Buffalo Hockey Beat - WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage

Sabres’ Kyle Okposo named NHL All-Star

BUFFALO – So far, just 38 games into his career here, Kyle Okposo has lived up to his billing as one of the NHL’s most underrated scorers. The winger has quietly been the Sabres’ most consistent forward, compiling 12 goals and 27 points, both team highs.

Okposo’s strong season was rewarded this afternoon with a spot in the NHL All-Star Game for the first time in his 10-year career. The Minnesota native will represent the ... Read the full article

Sabres goalie Robin Lehner out against Flyers; Update: Derek Grant on waivers

BUFFALO – The flu bug going around the Sabres dressing room has hit goalie Robin Lehner, so the Swede will miss tonight’s tilt against the Philadelphia Flyers.

Backup Anders Nilsson will sub, his third start in four games. Expect a goalie, most likely Linus Ullmark, to be recalled. Sabres coach Dan Bylsma wouldn’t confirm Ullmark was coming up, however.

Update: Ullmark has officially been recalled.

Bylsma said no other players are sick.

With ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Zemgus Girgensons scoring goals, finding confidence

BUFFALO – Almost six minutes into the third period Saturday afternoon, Sabres forward Zemgus Girgensons kicked the puck along the boards and quickly headed to the net.

A second later, he knocked down Matt Moulson’s shot in front, skated across the crease and swept a backhander past Winnipeg goalie Connor Hellebuyck, the tying goal in the Sabres’ raucous 4-3 come-from-behind victory.

Then Girgensons, normally a calm presence, let loose with an emotional celebration, pumping ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Tyler Ennis tests groin injury

BUFFALO – Before Tyler Ennis can return from a groin injury that has sidelined him 27 games, the Sabres must put the shifty winger through difficult practices featuring rough battle drills and bumping from heavy bodies.

Ennis, who underwent surgery Nov. 10, responded well to the arduous session today inside KeyBank Center. So, could the Sabres’ longest-tenured player be close to returning?

“We’re getting close, just need a few more sessions like that,” Ennis said.... Read the full article

Wild third-period outburst helps Sabres beat Jets

BUFFALO – If the last-place Sabres go on a three-month tear, roar up the standings and do the unthinkable – that’s secure a playoff spot – remember their offensive outburst late in Saturday afternoon’s thrilling 4-3 come-from-behind win.

Down 3-1 against the Winnipeg Jets and trudging toward their eighth loss in 10 games, the Sabres suddenly exploded for three goals in just 4:42, sending the capacity crowd of 19,070 fans into a frenzy.

The wild ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Early-season concussions scared Jets’ Drew Stafford

BUFFALO – Drew Stafford’s season started ominously. In a Winnipeg Jets preseason game, the former Sabres winger suffered two injuries from one hit.

At first, Stafford thought the thump from Ottawa’s Michael Blunden had only hurt his shoulder.

“I also didn’t realize it at the time – I felt like I was OK – but I had some concussion symptoms early on then, because I hit my head and my shoulder into the boards,” Stafford ... Read the full article

Sabres goalie Robin Lehner to start against Jets

BUFFALO – After sitting out two straight games, Sabre goalie Robin Lehner will make his 27th start of the season this afternoon against the Winnipeg Jets.

Backup Anders Nilsson played the last two contests.

The Sabres will make one other lineup change, inserting defenseman Justin Falk, a healthy scratch for Thursday’s 4-3 overtime loss in Chicago, for Taylor Fedun, coach Dan Bylsma said.

Update: Defenseman Josh Gorges, who’s been battling a hip problem, ... Read the full article

Sabres goalie Anders Nilsson impressive in limited action

BUFFALO – Dan Bylsma’s knowledge of Anders Nilsson was limited before the Sabres acquired the goalie in July. Sure, the team did its due diligence on the Swede. But the coach mostly knew about the backup from watching him years ago.

“I saw him as a younger goalie in the Islanders organization playing against him,” Bylsma said Friday after the Sabres prepared for this afternoon’s tilt against the Winnipeg Jets at KeyBank Center. “I ... Read the full article

Jack Eichel knows Sabres lost precious point

BUFFALO – Considering the Sabres earned three out of four points against two NHL heavyweights, the New York Rangers and Chicago Blackhawks, their short road trip was successful, right?

Well, not entirely, according to center Jack Eichel. Yes, they soundly beat the Rangers 4-1 on Tuesday. But they blew a late lead in Thursday’s 4-3 loss, allowing the tying goal with 2:04 left before Patrick Kane scored 56 seconds into overtime.

Eichel doesn’t care ... Read the full article

Amerks’ Cole Schneider, Linus Ullmark named to AHL All-Star roster

Rochester Americans forward Cole Schneider and goalie Linus Ullmark have been named to the AHL North Division All-Star roster, the league announced today.

Both players have spent time with the Buffalo Sabres.

Schneider, a Williamsville native and St. Joe’s graduate, leads the Amerks and ranks second in the AHL with 34 points in 28 games. His 14 goals rank second on the team and seventh in the league.

Schneider, 26, has 12 multi-point games his ... Read the full article