Johan Larsson (22) battles Boston’s Kevan Miller on Dec. 19. ©2018, Hickling Images, Olean Times Herald

Sabres’ Johan Larsson to have hearing with NHL Player Safety

BUFFALO – Sabres center Johan Larsson, who earned a match penalty for cross-checking Florida Panthers center Vincent Trocheck in the side of the jaw late in Thursday’s 4-2 loss, has a hearing with NHL Player Safety today.

Update: Larsson has been suspended two games.

An automatic one-game suspension accompanies a match penalty, although the league can rescind it.

Larsson declined comment through a team spokesman today. Following the game, Larsson said he “pushed ... Read the full article

Sabres goalie Chad Johnson braces for a shot from Florida’s Evgenii Dadonov on Thursday. ©2018, Hickling Images, Olean Times Herald

Tempers erupt in Sabres’ loss to Panthers

BUFFALO – The emotion buoyed them, put the Florida Panthers back on their heels. Winger Evander Kane said the Sabres started possessing an “F-you attitude.”

Scrums and fights erupted late Thursday during a heated Atlantic Division tilt inside KeyBank Center. The Sabres even went after a head.

Of course, this all transpired after the Sabres allowed three straight goals and ended the first period trailing 3-1.... Read the full article

Nathan Beaulieu has battled injuries and illnesses this season. ©2018, Hickling Images, Olean Times Herald

Sabres’ Nathan Beaulieu remaining confident through rough season

BUFFALO – Nathan Beaulieu has never experienced a season as difficult as this one. In less than four months, injuries and illnesses have already sidelined the Sabres defenseman four times.

“Mentally and physically, it’s both challenging, but you got to find positives,” Beaulieu said prior to Thursday’s 4-2 loss to the Florida Panthers inside KeyBank Center. “I’d rather deal with it now than later on in my career.”

... Read the full article

Chad Johnson has two wins this season. ©2018, Hickling Images, Olean Times Herald

Sabres goalie Chad Johnson confident after rare win

BUFFALO – As Sabres goalie Chad Johnson endured 10 consecutive winless starts over a brutal three-month stretch, Andrew Allen kept relaying the same message.

“Don’t change anything,” Johnson said the goalie coach told him. “It’s just you’ve been getting some bad bounces, been a part of some tough games.”

Johnson, who will start tonight’s home tilt against the Florida Panthers, played well enough to win some games during his skid. Still, he hardly dazzled.... Read the full article

Evander Kane has scored zero goals in his last nine games. ©2018, Hickling Images, Olean Times Herald

Sabres’ Evander Kane slumping as trade deadline approaches

BUFFALO – In what are likely his final days with the Sabres, winger Evander Kane said he’s trying to embrace his uncertain future.

Whether it goes down today, next week or hours before the Feb. 26 trade deadline, the last-place team will almost certainly deal Kane, an established scorer set to cash in as an unrestricted free agent this summer.

“It’s not something I really try to block out,” Kane, who was reunited with top ... Read the full article

New Jersey’s Taylor Hall is known for scoring, not hitting. ©2018, Hickling Images, Olean Times Herald

Sabres notes: Kyle Okposo unhappy with Taylor Hall’s hit

BUFFALO – At the 5:31 mark of the third period in Tuesday’s 3-1 loss to the New Jersey Devils, Taylor Hall knocked Sabres winger Kyle Okposo into the boards from behind.

While Okposo bounced right back up, the hit, which only earned Hall a two-minute boarding minor, was scary.

“That’s the play you’re trying to eliminate, right?” Okposo said Wednesday after the NHL fined Hall $5,000, the maximum allowable under the collective bargaining agreement. “There’s ... Read the full article

Kyle Okposo (21) is chased by Boston’s Patrice Bergeron on Dec. 19. ©2018, Hickling Images, Olean Times Herald

Devils’ Taylor Hall fined $5,000 for scary hit on Sabres’ Kyle Okposo

BUFFALO – At the 5:31 mark of the third period in Tuesday’s 3-1 loss to the New Jersey Devils, Taylor Hall knocked Sabres winger Kyle Okposo into the boards from behind.

While Okposo bounced right back up, the hit, which only earned Hall a two-minute boarding minor, was scary.

“That’s the play you’re trying to eliminate, right?” Okposo said today after the NHL fined Hall $5,000, the maximum allowable under the collective bargaining agreement. “There’s ... Read the full article

Kyle Okposo eyes a puck in front of New Jersey goalie Keith Kinkaid on Tuesday. ©2018, Hickling Images, Olean Times Herald

Devils snap Sabres’ winning streak

BUFFALO – Now back to reality.

Fresh off three straight road wins in which they outscored their opponents 11-1, the Sabres, looked like, well, a 30th-place team at home again Tuesday, losing a 3-1 clunker to the New Jersey Devils.

Instead of showcasing what made them successful during their best road trip in years – the Sabres allowed zero even-strength goals – they reverted to their old form, dropping their 16th home game in 22 ... Read the full article

Drew Stafford signed with New Jersey in August. ©2018, Hickling Images, Olean Times Herald

Sabres notes: Drew Stafford adapting with age

BUFFALO – Evolve and adapt, Drew Stafford said. That’s why at 32, an age that often signals the end of an NHL career, the former Sabres winger is enjoying his 12th season.

“You have to or else, the way the game goes, guys are out of jobs or teams move on,” Stafford said Tuesday prior to the New Jersey Devils’ 3-1 win inside KeyBank Center. “There’s always a bunch of changing pieces.”

... Read the full article

Nick Baptiste scored his fourth NHL goal Thursday. ©2018, Hickling Images, Olean Times Herald

Ability to roll four lines buoying Sabres’ recent success

BUFFALO – A commitment to a 200-foot game, not his scoring prowess, helped winger Nick Baptiste earn another recall to the Sabres last week.

Baptiste, a third-year pro, has learned offense starts with strong defense. That was evident when Baptiste scored his fourth NHL goal in Thursday’s 4-0 win in Vancouver.

“It was a play where we made them turn the puck over,” Baptiste said this morning after the Sabres prepared for tonight’s tilt against ... Read the full article