Josefson - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres’ Nathan Beaulieu, Jacob Josefson return to practice

BUFFALO – On Dec. 2 in Pittsburgh, defenseman Nathan Beaulieu felt sick but tried gutting out some minutes for the reeling Sabres.

Beaulieu said he vomited twice on the bench before leaving the 5-1 loss to the Penguins.

“It just wasn’t the right thing to do, to be around my team,” Beaulieu said this afternoon following the Sabres’ optional practice. “It wasn’t fair to them.”... Read the full article

Sabres promote Jordan Nolan to scoring line

BUFFALO – To ignite the NHL’s worst offense, Sabres coach Phil Housley has been changing lines almost every day, moving players up and down the lineup.

So it wasn’t shocking to see winger Jordan Nolan, who has scored 22 times in 315 career NHL games, at left wing on a “scoring” line beside center Ryan O’Reilly and Kyle Okposo during this morning’s practice.

When you’ve been blanked in two straight games, promoting a fourth-liner ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Jacob Josefson out 4 to 6 weeks; Seth Griffith sent to Amerks

BUFFALO – Sabres center Jacob Josefson is out four to six weeks after tweaking the ankle that recently sidelined him, coach Phil Housley said. Winger Seth Griffith, meanwhile, cleared waivers today and was assigned to the AHL.

So, does that mean a forward will be recalled from the Rochester Americans? Housley said that would be decided Tuesday.

For now, winger Matt Moulson, a healthy scratch the last six games, is slotted to return for ... Read the full article

All-around effort helps Sabres beat Oilers, end losing streak

BUFFALO – By Jack Eichel’s standards, the shot the Sabres center pumped on Edmonton Oilers goalie Laurent Brossoit 43 seconds into the third period of Friday’s 3-1 win was pretty weak.

Eichel possesses a lethal wrist shot, a weapon the Sabres sorely want the slick youngster to utilize more frequently. Of course, plenty of players must develop a shooting mentality.

Following the second period of a victory that ended the Sabres’ seven-game losing streak, coach ... Read the full article

Sabres defensemen Zach Bogosian, Rasmus Ristolainen close to playing

BUFFALO – It can be argued no one was more excited about Phil Housley taking over the Sabres than defenseman Zach Bogosian.

Throughout training camp, Bogosian looked refreshed by the coach’s presence. Housley, a Hall of Fame defenseman, would finally help Bogosian unleash his potential, right?

Then Bogosian said he “just felt a tweak” in the third period of the preseason finale Sept. 29. The Massena native hasn’t played since suffering the lower-body injury.... Read the full article

Sabres’ Jacob Josefson ready to play

BUFFALO – Following his first full team practice since spraining his ankle Oct. 15, Sabres center Jacob Josefson pronounced himself ready to play.

“I’m anxious to get in,” Josefson said this afternoon inside KeyBank Center. “I’ve been on the side a while. I’m ready whenever they want me.”

So will Josefson, who has missed 15 games, return for Wednesday’s home tilt against the Minnesota Wild?... Read the full article

Sabres’ Jack Eichel shuffled around lineup against Blue Jackets

BUFFALO – The optics showed Jack Eichel had been demoted. For most of Monday, the slick Sabres center skated between Zemgus Girgensons and Jason Pominville, one of four new lines coach Phil Housley assembled.

Based on recent production, the trio Eichel briefly skated on was the third line. Just don’t tell Housley.

“There’s no third line,” Housley said prior to Monday’s 3-2 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets inside KeyBank Center.... Read the full article

Line switches put Sabres’ Jack Eichel with new wingers

BUFFALO – The optics say Jack Eichel has been demoted. This morning, the slick Sabres center skated between Zemgus Girgensons and Jason Pominville, one of four new lines coach Phil Housley assembled.

Based on recent production, Eichel’s trio is the third line. Just don’t tell Housley, whose Sabres have lost five straight games (0-3-2).

“There’s no third line,” Housley said this morning after the Sabres prepared for tonight’s tilt against the Columbus Blue Jackets inside ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Jason Pominville moving around lineup

BUFFALO – Moving Jason Pominville off the Sabres’ top line wasn’t related to the veteran winger’s performance, coach Phil Housley said.

“He was playing terrific,” Housley said prior to Saturday’s 3-1 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes inside KeyBank Center. “We’re trying to spark some other lines and find some balance.”

Housley shifted Pominville to right wing beside center Johan Larsson and Seth Griffith or Matt Moulson last Saturday. Sam Reinhart, meanwhile, moved from his ... Read the full article

Sabres goalie Chad Johnson not worried about numbers

BUFFALO – In eight games this season, Sabres goalie Chad Johnson has accumulated some pretty weak numbers: 1-3-2 with a 3.55 goals-against average and an .885 save percentage.

Those statistics, even with scoring up six weeks into the season, won’t win many games.

Of course, the reeling Sabres, who rank last in the Eastern Conference, have allowed 3.5 goals a game as a team, the NHL’s third-worst total. Their porous defense consistently hangs the goalie ... Read the full article