Zemgus Girgensons has one goal this season. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres rookie Zemgus Girgensons on scoring struggles: ‘It’ll come’

MONTREAL – It was here, Sept. 15 inside the Bell Centre, that Buffalo Sabres rookie Zemgus Girgensons first sent notice he wouldn’t be leaving the NHL.

The Latvian winger scored twice in the Sabres’ first exhibition game, a 5-4 shootout win against the Canadiens. Of course, preseason openers are often filled with junior and AHL players with little or no chance of making the big club.

Still, Girgensons’ performance impressed the Sabres.

“That was a ... Read the full article

Jhonas Enroth will start tonight. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres goalie Jhonas Enroth to start tonight against Canadiens; Brian Flynn back in

MONTREAL – Shortly after he took over the Buffalo Sabres, interim coach Ted Nolan said he wanted to play franchise goalie Ryan Miller as much as he could. Sure enough, backup Jhonas Enroth sat two weeks between starts.

But Enroth’s 23-save performance in the Sabres’ 1-0 overtime loss last Saturday in New Jersey impressed Nolan, who didn’t like the Swede’s first start Nov. 16.

Enroth will start tonight against the Canadiens, a team he’s 3-0 ... Read the full article

Ryan Miller could be tending goal somewhere else this season.. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Goalie Ryan Miller will judge Sabres on actions, not words

MONTREAL – Buffalo Sabres goalie Ryan Miller said he’s heard lots of talk about the franchise’s future before.

In less than a year, Miller has gone from backstopping a veteran team built to contend for the Stanley Cup to being the lone bright spot on a rebuilding club already regarded as one of the worst in NHL history.

So the 33-year-old, an unrestricted free agent following the season, wants more than words from the Sabres ... Read the full article

Montreal’s P.K. Subban (76) knocks down Steve Ott on Wednesday. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Late penalty dooms Sabres in loss to Canadiens; Matt D’Agostini expected to join team today

BUFFALO – Tyler Ennis said he was simply trying to hit his spot on the Sabres’ set breakout. Both wingers are supposed to loop. He had no intention of trying to pick Ryan White.

“All of a sudden he was going to my ice,” Ennis said Wednesday following the Sabres’ 3-1 loss to the Montreal Canadiens, their fifth straight defeat.

With the Sabres down 2-1 with 2:58 remaining, a referee whistled Ennis for interference, giving ... Read the full article

Daniel Briere has four goals with Montreal. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Ex-Sabres star Daniel Briere moving into new role with Canadiens

BUFFALO – This is a new phase for Daniel Briere, the popular former Sabres superstar. At 36 years old, the diminutive forward’s clearly on the downside of his career. These days, he’s no longer the guy, just one of the Montreal Canadiens’ secondary players.

But there are still flashes of the old slick Briere. Since returning from a concussion Nov. 12, he has three goals in seven games, including two in the last four.

Briere’s ... Read the full article

Rick Dudley believes Pat LaFontaine (pictured) will find the right general manager. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Rick Dudley could’ve spoken to Sabres about GM job, instead chose to stay with Canadiens

BUFFALO – The Sabres wanted to talk to Rick Dudley about their vacant general manager job. But before they could interview him, the Montreal Canadiens wanted a word with their assistant GM.

While the Habs would let Dudley talk to the Sabres, a team he played and coached with, they wanted to keep him.

To Dudley, who lives in Lewiston, the decision was a no-brainer. He signed a contract extension with, according to reports, a ... Read the full article

Ted Nolan didn’t mention a roster move when he addressed the media this morning. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres claim Matt D’Agostini off waivers from Penguins, waive Corey Tropp

BUFFALO – The Sabres claimed winger Matt D’Agostini off waivers from the Pittsburgh Penguins today.

The 27-year-old has one assist and four penalty minutes in eight games this season.

The Sabres are D’Agostini’s fourth team since last season. He also played for the St. Louis Blues and New Jersey Devils.

D’Agostini began his career with the Montreal Canadiens, tonight’s opponent.

He has 47 goals, 96 points and 125 penalty minutes in 275 NHL games.

The ... Read the full article

Marcus Foligno skates this morning. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres’ forward scratch will be game-time decision

BUFFALO – So, which Sabres forward will sit tonight against the Montreal Canadiens?

“It’ll be a game-time decision,” interim Sabres coach Ted Nolan said this morning inside the First Niagara Center.

Center Mikhail Grigorenko, the last forward off the ice this morning, said he’s playing. Tough guy John Scott, a healthy scratch last game, was off the ice early. The Canadiens haven’t been dressing their enforcer, George Parros. Nolan spoke to struggling fourth-line winger Marcus ... Read the full article

Drew Stafford (left) and Cody Hodgson celebrate the Sabres’ only goal Sunday. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres’ No. 1 scoring line providing little offense

BUFFALO – Just under eight minutes into the Sabres’ 3-1 loss Sunday, winger Drew Stafford created one of the struggling team’s few highlight-reel goals this season by stealing the puck from Detroit’s Darren Helm above the left circle and dishing to an open Cody Hodgson in the slot.

The center then waited for Jonas Gustavsson to go down before tucking the puck past the outstretched goalie.

It was only the Sabres’ 41st goal in ... Read the full article

The Sabres picked Rasmus Ristolainen eighth overall in June. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Last four Sabres No. 1 picks to play tonight; Rasmus Ristolainen set for debut

BUFFALO – Four No. 1 picks from the last two years, including both 2013 selections, defensemen Rasmus Ristolainen and Nikita Zadorov, will skate for the Sabres in tonight’s preseason opener in Montreal.

Expect to see the rebuilding Sabres showcase plenty of youth throughout the seven-game exhibition schedule, coach Ron Rolston said this morning inside the First Niagara Center.

“There’s going to be a lot of opportunity for those players, and they’re going to get a ... Read the full article