Pittsburgh Penguins - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Scorching Sabres rank among NHL’s early-season elite

PITTSBURGH – You have to go back nine years to find the last time the Buffalo Sabres ranked among the NHL’s heavyweights like they do right now.

The upstart Sabres haven’t roared out of the gate this fast since the 2009-10 season, when they also earned 26 points in their first 20 outings, their second-best 20-game start of the overtime era.

Entering tonight’s tilt against the Penguins at PPG Paints Arena, the Sabres are enjoying ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Zach Bogosian day-to-day with lower-body injury

BUFFALO – Oft-injured Sabres defenseman Zach Bogosian, who played only 18 games last season, is day-to-day after suffering a lower-body injury Tuesday, coach Phil Housley said.

Housley said Bogosian, 28, will be reevaluated later today after leaving the Sabres’ 4-2 preseason loss to Columbus early.

Injuries, of course, have ravaged Bogosian. The Massena native has missed 114 games – a whopping 42 percent of Buffalo’s outings – since he joined the Sabres on Feb. ... Read the full article

Sabres rookie Rasmus Dahlin calms nerves, looks strong in debut

BUFFALO – Rasmus Dahlin never looks nervous. For months, whatever the situation – the NHL Draft, development camp or training camp – the ultra-talented Sabres rookie has always showcased a cool demeanor.

But on Tuesday, before the first overall pick’s NHL exhibition debut, he said he started feeling some nerves.

Then Dahlin, 18, made his first pass, and his first-game jitters disappeared.... Read the full article

Conor Sheary sees fit with Sabres

BUFFALO – In adding Conor Sheary from the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Sabres filled a glaring hole in their lineup. The bottom-feeding club sorely needed a speedy winger capable of scoring goals, especially at five-on-five.

The Sabres now have a left winger they can utilize beside top center Jack Eichel. Having scored only four of his 48 NHL goals on the power play, Sheary owns a track record of producing offense at even strength.... Read the full article

Conor Sheary excited about new chapter with Sabres

BUFFALO – After the initial shock of getting traded wore off, winger Conor Sheary said he quickly embraced what he believes can be a bright future with the Sabres.

Sheary, of course, grew up with the Pittsburgh Penguins, morphing from an unheralded AHL player into a significant contributor on two Stanley Cup champions.... Read the full article

Conor Sheary offers Sabres scoring, valuable experience

BUFFALO – During Sabres general manager Jason Botterill’s tenure running Pittsburgh’s top affiliate, the Wilkes-Barres/Scranton Penguins signed an undersized college winger named Conor Sheary to an AHL tryout.

Today, Sheary, 26, has two Stanley Cups and 48 goals on an impressive NHL resume. But barely four years ago, he was an unknown just looking for a pro opportunity after playing four NCAA seasons at the University of Massachusetts.... Read the full article

Sabres acquire Matt Hunwick, Conor Sheary from Penguins

BUFFALO – Sabres general manager Jason Botterill made his first player trade of the offseason today, sending a conditional 2019 fourth-round pick to the Pittsburgh Penguins for winger Conor Sheary and defenseman Matt Hunwick.

Botterill, of course, knows Sheary from his days as Pittsburgh’s associate GM.... Read the full article

Sabres finally score goal, still lose to Penguins

PITTSBURGH – The most mind-boggling streak in the Buffalo Sabres’ 47-year history mercifully ended 11:18 into the third period of Saturday’s 5-1 loss to the Penguins.

When Jason Pominville one-timed linemate Jack Eichel’s pass by Penguins goalie Tristan Jarry from the right circle, the Sabres scored their first goal in almost four games – 232:09 to be exact – ending a stunning stretch of futility.

The Sabres hadn’t scored a goal since winger Kyle Okposo’s ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Hudson Fasching wants to showcase heavy style

PITTSBURGH – Instead of battling for an NHL roster spot during training camp, Sabres prospect Hudson Fasching started slowly before Buffalo demoted him early.

As a rookie last season, Fasching’s strong camp forced the Sabres to keep him. This year, however, the winger never really contended for a spot.

“It wasn’t the camp that I wanted,” Fasching said Saturday prior to his NHL season debut, a 5-1 loss to the Penguins inside PPG Paints Arena. ... Read the full article

Struggling Sabres make lineup changes

PITTSBURGH – If the Buffalo Sabres want to end their shocking three-game goal drought tonight against the Penguins, they must get more big bodies to the net to scrap for a dirty score.

That’s why the Sabres recalled 6-foot-3, 204-pound winger Hudson Fasching from the Rochester Americans this morning.

When you’ve lost three straight games and 10 of the last 11, you must make changes.... Read the full article