Montreal Canadiens - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Canadiens’ Brian Flynn grateful for Sabres career

BUFFALO – Having played in Montreal as a member of the Sabres, forward Brian Flynn knew about the city’s passionate support for the Canadiens.

Then Flynn, 27, really experienced the electric atmosphere inside the Bell Centre after the Sabres traded him to the Habs for a fifth-round pick prior to the March 2 deadline.

“The playoffs last year, I just remember sitting in the locker room and you could hear the whole entire building shaking ... Read the full article

Goalie prospect Linus Ullmark excited to join Sabres

BUFFALO – If Sabres goalie Linus Ullmark had suffered any setbacks in his rehab following double-hip surgery in April, the worst-case scenario would’ve been a return to the ice in January.

But the Swede, 22, recovered quickly enough to join full practices a month ago and earn three starts with the Rochester Americans this month.

Ullmark dazzled in the AHL, making 38 saves in his debut and 43 on Wednesday. Incredibly, just three games into ... Read the full article

Jake McCabe, Mark Pysyk forming strong defense pair for Sabres

BUFFALO – Their competitions are a bit one-sided. Any game Sabres defense partners Jake McCabe and Mark Pysyk play against each other, Pysyk inevitably loses.

“Yeah, I always beat him,” McCabe said proudly Thursday. “Any game.”

There’s the Rory McIlroy golf video game for Xbox.

“He’s unbelievable at it,” Pysyk said. “He must not have any friends in the summer.”

Then there was the little one-timer contest they had following practice Thursday.

“That’s why he’s ... Read the full article

Sabres trade assets at deadline, weaken NHL’s worst roster

BUFFALO – The Sabres’ deals before Monday’s trade deadline stripped the NHL’s worst team of four assets. Gone are starting goalie Michal Neuvirth, first-line winger Chris Stewart and centers Brian Flynn and Torrey Mitchell, two checkers thrust into bigger roles thanks to the rebuilding team’s shortage of talent.

In return, the Sabres received, well, nothing very notable or of immediate help. Only one NHL player, backup goalie Chad Johnson, came back. They also added four ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Brian Flynn excited for opportunity with Canadiens

BUFFALO – Less than three years ago, Brian Flynn was an undrafted and mostly unknown youngster at the University of Maine. The versatile forward’s signing with the Sabres barely registered with the fan base.

But Flynn quickly and quietly worked himself into a strong NHL prospect.

After less than a season in Rochester, Flynn debuted with the Sabres in 2012-13. The 26-year-old played regularly until they dealt him to the Montreal Canadiens on Monday for ... Read the full article

Sabres trade Torrey Mitchell to Canadiens

BUFFALO – The Sabres have traded center Torrey Mitchell to the Montreal Canadiens.

The 30-year-old, a free agent following the season, has six goals and 13 points in 51 games this season. Mitchell is from Montreal.

Stay tuned for more details.

Update: The Sabres received forward prospect Jack Nevins and a 2016 seventh-round pick. Nevins is a 6-foot-2, 205-pound 21-year-old with zero points and 88 penalty minutes in 32 games with the AHL Hamilton Bulldogs ... Read the full article

Brian Flynn knew Sabres could trade him

BUFFALO – Less than three years ago, Brian Flynn was an undrafted and mostly unknown prospect at the University of Maine. The versatile forward’s signing with the Sabres barely registered with the fan base.

But Flynn quickly and quietly worked himself into a strong NHL prospect.

After less than a season in Rochester, Flynn debuted with the Sabres in 2012-13. The 26-year-old played regularly until they dealt him to the Montreal Canadiens for a fifth-round ... Read the full article

Sabres trade Brian Flynn to Canadiens

BUFFALO – The Sabres have traded center Brian Flynn to the Montreal Canadiens for a fifth-round pick in 2016.

Flynn has five goals and 17 points in 54 games this season. The 26-year-old, a free agent from the University of Maine, signed with Sabres in 2012.

The Boston native has 17 goals and 41 points in 159 NHL games.

Flynn, a strong checker who can play center and wing, played 15 minutes, 53 seconds a ... Read the full article

Jean Beliveau still greatly influences Sabres’ Josh Gorges

BUFFALO – Josh Gorges considers himself old school. He believes defensemen should wear single-digit numbers. So after sporting No. 26 with the Montreal Canadiens for years, the veteran wanted a low number when the Sabres acquired him.

Gorges had a couple of choices. He settled on No. 4, partly because iconic Canadiens legend Jean Beliveau, who died Tuesday at age 83, wore it during his illustrious Hall of Fame career.

Beliveau is hockey royalty.

“What ... Read the full article

Canadiens legend Jean Beliveau inspired Sabres’ Josh Gorges to wear No. 4

Gorges had a couple of choices. He settled on No. 4, partly because iconic Canadiens legend Jean Beliveau, who died Tuesday at age 83, wore it during his illustrious Hall of Fame career.

Beliveau is hockey royalty.

“What ... Read the full article