Schaller - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Canadiens legend Jean Beliveau inspired Sabres’ Josh Gorges to wear No. 4

BUFFALO – Josh Gorges considers himself old school. He believes defensemen should wear single-digit numbers. So after sporting No. 26 with the Montreal Canadiens for years, the veteran wanted a low number when the Sabres acquired him.

Gorges had a couple of choices. He settled on No. 4, partly because iconic Canadiens legend Jean Beliveau, who died Tuesday at age 83, wore it during his illustrious Hall of Fame career.

Beliveau is hockey royalty.

“What ... Read the full article

With Cody McCormick still sidelined, Sabres recall Tim Schaller

BUFFALO – Tim Schaller had just eaten lunch and gotten comfortable on the couch Tuesday afternoon in Rochester when Americans coach Chadd Cassidy phoned the center.

“Get yourself to Buffalo tonight,” Cassidy told Schaller, who had been sent down following his NHL debut Saturday.

Schaller hopped in his car and arrived at the First Niagara Center around 4 p.m.

The Sabres summoned Schaller for their 2-1 shootout win against the Tampa Bay Lightning because forward ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Cody McCormick not worried about concussions

BUFFALO – Cody McCormick escaped without even a cut when Eric Fehr’s skate hit the Sabres forward on the chin Nov. 22 in Washington.

“Watching the replay, it was pretty close,” McCormick said this morning inside the First Niagara Center. “I consider myself lucky coming out of that without a cut on my face.”

Fehr’s skate still injured McCormick. The 31-year-old has been undergoing concussion protocol.

McCormick, the Sabres’ top fighter, has a history of ... Read the full article

Sabres recall Tim Schaller from Amerks

BUFFALO – With forwards Cody McCormick and Drew Stafford injured, the Sabres recalled center Tim Schaller from Rochester this afternoon.

Schaller made his NHL debut in Saturday’s 4-3 shootout win in Montreal. To create room for Schaller, the Sabres placed McCormick on injured reserved.

The 24-year-old Schaller has six goals and 15 points in 20 games with the AHL Americans this season.

McCormick is still undergoing concussion protocol. Stafford has a lower-body injury.... Read the full article

Cody McCormick out against Lightning; Sabres could make recall

BUFFALO – After participating fully in this morning’s skate, Sabres forward Cody McCormick left the ice and spoke to reporters about his recovery from a possible concussion.

It was assumed McCormick, out since Eric Fehr’s skate hit him in the head Nov. 22 in Washington, would return tonight against the Tampa Bay Lightning inside the First Niagara Center.

But McCormick will miss his fourth straight game. With winger Drew Stafford out (lower body), the Sabres ... Read the full article

Sabres send Tim Schaller back to Amerks

BUFFALO – The Sabres sent center Tim Schaller back to the AHL Rochester Americans this afternoon.

Schaller made his NHL debut in Saturday’s 4-3 shootout win in Montreal, skating 11 minutes, 52 seconds.

Center Cody McCormick (possible concussion) or Drew Stafford (lower body) could return Tuesday when the Sabres host Tampa Bay.... Read the full article

Sabres score fluky goal late, beat Canadiens

BUFFALO – One Sabres goal was scintillating, the kind destined to become a highlight-reel staple. The other goal was, well, pure luck, a rare bounce off the glass.

“That’s the way hockey goes,” winger Tyler Ennis, whose slick goal opened the scoring, said Friday following the Sabres’ 2-1 win against the Montreal Canadiens. “It doesn’t matter how it goes in, as long as we get the win we’re happy.”

The Sabres were a happy ... Read the full article

Patrick Kaleta and Johan Larsson could be back in Sabres lineup soon

BUFFALO – Patrick Kaleta’s facial injury isn’t as bad the Sabres originally feared, and the winger could miss as little as a month, coach Ted Nolan said Tuesday.

“It’s still serious,” Nolan said inside the First Niagara Center. “It’s not going to be a three-month thing. It’s could be a less-than-month type of thing. So we’re thankful for that.”

Kaleta and forward Johan Larsson were injured early in Sunday’s 3-2 shootout exhibition loss in Toronto. ... Read the full article

Sabres assign 7 to Amerks, including veteran Matt Ellis

BUFFALO – Veteran forward Matt Ellis was among seven players the Sabres sent to Rochester this afternoon.

The Sabres also assigned: forwards Joel Armia and Tim Schaller; defensemen Drew Bagnall and Nick Petricki; goalies Nathan Lieuwen and Andrey Makarov.

Ellis and Bagnall must clear waivers to reach the AHL Americans. Ellis captained Rochester in 2012-13 and last season before earning a 50-game recall.... Read the full article

Goalie Andrey Makarov to start against Leafs, part of young Sabres lineup

BUFFALO – The Sabres aren’t bringing their ‘A’ squad to Toronto for tonight’s preseason contest against the Maple Leafs, but the lineup features a lot of youngsters and bubble players “that deserve to play,” coach Ted Nolan said.

“Camp’s far from over,” Nolan said this morning inside the First Niagara Center.

First, here are forward lines: Cody Hodgson, Mikhail Grigorenko, Chris Stewart; Zac Dalpe, Torrey Mitchell, Brian Flynn; Joel Armia, Johan Larsson, Nick Deslauriers; ... Read the full article