Miller - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Miller’s sinus infection will give Sabres’ Enroth start tonight; Leopold back in

BUFFALO – A sinus infection will relegate franchise goalie Ryan Miller to backup duty tonight behind Jhonas Enroth against the New York Rangers.

Miller occasionally skips morning skates, so when he wasn’t on the ice today inside the First Niagara Center, it hardly seemed like a big deal.

But interim Sabres coach Ron Rolston said following the skate Enroth would start for the second time in three games. The 24-year-old only received three nods in ... Read the full article

Sabres could turn to Enroth again following strong effort

BUFFALO – Tonight in Philadelphia, Jhonas Enroth will take a backseat to goalie Ryan Miller again, a place the backup is well accustomed to.

With Miller entrenched as the franchise netminder and Enroth struggling, the 24-year-old has only played sporadically this lockout-shortened season.

The original plan called for Enroth to spell Miller regularly, start about 10 or 12 of the 48 games. So far, 25 tilts into the season, the Swede has only earned three ... Read the full article

Enroth’s start could decide future with Sabres

Jhonas Enroth probably doesn’t have to win tonight in New Jersey to save his job. No, if the backup goalie simply plays well and gives the Buffalo Sabres a chance to triumph against the Devils, then he should get another nod at some point.

Of course, winning his first game since Nov. 26, 2011 wouldn’t hurt. Early last season, Enroth couldn’t lose. Fans wanted the 24-year-old Swede playing instead of franchise netminder Ryan Miller.

As ... Read the full article

Halfway through disappointing season, Sabres’ playoff chances slim

BUFFALO – Forget about merely making the playoffs. Forty-six days ago, a long postseason run felt like a real possibility following the Sabres’ season-opening 5-2 home victory over Philadelphia.

The next day, a 2-1 road triumph in Toronto only strengthened the belief the veteran club could be an Eastern Conference heavyweight.

The Sabres possessed offensive firepower, a deep defense corps, unyielding muscle and a franchise goalie, right?

Well …

The 13^th-place Sabres ... Read the full article

Cody Hodgson’s goal proves how badly he wants to be Sabres’ top center

Finding positives in the Buffalo Sabres’ lost season is difficult.

Injuries and the law of averages have cooled off slick winger Thomas Vanek. The defense has performed so horrifically around goalie Ryan Miller it’s hard to realize he could be playing as well as ever.

Then there’s Cody Hodgson.

Yes, he’s still very raw defensively. But Hodgson has 10 goals and 21 points in 24 games, strong numbers that only rank behind Vanek’s 12 ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Leino finally nearing return; Enroth could start soon

AMHERST – Long before his teammates began practicing this afternoon, winger Ville Leino was skating inside the Northtown Center, testing his injured hip.

When the rest of the Buffalo Sabres finally hit the ice, the Finn stayed on, participating in his first full team full practice since Jan. 18.

Leino, who hasn’t played a game since April 7, believes he could return as soon as next week.

“The rehab’s been good lately, and I’ve been ... Read the full article

Sabres blink first against Islanders, drop to last in Eastern Conference

BUFFALO – Nothing has changed. The Sabres are still a mess, perhaps the NHL’s worst team. Since firing Lindy Ruff on Wednesday and naming Ron Rolston interim coach, they’ve lost both games and scored one goal.

The disenchanted crowd inside the First Niagara Center booed and moaned Saturday throughout an ugly 4-0 loss to the New York Islanders, just like they did during Tuesday’s 2-1 defeat to Winnipeg, Ruff’s final game as coach.... Read the full article

Ruff grateful to Sabres, plans to coach again

BUFFALO – Lindy Ruff tried watching the Sabres’ 3-1 loss Thursday in Toronto. He lasted one period. The team’s former coach found the experience “incredibly strange.”

“I turned it off,” Ruff said Friday inside the First Niagara Center, his first comments since the Sabres’ 6-10-1 start led to his dismissal Wednesday after 15 seasons as coach. “It was something I wanted to but I couldn’t.”

Ruff was emotional, thoughtful and even funny while speaking ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Ron Rolston: ‘We’re the team that blinks first’

AMHERST – Through his first two days as the Buffalo Sabres’ interim coach, Ron Rolston has been polite and quick to smile. It’s hard to imagine the 46-year-old ever raising his voice.

Still, Rolston, who coached the Sabres to a 3-1 loss Thursday in Toronto, assesses his team bluntly.

“We’re the team that blinks first when you have a stare down,” Rolston said this afternoon inside the Northtown Center following his first full practice ... Read the full article

Ruff grateful for long run as Sabres coach

BUFFALO – When Darcy Regier knocked on Lindy Ruff’s door Wednesday afternoon, the Sabres general manager didn’t have to say a word.

Ruff knew his 15 seasons as Sabres coach had ended.

“I saw him, I said, ‘I know,’” Ruff said this morning inside the First Niagara Center, his first comments since getting fired. “I said, ‘Don’t say you’re sorry.’ I said, ‘You’ve been my biggest backer all these years.’”

Ruff thanked a long list ... Read the full article