the net, the horn sounded and the crowd cheered. The officials, however, had blown the play dead when Dallas goalie Kari Lehtonen made a quick save.

No goal.

“I thought it was just a rebound off the goalie,” Fedun said this afternoon inside the Air ... Read the full article

The Sabres traded Drew Stafford in 2015. ©2017, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres notes: Early-season concussions scared Jets’ Drew Stafford

BUFFALO – Drew Stafford’s season started ominously. In a Winnipeg Jets preseason game, the former Sabres winger suffered two injuries from one hit.

At first, Stafford thought the thump from Ottawa’s Michael Blunden had only hurt his shoulder.

“I also didn’t realize it at the time – I felt like I was OK – but I had some concussion symptoms early on then, because I hit my head and my shoulder into the boards,” Stafford ... Read the full article

Robin Lehner will make his 27th start. ©2017, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres goalie Robin Lehner to start against Jets

BUFFALO – After sitting out two straight games, Sabre goalie Robin Lehner will make his 27th start of the season this afternoon against the Winnipeg Jets.

Backup Anders Nilsson played the last two contests.

The Sabres will make one other lineup change, inserting defenseman Justin Falk, a healthy scratch for Thursday’s 4-3 overtime loss in Chicago, for Taylor Fedun, coach Dan Bylsma said.

Update: Defenseman Josh Gorges, who’s been battling a hip problem, ... Read the full article

Taylor Fedun played eight NHL games earlier this season. ©2017, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres recall Taylor Fedun from Amerks

BUFFALO – With defenseman Josh Gorges battling a hip pointer, the Sabres recalled Taylor Fedun from the Rochester Americans this afternoon.

The Sabres start a two-game road trip tonight against the New York Rangers.

Fedun, 28, compiled four assists during an eight-game NHL stint earlier this season. In 20 AHL appearances this season, the Princeton product has four goals and points, tops among Amerks defensemen. His .85 points a game ranks ninth among AHL defensemen.... Read the full article

Taylor Fedun played eight games with the Sabres. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres send Taylor Fedun to Amerks

BUFFALO – The Sabres sent defenseman Taylor Fedun back to the Rochester Americans today.

Fedun, 28, played eight games, recording four assists, all in his first three appearances. The Princeton product hasn’t played since hurting his shoulder Dec. 3. He started practicing again earlier this week.

The Amerks host the St. John’s IceCaps tonight. Fedun has two goals and 12 points in 14 games for the AHL club this season.

Update: Defenseman Zach Bogosian will ... Read the full article

Kyle Okposo played nine seasons with the Islanders. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres’ Kyle Okposo couldn’t wait to face Islanders

BUFFALO – Months ago, coach Dan Bylsma and Kyle Okposo talked about different scenarios for the Sabres’ big offseason acquisition in the upcoming season.

Bylsma said he wanted Okposo, 28, to understand he didn’t have to carry the load after signing a seven-year, $42 million contract.

During that conversation, Bylsma said Okposo only talked about one game on the 2016-17 schedule – Friday’s tilt against the New York Islanders, the winger’s first meeting against ... Read the full article

Kyle Okposo (21) skates away from Los Angeles’ Drew Doughty on Tuesday. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres’ Kyle Okposo excited to face Islanders

BUFFALO – A reflective Kyle Okposo couldn’t stop smiling this morning talking about the New York Islanders, a team he said he “grew up” with for nine years.

Okposo, who signed a seven-year, $42 million contract with the Sabres on July 1, will face his old team for the first time tonight.

“I left there and I was a veteran guy, I was one of the guys that had been there the longest,” an excited ... Read the full article

Zach Bogosian could play soon. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres’ defense finally getting healthy

BUFFALO – A couple of quick updates from HarborCenter, where the Sabres practiced almost an hour today following a day off:

Zach Bogosian (knee) and Taylor Fedun (shoulder) practiced today, giving the Sabres eight defensemen for the session.

When they return, the Sabres likely won’t keep eight defenders. They might, however, keep seven.

“We haven’t been at that situation the whole year long,” said coach Dan Bylsma, whose Sabres host the New York Islanders ... Read the full article

Kyle Okposo moved beside Jack Eichel today. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres change up top lines

BUFFALO – When you rank last in the NHL in goals and are coming off your 12th one-goal outing this season, line changes are expected.

So Sabres coach Dan Bylsma switched the right wingers on his top two lines today, putting Kyle Okposo beside center Jack Eichel and Evander Kane and Sam Reinhart with center Ryan O’Reilly and William Carrier.

“A little shakeup in the line combinations,” Sabres coach Dan Bylsma said inside HarborCenter.

Expect ... Read the full article

Brendan Guhle (45) sticks his glove in Tim Schaller’s face last Saturday. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Brendan Guhle’s short stint leaves positive impression on Sabres

BUFFALO – In his first three NHL games, defenseman Brendan Guhle showcased consistency and poise, performing like a veteran, not a 19-year-old rookie the Sabres recalled from junior hockey on an emergency basis.

Guhle, less than a week into his big league career, quickly became one of the team’s top defensemen, helping solidify the injury-ravaged blue line.

But defensemen Josh Gorges and Dmitry Kulikov returned from injuries for Friday’s 4-1 loss to the Washington Capitals, ... Read the full article