Henrik Tallinder will be a game-time decision tonight. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Healthy bodies mean Sabres can send youngsters back to Amerks for playoff race

BUFFALO – Slowly, the injury-plagued Sabres are starting to get some healthy bodies back.

Three injured players returned in Tuesday’s 4-2 loss to Detroit. Now, they might have two more back for tonight’s road tilt against the New York Rangers.

Winger Drew Stafford (undisclosed) pronounced himself ready during Wednesday’s practice, Sabres coach Ted Nolan said. Meanwhile, defenseman Henrik Tallinder (undisclosed) said he’s a game-time decision tonight.

“Hank, he gave me the old 95-percent sure look,” ... Read the full article

Drew Stafford will play Thursday in New York. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres’ Drew Stafford ready to play; Nick Deslauriers and Johan Larsson back with Amerks

BUFFALO – Slowly, the Sabres are starting to get some healthy bodies back.

Three injured players returned in Tuesday’s 4-2 loss to Detroit. Now, they might have two more back Thursday in New York.

Winger Drew Stafford (undisclosed) pronounced himself ready during this morning’s practice, Sabres coach Ted Nolan said. Meanwhile, defenseman Henrik Tallinder (undisclosed) said following practice he’s a game-time decision for the Rangers.

“Hank, he gave me the old 95-percent sure look,” Nolan ... Read the full article

Jake McCabe signed a three-year contract Wednesday. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres rookie Jake McCabe ready for NHL debut

Buffalo Sabres rookie Jake McCabe knows he’ll feel more nerves tonight during his NHL debut tonight in St. Louis against the Blues.

“Even out in the pregame skate, I’m sure my heart rate was getting up there, for sure,” the defenseman told reporters this afternoon in St. Louis. “This is a whole new level.”

The 20-year-old, the 44th overall pick in 2012, played three NCAA seasons before signing a three-year, entry level contract ... Read the full article

Ville Leino fires his shootout-clinching goal past New Jersey goalie Cory Schneider on Tuesday. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Unlikely heroics from Ville Leino and Nathan Lieuwen lift Sabres to shootout win against Devils

BUFFALO – Nine rounds into Tuesday’s shootout, Sabres coach Ted Nolan turned to John Scott on the bench.

“Watch the crowd go crazy on this one,” Nolan told the winger after sending out Ville Leino, the fans’ No. 1 whipping boy, with a chance to win the game.

Sure enough, instead of booing Leino, who has zero goals in 53 games this season, the capacity crowd of 19,070 fans inside the First Niagara Center ... Read the full article

Pete Weber before Tuesday’s game. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Former Sabres broadcaster Pete Weber back in booth after suffering heart attack

BUFFALO – Just 33 days after suffering a heart attack, veteran play-by-play man Pete Weber is calling games again. Incredibly, the Nashville Predators’ 4-1 win Tuesday inside the First Niagara Center was the former Sabres broadcaster’s seventh contest back.

Sitting in his booth about two hours before faceoff, the affable Weber, a popular Buffalo sports voice in the 1980s and 1990s, recalled the scary day.

“Right people, right time and right location,” said Weber, whose ... Read the full article

Jaroslav Halak’s stay in Buffalo could be brief. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres have plenty of assets to offer before trade deadline

BUFFALO – Expect the rebuilding Sabres to be busy prior to today’s 3 p.m. NHL trade deadline. No one’s off limits this year. Remember, new general manager Tim Murray has no attachment to any players on the roster.

This could be the team’s busiest and biggest deadline ever. Today might help reshape the franchise for the next five or 10 years.

Here are some Sabres who could be dealt and their contract status:

Winger Matt ... Read the full article

Zenon Konopka skates this morning. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres’ Zenon Konopka ready to play after finger surgery; Tyler Ennis out tonight

BUFFALO – In Minnesota’s fifth game of the season Oct. 12, Sabres center Zenon Konopka broke his left pinky finger. Still, he wouldn’t leave the lineup. He even fought six times with the injury.

Finally, Konopka, a waiver pickup from the Wild last month, underwent surgery during the Olympic break.

“It was bugging me quite a bit,” Konopka, who will return tonight against the Boston Bruins, said this morning inside the First Niagara Center. “So ... Read the full article

John Scott skates as a defenseman Tuesday. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres tough guy John Scott subs as defenseman; Cody McCormick returns from finger injury

BUFFALO – A day after Ted Nolan told him to leave the ice for practicing poorly, John Scott said he and the interim Sabres coach are “fine now.”

In fact, the tough guy, a regular winger, played defense Tuesday, his natural position.

“I’m surprised that that happened,” Scott said prior to the Sabres’ 3-2 win against the Carolina Hurricanes inside the First Niagara Center. “It was kind of a weird event. I’ve never seen ... Read the full article

John Scott was told to leave practice Monday. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres tough guy John Scott ‘fine’ with Ted Nolan after practice incident, set to play defense tonight

BUFFALO – A day after Ted Nolan told him to leave the ice for practicing poorly, John Scott said he and the interim Sabres coach are “fine now.”

In fact, the tough guy, a regular winger, will play defense tonight, his natural position.

“I’m surprised that that happened,” Scott said about the incident this morning inside the First Niagara Center. “It was kind of a weird event. I’ve never seen that happen before in ... Read the full article

Matt Moulson knows he could be traded. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres ready for hectic schedule following Olympic break, know changes are coming

BUFFALO – Trade rumors have dogged Matt Moulson since the Sabres acquired the winger almost four months ago. But with rosters frozen for 16 days during the NHL’s Olympic break, Moulson briefly got away from the noise, rehabbed his rib injury and relaxed a bit.

“It was good to just go home and train and get healthy again and spend some family time,” Moulson said Monday inside the First Niagara Center.

Moulson and the Sabres ... Read the full article