St. Louis Blues - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres’ Casey Nelson earning keep

BUFFALO – Call Casey Nelson the forgotten Sabres defenseman. As injuries ravaged the blue line earlier this season, he stayed in Rochester, playing big minutes as the Americans got off to their best start in years.

The Sabres recalled Nelson in mid-November. But he only sat out as a healthy scratch before going back to the AHL later in the month.... Read the full article

Sabres’ Johan Larsson surprised by two-game suspension

BUFFALO – Having never been suspended in his 229-game career, Sabres center Johan Larsson figured the NHL would slap him with a one-game ban for cross-checking Florida Panthers center Vincent Trocheck in the face late in Thursday’s 4-2 loss.

“I have no history, I’m kind of surprised I got two games,” Larsson said this morning inside KeyBank Center. “The guy didn’t get hurt or anything.”

During Friday’s phone hearing, Larsson argued he tried to ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Benoit Pouliot trying to regain early-season form

BUFFALO – Late last month, Benoit Pouliot tried something new. After 12 NHL seasons and nearly 600 games played, the struggling Sabres winger removed the visor from his helmet.

“A spur-of-the-moment type of (thing),” Pouliot explained Friday. “I wanted to change some things, so I just took the visor off.”

Will shedding some plastic really help Pouliot? Probably not. But right now, the veteran is trying to break out of a funk.

... Read the full article

Stars front and center in Sabres’ win over Blues

BUFFALO – Jack Eichel set up a nifty goal to Nick Baptiste shortly after the Sabres fell behind 91 seconds into Saturday afternoon’s tilt against the St. Louis Blues. Evander Kane scored his 20th goal, continuing his torrid stretch. Ryan O’Reilly netted the eventual winner on the power play.

Then goalie Robin Lehner dazzled late, making 16 of his 37 saves in the third period as the Blues blitzed the Sabres.

In the Sabres’ 3-2 ... Read the full article

Nick Baptiste scores early in return to Sabres

BUFFALO – A positive trend has developed in the last few months for the Sabres. Each time they recall one of their forward prospects from the Rochester Americans, the youngsters make a strong case to stick around.

Rookies Justin Bailey, William Carrier and Evan Rodrigues have all seized their opportunities and started earning regular NHL duty.

After speedy winger Nick Baptiste’s impressive performance in Saturday afternoon’s 3-2 win against the St. Louis Blues – ... Read the full article

Sabres waive Taylor Fedun; Nick Baptiste recalled

BUFFALO – With defenseman Cody Franson returning from a foot injury, the Sabres waived Taylor Fedun prior to this afternoon’s tilt against the St. Louis Blues at KeyBank Center.

Now, will Fedun, 28, get through waivers to the AHL, or will a team looking for depth add the Princeton product? Fedun makes only $600,000 on his one-year contract and is a right-handed shot.

Fedun meshed well with the Sabres, producing seven assists in 25 games. ... Read the full article

Sabres goalie Robin Lehner thriving with heavy workload

BUFFALO – Fresh off a shutout victory, Sabres goalie Robin Lehner will start again this afternoon, his sixth straight nod and 10th in the last 11 games, the NHL’s heaviest workload of late.

At his current pace, Lehner would play 56 times this season. Today’s tilt against the scorching St. Louis Blues at KeyBank Center will be his 41st game this season, breaking a professional high he set five years ago in the AHL.

“We’re ... Read the full article

Sabres’ offense struggling to score again

BUFFALO – With a slew of established, high-priced forwards and two talented youngsters poised to break out following terrific rookie seasons, the days of the Sabres owning one of the NHL’s worst offenses appeared to be over.

But 15 games into another tough season, the Sabres have scored only 29 goals, a paltry 1.93 a contest, the league’s worst figure entering tonight’s road tilt against the St. Louis Blues.

The Sabres have scored two or ... Read the full article

Sabres trade draft pick to Blues for goalie Anders Nilsson

BUFFALO – After a goalie reneged on a verbal agreement with the Sabres on Friday, general manager Tim Murray said he was open to anything – a trade, landing another free agent or even using prospect Linus Ullmark – to fill the backup role.

With most of the established goalies in the Sabres’ price range already signed, Murray went the trade route today, sending a 2017 fifth-round draft pick to the St. Louis Blues for ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Ryan O’Reilly unhappy after loss to Blues: ‘We’re too OK with losing’

BUFFALO – Before he even says a word, Ryan O’Reilly’s face usually expresses his emotions. The Sabres center looks beaten down after losses, the missed opportunities and mistakes clearly still playing in his head.

So following the Sabres’ fifth straight defeat Monday, a 2-1 setback to the St. Louis Blues in which they blew a third-period lead, O’Reilly called out his teammates.

“We got to hate to lose more,” O’Reilly said. “I think we’re too ... Read the full article