Lehner - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres rookie Jack Eichel beats buzzer for overtime winner

BUFFALO – Sabres winger Evander Kane likes to practice the long backhand flips like the one that created rookie Jack Eichel’s slick breakaway winner with one second left in overtime Saturday afternoon.

“They’re helpful when you get caught on a line change,” Kane said following the Sabres’ thrilling 3-2 win against the Carolina Hurricanes. “It’s kind of like a punt, four seconds of hang time in the air and you can kind of get off ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Ryan O’Reilly skates for first time since injury

BUFFALO – If Sabres center Ryan O’Reilly had his way, he might’ve stayed out for hours. But the rink inside HarborCenter was only available until 1:30 p.m., so the NHL All-Star’s first skate since hurting his right foot three weeks ago ended a little early.

“Kind of kicked off, I guess,” O’Reilly said after walking back to the First Niagara Center.

O’Reilly, who was joined by defenseman Cody Franson, skated at least 90 minutes.

O’Reilly, ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Ryan O’Reilly itching to return; Robin Lehner to start Thursday

BUFFALO – As Ryan O’Reilly nears the three-week mark of his injury, the Sabres are starting to see more of their No. 1 center around the rink.

O’Reilly, who hurt his right foot Feb. 19 in Columbus, has started attending meetings and watching practice from the bench, Sabres coach Dan Bylsma said.

“He’s even chirping the coaches a little bit in practice,” Bylsma said this afternoon. “He’s trying to get as close as he ... Read the full article

Sabres’ furious comeback against Rangers falls short

BUFFALO – Robin Lehner spoke calmly and passionately. Of course, the goalie said, he wanted to stay in the Sabres’ 4-2 loss to the New York Rangers instead of getting yanked.

Despite allowing three goals in barely 26 minutes of action Tuesday, the fiery Lehner believes he was playing well enough “to keep fighting to the end and be a part of a turnaround.”

“I’m a competitor,” Lehner said. “I want to stay in there ... Read the full article

Cal O’Reilly producing for Sabres

BUFFALO – Don’t think of Cal O’Reilly as a late-season recall the Sabres simply added to fill out the roster for a few weeks.

If O’Reilly keeps producing like he has recently – one goal and three points in four games – the versatile forward could perhaps earn a regular role as a third- or fourth-liner next season.

“I always view the roster as about 32 people,” coach Dan Bylsma said today after the Sabres ... Read the full article

Sabres goalie Chad Johnson to start Monday

BUFFALO – For the last few weeks, the starts have come less frequently for Chad Johnson. After playing 32 of the first 56 games, the Sabres goalie has played one of the last 10 contests with No. 1 Robin Lehner healthy and finding a groove.

Johnson, who will start Monday’s tilt in Toronto, hasn’t played since stopping 24 shots in the Sabres’ 3-1 win Feb. 26 in San Jose.

Of course, Johnson understands his ... Read the full article

Sabres blow late lead, lose to Wild in shootout

BUFFALO – Finally, thanks to rookie Jack Eichel’s score, it appeared the Sabres’ first shootout goal in months would help them eke out a win after blowing a late lead against the Minnesota Wild.

Eichel, just 66 games into his career, already has a commanding on-ice presence. His exploits create excitement and momentum, and his first NHL shootout goal in four tries had the capacity crowd of 19,070 fans inside the First Niagara Center buzzing ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Matt Moulson buying into new work plan

BUFFALO – At this point, five goals and 64 games into Sabres winger Matt Moulson’s miserable season, all the work he’s putting in and the revamped training regimen he has been following is about seeing results next season.

Yes, according to general manager Tim Murray, who ripped Moulson on the radio Thursday, and coach Dan Bylsma, the three-time 30-goal scorer is still in the Sabres’ plans. They talk about the veteran, 32, returning for ... Read the full article

Secondary scoring boosts Sabres over Flames

BUFFALO – Marcus Foligno’s nifty toe-drag slickly undressed a defender short-handed. Nick Deslauriers utilized his underrated shot. Then Johan Larsson showcased some supreme patience before roofing the backhand winner in the Sabres’ 6-3 victory against the hapless Calgary Flames on Thursday.

For good measure, rookie Jack Eichel added some power-play insurance, his first goal in eight games, before Evander Kane’s empty-netter secured only the Sabres’ 12^th home win.

The Sabres’ offense has been anemic ... Read the full article

Sabres’ anemic offense wasting strong goaltending efforts

BUFFALO – In his last three starts, goalie Robin Lehner has been the Sabres’ backbone, stopping 100 of the 105 shots opponents have pumped on him, a gaudy .952 save percentage.

For his efforts, thanks to just a single goal of support, Lehner earned zero wins.

“It’s frustrating to let those (performances) go to waste,” Sabres winger Marcus Foligno said Wednesday.

For the first time since 2010-11, the Sabres could have four players – Jack ... Read the full article