Brandon Montour joined the Sabres last season. ©2019, Hickling Images

Sabres’ Brandon Montour out with hand injury

BUFFALO – A hand injury will sideline Sabres defenseman Brandon Montour the rest of the preseason, the team announced this morning.

Montour, 25, was injured in the third period of Tuesday’s 4-1 preseason road loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets.

The Sabres expect Montour, an acquisition from the Anaheim Ducks last season, to be a one of their top defensemen this year.... Read the full article

Matej Pekar loves to be an agitater. ©2019, Micheline Veluvolu, Rochester Americans

Sabres prospect Matej Pekar thrilled to earn spot in NHL exhibition game

BUFFALO – Matej Pekar acknowledged he had been thinking about this opportunity. Sure, it’s just an NHL preseason game. But for the Sabres prospect, tonight’s exhibition represents another small milestone.

“It’s happening,” Pekar said after he prepared for the Sabres’ road contest against the Columbus Blue Jackets, his preseason NHL debut. “I just have to be ready for it.”

While Pekar, 19, is probably a longshot to crack the Sabres, his mix of skill and ... Read the full article

Victor Olofsson was a seventh-round pick in 2014. ©2019, Hickling Images

Sabres notes: Victor Olofsson earns spot beside Jack Eichel

BUFFALO – By late October, as Sabres prospect Victor Olofsson closed a stellar month in which he scored five goals and 15 points, a recall to the NHL felt inevitable.

But instead of summoning Olofsson, 23, from the Rochester Americans right away, the Sabres left the slick Swedish winger in the AHL for almost six months.

The 5-foot-11, 181-pound Olofsson, meanwhile, kept scoring and acclimating to North American hockey, cementing his spot among the Sabres’ ... Read the full article

Zach Bogosian missed Thursday’s practice. ©2019, Janet Schultz

Sabres’ Matt Hunwick day-to-day; Zach Bogosian practices

BUFFALO – Sabres defenseman Matt Hunwick is day-to-day with an upper-body injury, coach Phil Housley said this afternoon.

Hunwick missed his second straight practice this morning inside HarborCenter.

Meanwhile, defenseman Zach Bogosian, who missed Thursday’s session, practiced today and will play Saturday against the Montreal Canadiens, the start of a three-game road trip.... Read the full article

Jason Pominville has scored 15 goals this season. ©2019, Hickling Images

Sabres notes: Jason Pominville odd man out again

BUFFALO – Jason Pominville understands why he is sitting out. Having played 1,052 NHL games, the Sabres know what the veteran winger offers them.

Nine contests remain in a miserable season. The Sabres, who have fallen from first overall to sixth in the Atlantic Division, want to evaluate other players.

So the Sabres scratched Pominville, 36, for the second straight game Wednesday.

“It’s just the situation we’re at,” Pominville said prior to the 4-2 loss ... Read the full article

Jack Eichel will return from his suspension against Carolina. ©2019, Janet Schultz

Ending goal drought would be moral victory for reeling Sabres

BUFFALO – Having completed his two-game suspension, leading scorer Jack Eichel will return for tonight’s road contest against the Carolina Hurricanes. So maybe, just maybe, the hapless Sabres can end their embarrassing goal drought.

Forget about the Sabres’ six-game losing streak. At this point, simply scoring a goal – they’ve been shut out three straight games – would be a huge moral victory.

Incredibly, the Sabres haven’t scored in 197:40, a shocking stretch of futility ... Read the full article

Jack Eichel has recorded a team-high 72 points this season. ©2019, Hickling Images

Jack Eichel set to return from suspension with Sabres reeling

BUFFALO – After serving his two-game suspension, captain and leading scorer Jack Eichel will return for Saturday’s road game against the Carolina Hurricanes. So maybe, just maybe, the Sabres can end their dubious drought and score a goal.

Of course, Eichel’s last outing, Saturday afternoon’s miserable 3-0 loss to the Colorado Avalanche, was one of the Sabres’ worst offensive efforts in recent memory.

So forget about the Sabres’ six-game losing streak. At this point, ... Read the full article

Tage Thompson possesses a lethal shot. ©2019, Hickling Images

Sabres notes: Tage Thompson understands development takes time

TORONTO – Tage Thompson said he views his development as a marathon, not a sprint. Having played only 97 NHL games, the Buffalo Sabres winger understands he’s raw.

“Everyone’s got their own path,” Thompson said prior to Saturday’s 5-2 loss to the Maple Leafs. “It’s going to take a little bit of time. You never want to rush into things.”

So Thompson, 21, has embraced the Sabres’ plan for him. While they’ve kept him in ... Read the full article

Scott Wilson made his NHL season debut last Saturday. ©2019, Hickling Images

Sabres notes: Scott Wilson earning regular duty after stay with Amerks

BUFFALO – When the Sabres waived winger Scott Wilson and assigned him to the AHL in early January, it wasn’t a normal demotion to the minors.

Having won two Stanley Cups over nearly three years in the NHL, Wilson was already an established talent.

A season ago, Wilson earned regular duty with the Sabres, playing 49 games following his arrival from the Detroit Red Wings.

But Wilson, who faced his old team, the Pittsburgh Penguins, ... Read the full article

Scott Wilson hadn’t played in the AHL in almost three years. ©2019, Hickling Images

Sabres’ Scott Wilson contributing again after stint with Amerks

BUFFALO – When the Sabres waived winger Scott Wilson and assigned him to the AHL in early January, it wasn’t a normal demotion to the minors.

Having won two Stanley Cups over nearly three years in the NHL, Wilson was already an established talent.

A season ago, Wilson earned regular duty with the Sabres, playing 49 games following his arrival from the Detroit Red Wings.

But Wilson, who will face his old team, the Pittsburgh ... Read the full article