Zemgus Girgensons has missed four games. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres goalie Linus Ullmark to start; Zemgus Girgensons to return

BUFFALO – In the Sabres’ 2-1 loss to St. Louis on Monday, coach Dan Bylsma felt goalie Linus Ullmark was playing so well his team would only need one goal to win.

The Sabres eventually broke down late, allowing the Blues to eke out a victory. But Ullmark’s 24-save performance convinced Bylsma, who had been alternating the Swede and Chad Johnson, to start the rookie again tonight against the Nashville Predators, his third nod in ... Read the full article

Linus Ullmark embraces a positive approach. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres goalies Linus Ullmark and Chad Johnson willing to share net

BUFFALO – Linus Ullmark’s spirited celebration, which has quickly become a regular occurrence when the final horn signals another win for the Sabres goalie, wasn’t premeditated.

When Ullmark notched his first NHL victory Oct. 30, he excitedly got on one knee and pumped his arm low after a 27-save performance in a 3-1 win against Philadelphia. The Swede, 22, never really planned to do it again, but his next three wins were all ... Read the full article

Linus Ullmark has played four NHL games. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres goalie Linus Ullmark earns start against Lightning

BUFFALO – If you dreamed up 10 or 15 goaltending scenarios for the Sabres before the season, rookie Linus Ullmark earning regular duty in November wouldn’t have been one, coach Dan Bylsma said.

But Ullmark, 22, thanks to an injury to starter Robin Lehner and his own impressive play, will start his third straight game tonight against the Tampa Bay Lightning inside the First Niagara Center.

Ullmark, having undergone surgery on both hips in April, ... Read the full article

Linus Ullmark has played only three NHL games. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Rookie goalie Linus Ullmark impressing Sabres

BUFFALO – Three games, that’s it – just a blip in a marathon season. But in the what-have-you-done-for-me-lately NHL, Linus Ullmark’s small body of work is enough to convince some the rookie should be the Sabres’ new starting goalie.

Following a so-so debut, Ullmark dazzled in his second straight start Sunday, stopping 29 shots in the Sabres’ 2-1 road win against the New York Islanders. On Friday, the prospect made 27 saves in a 3-1 ... Read the full article

Pascal Dupuis (9) celebrates Ben Lovejoy’s goal againt Sabres goalie Chad Johnson on Thursday. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres can’t complete comeback against Penguins

PITTSBURGH – A year or two ago, as the Buffalo Sabres rebuilt their lineup from the ground up, a game like their exciting 4-3 loss to the Penguins on Thursday would’ve turned into an utter annihilation.

But against a team that usually destroys them, the Sabres roared back from an early 2-0 deficit inside the Consol Energy Center, their personal house of horrors, tying it before the first period ended.

When the Penguins went up ... Read the full article

Sabres goalie Chad Johnson pokes the puck away from Toronto’s Nick Spaling on Oct. 21. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres goalie Chad Johnson rebounds; Jack Eichel ready for Sidney Crosby

PITTSBURGH – Buffalo Sabres goalie Chad Johnson embraces a simple philosophy following poor outings: Don’t panic, just stick with it.

“I think when you start sitting down and being like, ‘OK, I got to change this, change that, get out here and do this,’ now you’re overthinking instead of saying it was one of those days,” Johnson said Wednesday inside the Consol Energy Center.

Johnson, 29, experienced one of those days Friday, looking shaky in ... Read the full article

Evander Kane (9) is helped off the ice Saturday by trainer Tim Macre and Jake McCabe. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres know Evander Kane’s loss will hurt

BUFFALO – The bad news, in some odd way, was still good for the struggling Sabres. A left MCL injury will only sideline winger Evander Kane four to six weeks, coach Dan Bylsma said.

At least the former 30-goal scorer will play again this season.

After New Jersey’s David Schlemko hit Kane hard into the corner boards late Saturday in the Sabres’ 4-3 loss, it appeared he might be finished as he writhed in pain ... Read the full article

Evander Kane (9) battles Toronto’s Matt Hunwick on Wednesday. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres’ Evander Kane out 4-6 weeks with MCL injury

BUFFALO – A left MCL injury will sideline Sabres winger Evander Kane four to six weeks, coach Dan Bylsma said this afternoon.

So a 2-6 team with only 15 goals all season is now missing arguably its most natural goal scorer.

Bylsma said he didn’t know if the injury is a sprain. Kane doesn’t need surgery.

“It could’ve been a lot worse,” Bylsma said inside the First Niagara Center. “I don’t know if I sighed ... Read the full article

Evander Kane grimaces in pain after hurting his knee Saturday. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres lose game to Devils, Evander Kane to injury

BUFFALO – It’s not even Halloween, and the Sabres’ season is already starting to fall apart.

If losing for sixth time in eight tries wasn’t bad enough, winger Evander Kane left the Sabres’ 4-3 loss to the New Jersey Devils with what appeared to be a left knee injury after David Schlemko hit him hard into the corner boards with 9:31 left in the game.

Kane, perhaps the Sabres’ most natural goal scorer, stayed down ... Read the full article

Jack Eichel (15) battles with Montreal’s Alex Galchenyuk on Friday. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres implode late, fall to undefeated Canadiens

BUFFALO – Just like the old days. For stretches Friday, it felt like five or 10 years ago as the Sabres’ talent overwhelmed the NHL’s best club, the undefeated Montreal Canadiens.

After falling behind 2-0 early, the Sabres roared back, tying the entertaining tilt just over halfway through. The crowd inside the First Niagara Center sensed something special could happen.

Then, just as quickly as it started, the Sabres imploded for the first time this ... Read the full article