Tyler Ennis had surgery Nov. 10. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres notes: Tyler Ennis joins teammates on ice

BUFFALO – Without his explosiveness and the ability to juke opponents, speedy Sabres winger Tyler Ennis believes he’s “pretty useless out there.”

“I have to be able to use my agility, my speed, my quickness to create space,” Ennis said Thursday morning after skating with his teammates inside KeyBank Center.

Ennis, 27, couldn’t do any of that earlier this season. The longest-tenured Sabre said he felt something “gradually getting worse” in his groin. An examination ... Read the full article

Marcus Foligno (right) fights St. Louis’ Robert Bortuzzo on Nov. 23, 2015. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres’ Marcus Foligno fighting often

BUFFALO – In the last four games, Sabres winger Marcus Foligno has fought three times, as many scraps as the young veteran had in his previous 58 outings.

Why has Foligno, 25, been fighting so much recently?

“There’s games where I feel like we haven’t played our best, so you need a spark … you might show a little bit of frustration out there,” Foligno said Wednesday inside KeyBank Center.

Frustration and payback. In ... Read the full article

Tyler Ennis has only played 12 games in the last year. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Tyler Ennis skates with Sabres, has no timetable for return

BUFFALO – Without his explosiveness and the ability to juke opponents, speedy Sabres winger Tyler Ennis believes he’s “pretty useless out there.”

“I have to be able to use my agility, my speed, my quickness to create space,” Ennis said this morning after skating with his teammates inside KeyBank Center.

Ennis, 27, couldn’t do any of that earlier this season. The longest-tenured Sabre said he felt something “gradually getting worse” in his groin. An examination ... Read the full article

Dmitry Kulikov has played only 20 games this season. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres’ Dmitry Kulikov out against Bruins; Cody Franson set to return

BUFFALO – Back in June, when the Sabres acquired Dmitry Kulikov from the Florida Panthers, they envisioned the Russian as a minute-munching partner for No. 1 defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen.

Six months later, Kulikov, thanks to a lower-back injury he has battled all season, has had little or no impact in only 20 appearances.

The injury will sideline Kulikov, 26, again for tonight’s tilt against the Boston Bruins at KeyBank Center.

“It’s something that Dmitry’s dealt ... Read the full article

Jack Eichel broke out of his short slump Tuesday. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres’ Jack Eichel refreshed for second half after short break

BUFFALO – Long after Sabres center Jack Eichel leaves the rink, his struggles still weigh heavy in his mind.

“I take it home,” Eichel said Wednesday after the Sabres prepared for tonight’s tilt against the Boston Bruins at KeyBank Center.

So naturally, Eichel’s frustration was visible as his career-long five-game pointless streak hit as the Sabres lost four straight contests before their Christmas break.

“You could see it in his body language,” Sabres coach Dan ... Read the full article

Robin Lehner saw a doctor this morning. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres goalie Robin Lehner OK after stick to neck; Tyler Ennis progressing

BUFFALO – Some quick updates from KeyBank Center, where the Sabres practiced this afternoon following Tuesday’s 4-3 win in Detroit:

– Goalie Robin Lehner, who took a stick to the throat against the Red Wings, and defensemen Dmitry Kulikov and Jake McCabe all missed practice with maintenance days, Sabres coach Dan Bylsma said.

Lehner, who has an abrasion on his neck from teammate Zach Bogosian’s stick, saw a doctor this morning “as more of a ... Read the full article

Ryan O’Reilly missed time with an abdomenal injury earlier this season. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres’ Ryan O’Reilly out indefinitely after appendectomy

The reeling, last-place Buffalo Sabres will be without Ryan O’Reilly indefinitely after the center underwent an emergency appendectomy over the three-day Christmas break, the team announced this morning.

Update: Sabres coach Dan Bylsma told reporters in Detroit O’Reilly could miss two to three weeks.

The absence of O’Reilly, the Sabres’ top all-around forward and lone NHL All-Star last season, could doom a team dangerously close to falling out of the playoff hunt. The Sabres have ... Read the full article

Alexander Nylander starred for Team Sweden last year. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres prospect Alexander Nylander faces high expectations with Sweden

ROCHESTER – A year ago, Buffalo Sabres prospect Alexander Nylander wowed as a 17-year-old at the World Junior Championship, showcasing his dynamic skills while leading Team Sweden with four goals and nine points in seven games.

So naturally, the expectations this year for Nylander, a youngster many believe was the most talented player in the 2016 NHL Draft, are extremely high.

Not only is Nylander a year older, the eighth overall pick has spent the ... Read the full article

The Sabres drafted Casey Fitzgerald in June. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Versatility could earn Sabres prospect Casey Fitzgerald spot with USA

BUFFALO – If you ask a hockey prospect who he tries to emulate on the ice, most will name some of the NHL’s top talent, perhaps a superstar.

Then there’s Casey Fitzgerald, a 5-foot-11, 187-pound defenseman the Sabres drafted in the third round, 86th overall, in June.

Years ago, before Fitzgerald’s father, Tom, joined New Jersey’s front office as assistant general manger, he told his son to watch defenseman Andy Greene, the Devils’ ... Read the full article

Zach Bogosian fights Carolina’s Jordan Staal in the second period Thursday. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Jack Eichel briefly benched, Sabres lose to Hurricanes

BUFFALO – Jack Eichel was seething. Ten minutes after Thursday’s ugly 3-1 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes, the second-year Sabres star hadn’t calmed down.

Not only had the Sabres just lost their third straight game, coach Dan Bylsma yanked Eichel, the face of the franchise, off the team’s power play for Matt Moulson just minutes into the game.

Eichel, 20, didn’t want to discuss the brief benching, which ended when the Sabres enjoyed a late ... Read the full article