Cody Franson (6) battles Arizona’s Shane Doan on March 2. ©2017, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres must recall defensemen from Amerks

BUFFALO – The Sabres, down a whopping four defensemen, plan to recall two from the Rochester Americans for Monday’s road game in Detroit, coach Dan Bylsma said.

They practiced with only four healthy defenders this morning inside HarborCenter.

Not exactly ideal, huh?

Defensemen Taylor Fedun (foot) and Cody Franson (unspecified) were injured in Friday’s 2-1 shootout win in Anaheim. Justin Falk (bruised calf, two games) and Dmitry Kulikov (upper body, seven games) are also hurt.... Read the full article

Justin Falk has bounced around the NHL for years. ©2017, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Justin Falk grateful for time with Sabres

BUFFALO – On Wednesday, after almost three months of commuting back and forth to Rochester, Sabres defenseman Justin Falk moved his family into an extended-stay hotel here.

For Falk, who has shuttled between the NHL and minors for years, having his wife and two children close by, of course, offers some comfort.

“That helps … just to have a little sense of feeling at home,” said Falk, who said he sometimes made the 75-mile drive ... Read the full article

Casey Nelson has played nine NHL games this season. ©2017, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres send Casey Nelson to Amerks

The Buffalo Sabres sent defenseman Casey Nelson back to the Rochester Americans today.

The rookie played for the AHL club later in the day.

Nelson, 24, played in one game during his recall, his ninth NHL appearance this season. He made the Sabres out of training camp but played sparingly before being sent down.... Read the full article

Zach Bogosian scored his first goal Saturday. ©2017, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Depleted Sabres defense thrives

BUFFALO – In 25 years as a professional coach and player, coach Dan Bylsma said he had never seen it before. In Saturday’s 3-2 overtime win in Montreal, the Sabres dressed five right-handed defensemen.

“Kind of an odd situation,” Bylsma said Monday inside HarborCenter after the Sabres prepared for tonight’s road tilt against the Nashville Predators.

Unlike other sports, lefties are more plentiful in hockey. According to the New York Daily News, a whopping 62 ... Read the full article

Ryan O’Reilly buoyed the Sabres late Friday. ©2017, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Ryan O’Reilly helps push Sabres past Red Wings in OT

BUFFALO – With just over four minutes left in regulation Friday and the Sabres trailing 2-1, Ryan O’Reilly zoomed down the right wall hellbent on grabbing the puck from Danny DeKeyser deep in the Detroit zone.

O’Reilly eventually twisted DeKeyser around, grabbed the puck and skated behind the net, where he zeroed in on linemate Kyle Okposo in front.

But the rest of the Red Wings hadn’t caught up, so a surprised O’Reilly skated out ... Read the full article

Brendan Guhle look comfortable Saturday afternoon. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres prospect Brendan Guhle stands out in NHL debut

BUFFALO – Early in his NHL debut Saturday afternoon, Sabres rookie Brendan Guhle, like any youngster thrust into the spotlight, said he felt “a lot” of nerves.

Who could blame him? A day earlier, the defenseman was in British Columbia preparing for a junior Western Hockey League game.

On Saturday, after the Sabres made an emergency recall, they threw Guhle headfirst into the action, skating him 16 minutes, 20 seconds in their 2-1 loss ... Read the full article

Brendan Guhle was surprised to be recalled. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres prospect Brendan Guhle ready for NHL debut

BUFFALO – Sabres defenseman Brendan Guhle was warming up with his junior Prince George Cougars teammates Friday when his coach gave him some unexpected news.

“Told me I was traded to the Sabres,” a smiling Guhle, who was summoned to help the Sabres’ beleaguered blue line, said this morning prior to his NHL debut.

Actually, the Sabres recalled Guhle, their top defense prospect, on an emergency basis for this afternoon’s tilt against the Boston Bruins ... Read the full article

Taylor Fedun is a productive AHL defenseman. ©2016, Micheline Veluvolu, Rochester Americans

Sabres notes: Taylor Fedun debuts against Lightning

BUFFALO – Had Taylor Fedun been healthy enough to participate in training camp, then perhaps the Sabres would’ve recalled the high-scoring defenseman earlier this season.

But Fedun, who made his Sabres debut Thursday, fractured his foot in April playing with the Utica Comets, the Vancouver Canucks’ AHL affiliate. The Princeton product didn’t begin skating again until the day before training camp started, Sabres coach Dan Bylsma said.

So while Fedun, 28, participated in meetings with ... Read the full article

Dan Bylsma will coach his 500th NHL game tonight. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Reeling Sabres playing close games

BUFFALO – When did we see this type of stretch from the Sabres – lots of dull, tight games they inevitably lose – before?

About three weeks ago, shortly after the season started, when they dropped four straight contests. After a brief turnaround, the Sabres are experiencing a similarly dreadful run entering tonight’s tilt against the Tampa Bay Lightning, the start of a four-game home stand at KeyBank Center.

Having lost five straight games (0-3-2), ... Read the full article

Ryan O’Reilly has missed two games. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres’ Ryan O’Reilly questionable for Lightning; Jack Eichel progressing

BUFFALO – Top Sabres center Ryan O’Reilly, out the last two games with a “mid-body” injury, is questionable for Thursday’s home tilt against Tampa Bay, coach Dan Bylsma said.

O’Reilly, who’s day-to-day, skated this morning on his own and is “progressing,” Bylsma said.

The Sabres held a team meeting today instead of practicing following Tuesday’s 4-1 loss in St. Louis, their fifth straight setback (0-3-2).

The 5-7-4 Sabres have six one-goal losses. In some ... Read the full article