Rochester Americans - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres goalie Matt Hackett ready for start, must deal with soreness

BUFFALO – Almost a year later, Matt Hackett hasn’t fully recovered from his torn right ACL. The goalie still experiences soreness after games, so the Sabres want him to rest.

The 25-year-old performed strongly in Saturday’s 3-0 loss in Nashville, making 40 saves. But Sabres coach Ted Nolan started Anders Lindback on Monday in Dallas.

Hackett will likely start tonight’s contest against the Arizona Coyotes, his fourth nod this season.

“He fought through a long ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Ted Nolan: ‘If somebody wants to finish last, good for them’

BUFFALO – Oh, Ted Nolan knows. The coach likely understands the Sabres’ rabid fan base will root against them throughout Thursday’s highly anticipated tilt against the Arizona Coyotes. A loss would almost guarantee the Sabres either Connor McDavid or Jack Eichel in June.

Nolan can’t say much, however.

“I can’t control what other people think and what other people do,” Nolan said this afternoon inside the First Niagara Center. “The only thing I know is ... Read the full article

Sabres recall Tim Schaller from Amerks

With Tyler Ennis ill and Jerry D’Amigo recovering from a high-stick, the Buffalo Sabres have recalled Tim Schaller from Rochester for tonight’s road game against the Dallas Stats.

Schaller has one goal and two points in 13 NHL games this season. The Sabres sent him back to the Americans on Friday.

The 24-year-old has 15 goals and 40 points in 58 AHL contests.... Read the full article

Steve Bernier earns new claim to fame in Devils’ win over Sabres

BUFFALO – During a 17-game run with the Sabres late in 2007-08, Steve Bernier mustered only three goals, two of which he scored in his first game. The winger mostly disappeared after that, and he was quietly traded to Vancouver months later.

Mention Bernier’s name around some Sabres fans, and inevitably someone will bring up his rollicking debut.

Now, after Bernier’s two-goal performance Friday in the New Jersey Devils’ 3-1 win against the Sabres, the ... Read the full article

Sabres recall Mikhail Grigorenko, send Tim Schaller and Chad Ruhwedel to Amerks

BUFFALO – The Sabres recalled center Mikhail Grigorenko from Rochester this afternoon and sent center Tim Schaller and defenseman Chad Ruhwedel down.

Grigorenko’s sixth recall this season is another opportunity for the 20-year-old to prove he belongs in the NHL. So far, the Russian, the No. 12 pick in 2012, has compiled only one goal and two points in 13 outings this season.

The Sabres host the New Jersey Devils tonight at the First Niagara ... Read the full article

Ted Nolan on Sabres’ Tyler Ennis: ‘The sky’s the limit’

BUFFALO – On an anemic team about to break its own dubious record for fewest goals scored in modern NHL history, slick Sabres winger Tyler Ennis has 18 goals.

The 25-year-old scored 21 times last season, when the Sabres scored only 150 goals. They have 126 goals through 70 games this season, a pathetic 148-score pace.

Through all the turmoil, through all the losses, Ennis has remained a consistent offensive threat with neophytes feeding him ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Patrick Kaleta nearing return from knee injury

BUFFALO – If Patrick Kaleta keeps progressing, the Sabres winger will likely miss three more games and return from his knee injury next Thursday against Arizona.

“It’s just how it reacts to battle drills and divots and all that sort of stuff,” Kaleta said Thursday after his first full practice. “I have more mobility in my knee now, so it’s building up the strength and getting the movements down. Once you start doing things that ... Read the full article

Top Sabres prospect Sam Reinhart perfecting game back in junior

BUFFALO – These are the final weeks of top Sabres prospect Sam Reinhart’s spectacular junior career.

As expected, the slick 19-year-old has dominated the Western Hockey League in his five months back with the Kootenay Ice, compiling 18 goals and 59 points in only 44 games.

But hockey observers knew Reinhart, the No. 2 pick in June, would be a superstar playing among teenagers again. The Sabres sent the intelligent center back to junior ... Read the full article

Sabres think 3-on-3 overtime format would work

BUFFALO – To Sabres center Matt Ellis, the AHL’s experiment with three-on-three overtime this season has created “a really exciting brand” of hockey.

The extra space allows players to freewheel all over the ice and have fun. Systems become an afterthought.

“The speed and the skill really shines through, the amount of open ice,” Ellis, who played 38 games in Rochester this season, said Monday prior to the Sabres’ 4-3 shootout loss to the ... Read the full article

Sabres plan to recall Chad Ruhwedel from Amerks

BUFFALO – Get ready to see another defenseman play for the Sabres. With Zach Bogosian and Andrej Meszaros injured, the club will likely recall Chad Ruhwedel from Rochester for tonight’s tilt against the Washington Capitals, coach Ted Nolan said.

The 24-year-old Ruhwedel would be the 11^th defenseman to dress for the Sabres this year.

Update: The Sabres have officially recalled Ruhwedel.

Bogosian’s lower-body injury hasn’t improved, Nolan said. Meanwhile, Meszaros, who hurt his hand ... Read the full article