Sam Reinhart (23) joined Jack Eichel in a special club. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sam Reinhart hits 20-goal mark in Sabres’ win over Senators

BUFFALO – The significance should be noted. For the first time in 41 years and only the third time in franchise history, two Sabres rookies – Jack Eichel and Sam Reinhart – have scored 20 goals.

The 20-goal mark has long been a standard in hockey. In this low-scoring era, the milestone has an increased importance.

Just months into their NHL careers, the youngsters drafted second overall and charged with leading the Sabres back to ... Read the full article

Sabres goalie Chad Johnson stops Ottawa’s Bobby Ryan on Friday. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres goalie Chad Johnson temporary starter again

BUFFALO – In the span of six months, Sabres goalie Chad Johnson has been a backup, a starter, part of a platoon with rookie Linus Ullmark and a backup again.

For this weekend at least, with Robin Lehner sidelined, Johnson is the Sabres’ top netminder again.

Johnson started Friday’s 3-1 win over the Ottawa Senators inside the First Niagara Center, his fifth straight victory, and will get another nod tonight in Toronto against the Maple ... Read the full article

Zach Bogosian has 10 points in his last 12 games. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres’ Zach Bogosian playing aggressively again

BUFFALO – The burst might be the surest sign Sabres defenseman Zach Bogosian has recaptured his confident, slick style following months of mostly conservative play.

In recent weeks, inevitably a few times a game, Bogosian will grab the puck, and, like few players can, start zooming around the ice.

Bogosian, 25, has been playing his best and most aggressive hockey this season, logging big minutes and piling up points.

“I’ve been feeling confident the last ... Read the full article

Connor McDavid (97) downplayed hype before his first game in Buffalo. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Jack Eichel, Connor McDavid won’t buy into hype

BUFFALO – Dan Bylsma, as he loves to do, kept accompanying his words with a sly grin. The so-called rivalry between phenoms Jack Eichel and Connor McDavid is a “made-up” scenario, the Sabres coach said Tuesday.

The Sabres’ 2-1 overtime loss to McDavid’s Edmonton Oilers was the first-ever NHL meeting between the “generational talents” drafted first and second overall last year. The rookies barely know each other.

How could they truly be rivals?

“The hype ... Read the full article

Cole Schneider is a Williamsville native. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres make 7-player AHL trade with Senators

BUFFALO – The Sabres sent three AHL players to the Ottawa Senators late Saturday night in exchange for four other minor leaguers, including Williamsville native Cole Schneider, the Binghamton Senators’ leading scorer.

Gone from the Rochester Americans are forwards Phil Varone and Jason Akeson and defenseman Jerome Leduc.

In addition to Schneider, who has 17 goals and 42 points in 54 AHL games this season, the Sabres also acquired forwards Eric O’Dell and Alex ... Read the full article

Evander Kane said his mistake won’t happen again. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres’ Evander Kane apologizes for missing practice

Calling his actions “irresponsible,” Buffalo Sabres winger Evander Kane said Tuesday he had apologized to his teammates for oversleeping and missing practice a day earlier after partying at the NBA All-Star Game in Toronto.

The Sabres benched Kane for Tuesday’s road contest against the Ottawa Senators, the only game the 24-year-old will sit out, coach Dan Bylsma said Monday.

“First and foremost, I want to apologize, obviously, to my teammates for letting them down,” Kane ... Read the full article

Josh Gorges is a passionate player. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres’ Josh Gorges rejuvenated after nightmare season

BUFFALO – Sometimes after a particularly rough shift, when Sabres defenseman Josh Gorges is gassed and trying to catch his breath, he’ll glance over and marvel at his partner Rasmus Ristolainen, an emerging star 10 years younger than him.

“Risto’s sitting there like he’s not even tired yet, and he was out there the same amount of time,” Gorges said Monday after the Sabres prepared for tonight’s road tilt against the Ottawa Senators.

In ... Read the full article

Evander Kane (9) celebrates his goal Feb. 4. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres suspend Evander Kane for missing practice

BUFFALO – The Sabres suspended Evander Kane for tonight’s road game against the Ottawa Senators after the winger “slept in” and missed practice Monday, coach Dan Bylsma said.

A “disappointed” Bylsma said Kane called him and general manager Tim Murray in the morning and told them he wouldn’t be coming to practice.

“Broke a team rule,” Bylsma said inside the First Niagara Center. “We’ll be dealing with it internally.”

Following the Sabres’ 4-1 home win ... Read the full article

Jack Eichel celebrates his first NHL goal. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres’ Jack Eichel scores in NHL debut

BUFFALO – For the first two periods of his NHL debut, Jack Eichel blended in among the other 10 skaters on the ice. The slick Sabres center looked like, well, a rookie playing against superior competition.

Then suddenly, like he somehow matured over a brief intermission, Eichel, 18, morphed into the best player on the ice late in the Sabres’ 3-1 opening-night loss to the Ottawa Senators on Thursday.

“You didn’t see him skate in ... Read the full article

Carlo Colaiacovo wants the Sabres to trust every defender. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres plan to use defense by committee

BUFFALO – With zero stars, minute-munchers or big scorers on their blue line right now, the Sabres plan to utilize a defense by committee early this season.

So expect to see ice time spread out evenly. Trying to distinguish between the first and third pairs might be tough.

“We’re going to rely on all six guys,” defenseman Josh Gorges said Thursday prior to the Sabres’ 3-1 loss to the Ottawa Senators. “Some nights you’re going ... Read the full article