Krueger - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres’ Jimmy Vesey practices, hopes to return Saturday

BUFFALO – So much for Jimmy Vesey being week-to-week. The Sabres winger practiced this morning inside LECOM HarborCenter and would like to return from his upper-body injury Saturday against the New York Islanders.

“I got to see the doctor to get cleared,” Vesey said inside KeyBank Center. “If not Saturday, hopefully soon.”

Sabres coach Ralph Krueger said Vesey is now day-to-day.

Vesey was injured in last Thursday’s 6-2 loss, his first game in New York ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Evan Rodrigues generating confidence after slow start

BUFFALO – In their first 13 games, the Sabres have showcased one of the NHL’s slickest offenses, scoring 43 goals, an average of 3.3 a game.

At their current pace, they would score 271 times over 82 contests, their highest full-season total since 2006-07.

Five Sabres have already scored at least 10 points. Fifteen players have registered at least four points.

Only one Sabre who has played more than two games is still pointless: winger ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Brandon Montour ready to play

BUFFALO – The Sabres plan to ease Brandon Montour into the lineup, so the defenseman likely won’t play back-to-back games this weekend.

Montour, 25, injured his left hand in a preseason game Sept. 17, costing him most of training camp and the first 13 games this season.

Asking him to play Friday against the Washington Capitals and Saturday versus the New York Islanders would be a bit much.

“He’s definitely doubtful for two games this ... Read the full article

Despite loss to Coyotes, Sabres finish October in NHL’s top spot

BUFFALO – Jack Eichel’s 23rd birthday started off splendidly, with the Sabres captain scoring a power-play goal just minutes in Monday’s 3-2 shootout loss to the Arizona Coyotes.

When winger Jeff Skinner made 2-0 later in the first period, it seemed like the Sabres could cruise to their sixth straight home win to open the season.

But the Sabres, the NHL’s biggest early-season surprise, have an alarming penchant for squandering two-goals leads.

It happened Monday ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: John Gilmour seizes early chance after waiting 11 games

BUFFALO – John Gilmour had never waited so long to play a game. After appearing in the Sabres’ preseason finale Sept. 27, the defenseman sat out 11 contests before making his season debut Friday.

So Gilmour, the Sabres’ spare defender, patiently waited 28 days for his opportunity to materialize as the blue line remained healthy.

Gilmour, of course, acknowledged being a healthy scratch can be difficult. But he still reveled in the Sabres’ early-season success.... Read the full article

Sabres’ goalie rotation has helped boost early-season success

BUFFALO – After watching Linus Ullmark’s 41-save shutout Friday, Sabres goalie Carter Hutton will start again tonight, his eighth nod this season.

Thanks to their two-game trip to Sweden next week, the Sabres’ schedule is jam-packed.

So through 12 games, Sabres coach Ralph Krueger has mostly rotated the netminders, trying to balance their workload. Krueger even sticks to the goalie plan he and assistant coach Mike Bales have devised following shutouts.

“It’s something that ... Read the full article

Phil Housley happy for Sabres’ success, doesn’t want to dwell on past

BUFFALO – After the Sabres fired Phil Housley on April 7, he wasn’t sure if he wanted to coach again.

Housley’s dismissal after two losing seasons hit him hard. The Sabres, a team he starred for in the 1980s, and Buffalo are close to his heart.

The Hall of Fame defenseman desperately wanted to lead the Sabres back to glory.

“It’s funny, because you sort of think of what you could’ve done differently,” Housley said ... Read the full article

Sabres lose Marco Scandella to injury as Brandon Montour nears return

BUFFALO – For three or four weeks after Brandon Montour injured his left hand, the Sabres defenseman would dress in his full gear and skate around the ice without a stick.

“You can imagine how frustrating and how tough that was,” Montour said after returning to practice today inside KeyBank Center.

Montour, out since Sept. 17, couldn’t grip a stick at first. But he has graduated to full-contact practices and is officially day-to-day.

“I ... Read the full article

Phil Housley excited to be with Coyotes, happy for Sabres’ success

BUFFALO – After the Sabres fired Phil Housley on April 7, he wasn’t sure if he wanted to coach again.

Housley’s dismissal after two losing seasons hit him hard. The Sabres, a team he starred for in the 1980s, and Buffalo are close to his heart.

He desperately wanted to lead the team back to glory.

“It’s funny, because you sort of think of what you could’ve done differently,” Housley said this morning inside KeyBank ... Read the full article

Sabres recall Will Borgen from Amerks

After losing defenseman Marco Scandella in Thursday’s 6-2 road loss to the New York Rangers, the Buffalo Sabres recalled Will Borgen from the Rochester Americans this morning.

Sabres coach Ralph Krueger told reporters in New York that Scandella is day-to-day with a lower body injury.

The Sabres play tonight in Detroit against the Red Wings.

Borgen, 22, could just be insurance for the Sabres. John Gilmour has been a healthy scratch as the seventh defenseman ... Read the full article