Evander Kane (9) celebrates his goal Feb. 4. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres suspend Evander Kane for missing practice

BUFFALO – The Sabres suspended Evander Kane for tonight’s road game against the Ottawa Senators after the winger “slept in” and missed practice Monday, coach Dan Bylsma said.

A “disappointed” Bylsma said Kane called him and general manager Tim Murray in the morning and told them he wouldn’t be coming to practice.

“Broke a team rule,” Bylsma said inside the First Niagara Center. “We’ll be dealing with it internally.”

Following the Sabres’ 4-1 home win ... Read the full article

Evander Kane (9) won’t play Tuesday in Ottawa. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres suspend Evander Kane for sleeping in, missing practice

BUFFALO – The Sabres have suspended Evander Kane for Tuesday’s game in Ottawa after the winger “slept in” and missed practiced today, coach Dan Bylsma said.

Bylsma said Kane called his coach and general manager Tim Murray today and told them he wouldn’t be coming to practice.

“Broke a team rule,” Bylsma said this afternoon inside the First Niagara Center. “We’ll be dealing with it internally.”

Bylsma also said: “I’m disappointed.”

Following the Sabres’ 4-1 ... Read the full article

Sabres rookie Jack Eichel (15) celebrates his first-period goal Sunday afternoon. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Early lead helps Sabres down Avalanche

BUFFALO – Just like that, for one of the few times this season, the Sabres seized full control of a game early in Sunday afternoon’s 4-1 win against the Colorado Avalanche.

By the 4:42 mark, Avs goalie Semyon Varlamov was on the bench, a lethal Jack Eichel shot and a flubbed 50-footer from Evander Kane his undoing.

Varlamov didn’t even make one save inside the First Niagara Center. Yikes.

“Couldn’t ask for a better start,” ... Read the full article

Sabres rookie Jack Eichel (15) rushes the puck Tuesday with Florida’s Dmitry Kulikov in pursuit. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres fall apart early in loss to Panthers

BUFFALO – Following a dreadful first period Tuesday in which the Sabres imploded and fell behind 3-0 to the upstart Florida Panthers, some frustrated fans booed for one of the few times this season.

Not long ago, games like the Sabres’ wretched 7-4 loss inside the First Niagara Center – a contest hardly as close as the score might indicate – were gladly accepted by a fan base that valued a high draft pick over ... Read the full article

Sabres goalie Chad Johnson makes a second-period save Thursday. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres blow early lead, fall to Bruins in shootout

BUFFALO – Despite blowing a two-goal lead at home and losing a precious point to a division rival they’re chasing, the Sabres felt pretty good about the single point they earned for Thursday’s 3-2 shootout loss to the Boston Bruins.

“We deserved to have better in this game and let it slip away,” said coach Dan Bylsma, whose Sabres have earned five points in the last three games and are 6-4-1 in their last 11 ... Read the full article

Johan Larsson has only two goals this season. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres notes: Johan Larsson playing best hockey of season

BUFFALO – Early in the Sabres’ 4-2 comeback win Wednesday in Montreal, for one of the few times this season, center Johan Larsson drove to the net with authority and narrowly missed scoring just his second goal.

With 8:14 left in the contest, the Swede skated to the crease again and was rewarded with his first score in 20 games, the winner against the Canadiens.

For Larsson, 23, it was his best performance in what ... Read the full article

Josh Gorges (4) has been battling an upper-body injury. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Healthy Sabres defense corps presents problem

BUFFALO – In reality, it’s a good problem. With Josh Gorges ready to play, the Sabres have eight healthy defensemen. Given the rough-and-tumble nature of the position, bodies are always at a premium, especially at this time of year.

Still, Sabres coach Dan Bylsma doesn’t like it much. He’s already had to mothball defenseman Carlo Colaiacovo, who has played one game since Dec. 7. Now someone else must sit.

What will the Sabres do? Could ... Read the full article

Matt Moulson is enduring an epic slump. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres’ Matt Moulson moves up to scoring line

BUFFALO – Don’t call it a promotion. Winger Matt Moulson hardly earned his spot beside No. 1 center Ryan O’Reilly and Evander Kane for the Sabres’ 3-0 loss to the Detroit Red Wings on Friday. The struggling veteran hasn’t scored since Nov. 1, a stunning 36-game stretch.

With winger Sam Reinhart sidelined about a week with an upper-body injury, the Sabres are down three of their top nine forwards. Limited options forced coach Dan Bylsma ... Read the full article

Matt Moulson hasn’t scored since Nov. 1. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres’ Matt Moulson moves up; Sam Reinhart out a week

BUFFALO – Matt Moulson’s move up to the wing beside No. 1 center Ryan O’Reilly and Evander Kane is hardly a promotion for the struggling Sabres veteran, who hasn’t scored in 35 straight games entering tonight’s tilt against the Detroit Red Wings

With winger Sam Reinhart sidelined about a week with an upper-body injury, the Sabres are down three of their top nine forwards. Limited options forced coach Dan Bylsma to move Moulson up ... Read the full article

Jamie McGinn (88) has been perhaps the Sabres’ biggest surprise. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres could be active again before trade deadline

BUFFALO – Don’t let four impressive wins in the last six games fool you. The Sabres still rank last in the Atlantic Division and 29th in the 30-team NHL.

Yes, they’ve improved greatly this season. Still, they’re 11 points out of the Eastern Conference’s last wild card spot entering tonight’s home tilt against the Detroit Red Wings inside the First Niagara Center.

The Sabres are going to miss the playoffs for the fifth straight ... Read the full article