Montreal Canadiens - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres recall Tim Schaller from Amerks

BUFFALO – With winger Drew Stafford questionable for tonight’s game in Montreal with a lower-body injury, the Sabres have recalled center Tim Schaller from the Rochester Americans.

The undrafted 24-year-old has never played in the NHL.

He has six goals, 15 points and 20 penalty minutes in 20 games this year. The Sabres gave the New Hampshire native a long looking during training camp.

Schaller has 17 goals, 33 points and 58 penalty minutes ... Read the full article

Sabres score fluky goal late, beat Canadiens

BUFFALO – One Sabres goal was scintillating, the kind destined to become a highlight-reel staple. The other goal was, well, pure luck, a rare bounce off the glass.

“That’s the way hockey goes,” winger Tyler Ennis, whose slick goal opened the scoring, said Friday following the Sabres’ 2-1 win against the Montreal Canadiens. “It doesn’t matter how it goes in, as long as we get the win we’re happy.”

The Sabres were a happy ... Read the full article

Sabres captain Brian Gionta ready for return to Montreal

BUFFALO – Sabres captain Brian Gionta doesn’t know what kind of reception to expect from Canadiens fans tonight at the Bell Centre, his first visit to Montreal since a three-year, $12.75 million contract enticed him to sign here.

“I’ll deal with it (tonight),” Gionta said Friday prior to the Sabres’ 2-1 win against the Canadiens inside the First Niagara Center. I’m sure it’ll be weird going into the building. Until you’re back there you really ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Josh Gorges out again, wants to play against Canadiens badly

BUFFALO – Sitting out, watching from the sidelines for more than two weeks has been difficult for Sabres defenseman Josh Gorges.

“I hate being a guy sitting on the sidelines watching,” Gorges said this morning inside the First Niagara Center. “I’m not built for that.”

This weekend might be excruciating for the 30-year-old, who injured his knee Nov. 11. The Sabres host the Canadiens, his old team, tonight, and play Saturday in Montreal.

Gorges, ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Ted Nolan relieved to have Tyler Myers back

BUFFALO – How relieved is Sabres coach Ted Nolan to have defenseman Tyler Myers back for tonight’s game against the Montreal Canadiens?

“Very, very,” Nolan said this morning inside the First Niagara Center. “Sometimes you don’t know what you got until it’s taken away from you a little bit. He’s a big part of our team.”

With Myers (lower body) out for Wednesday’s 2-1 loss to Winnipeg, his replacement, Andre Benoit, gave away the ... Read the full article

Sabres’ defense slowly improving, still mistake-prone

BUFFALO – Twenty-two games into the season, the Sabres’ weak and often sloppy defense corps has combined for two goals, 20 points and a minus-41 rating entering tonight’s game against the Montreal Canadiens.

As evidenced by the Sabres’ recent three-game winning streak, a stretch in which they allowed only four goals, the defense has looked much better – sturdier, you might say – during some contests this month.

Still, it’s a mistake-prone group. And with ... Read the full article

Sabres give strong effort, fall to Canadiens in shootout

BUFFALO – Let’s say it was a busy day at work Wednesday, and when you sat down to watch the Sabres play the Montreal Canadiens, you dozed off until, oh, about 9:30 p.m.

You wouldn’t have missed anything notable.

The Sabres’ 2-1 shootout loss to the Montreal Canadiens before 17,837 fans inside the First Niagara Center was a real snoozer for 40 minutes.

Still, that’s the kind of effort the Sabres, 2-2-2 in their last ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Nikita Zadorov enjoying NHL life, happy to be playing

BUFFALO – It went on for weeks. Each day, 19-year-old Nikita Zadorov, the eighth defenseman most of this season, asked Sabres coach Ted Nolan if he would play.

“He asked me every day,” Nolan said Wednesday prior to the Sabres’ 2-1 shootout loss to the Montreal Canadiens inside the First Niagara Center.

Finally, Nolan gave his assistant coaches a message: “Tell him I’ll tell him when he’s in.”

After sitting the first seven games ... Read the full article

Sabres’ top defensemen could skate big minutes again versus Canadiens

BUFFALO – In Sunday’s 3-2 shootout win against Detroit, four Sabres defensemen – Josh Gorges, Tyler Myers, Andrej Meszaros and Rasmus Ristolainen – skated more than 25 minutes.

Expect to see the defensemen play big minutes tonight against the Montreal Canadiens inside the First Niagara Center. To Sabres coach Ted Nolan, it’s no big deal.

“Twenty, 24 minutes a day is not too hard, I don’t think,” Nolan said. “It’s 24 minutes of a 24-hour ... Read the full article

Ex-Canadiens Brian Gionta, Josh Gorges want to focus on present with Sabres

BUFFALO – Tonight’s not about feeling nostalgic. Sure, respected Sabres veterans Brian Gionta and Josh Gorges enjoyed some specials years with the Montreal Canadiens. Gionta captained the storied franchise. Gorges was their heart and soul.

But these days, despite two wins in their last five games, the rebuilding Sabres are struggling badly. Tonight’s game, the first tilt against the Canadiens this season, can’t be overshadowed by Gionta and Gorges facing their old team.

“At the ... Read the full article