Ryan O’Reilly has missed 11 games. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Ryan O’Reilly’s return means Sabres will switch up lines

BUFFALO – The sample size, of course, is pretty small – barely eight games over the last two weeks. Still, the line comprised of slick rookies Jack Eichel and Sam Reinhart and young veteran Evander Kane has given the Sabres a legitimate No. 1 NHL scoring combination for the first time in years.

Think back a bit. When was the last time the Sabres had a top trio on par with some of the league’s ... Read the full article

Ryan O’Reilly (90) battles Tampa Bay’s Vladislav Namestnikov on Nov. 5. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres’ Ryan O’Reilly close to returning

BUFFALO – On Saturday morning, after skating 90 minutes before the Sabres’ afternoon game, center Ryan O’Reilly told coach Dan Bylsma he was ready to return from a right foot injury.

Keep in mind that O’Reilly hadn’t even participated in a full practice with his teammates yet. That was only his second time on the ice since getting hurt Feb. 19.

“He came off the ice and decided, ‘Oh, I can play today. I’m ... Read the full article

Jack Eichel celebrates his first goal Saturday afternoon. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres rookie Jack Eichel beats buzzer for overtime winner

BUFFALO – Sabres winger Evander Kane likes to practice the long backhand flips like the one that created rookie Jack Eichel’s slick breakaway winner with one second left in overtime Saturday afternoon.

“They’re helpful when you get caught on a line change,” Kane said following the Sabres’ thrilling 3-2 win against the Carolina Hurricanes. “It’s kind of like a punt, four seconds of hang time in the air and you can kind of get off ... Read the full article

Carlo Colaiacovo was scratched for more than two months. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres’ Carlo Colaiacovo happy to have regular duty

BUFFALO – For 10 weeks, as Carlo Colaiacovo sat game after game – 30 out of 32, including a whopping 15 straight – the Sabres defenseman kept giving coach Dan Bylsma a message.

“Every game he was, ‘I’m ready to go,’” Bylsma said prior to Saturday afternoon’s 3-2 overtime win against the Carolina Hurricanes inside the First Niagara Center.

These days, even with Colaiacovo, 33, dressing regularly again – he played his 10th straight ... Read the full article

Evander Kane said he did nothing wrong. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres’ Evander Kane happy investigation over

BUFFALO – A relieved-looking Evander Kane said this morning he’s happy he won’t be charged after a 74-day investigation into a sexual encounter he had Dec. 27 at a downtown hotel.

“I’m definitely happy that the process is behind me,” the Sabres winger said. “I’m very grateful with the support I got from the Buffalo Sabres and my teammates and family members as well. I’m thankful that this is behind me and we can move ... Read the full article

Marcus Foligno believes the Sabres play opponents tough. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres want to keep building identity

BUFFALO – Right away, five months ago, the Sabres passed the eye test. Following two wretched seasons, the rebuilt club immediately looked like, well, a real team again.

While this campaign has still been rough – they rank seventh in the Atlantic Division and 26th overall – the Sabres believe they’ve started creating a strong identity they can carry into the future.

The new-look team (27-33-9) has morphed back into a competitive outfit in ... Read the full article

Evander Kane is in his first season with the Sabres. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres’ Evander Kane won’t be charged after investigation

BUFFALO – Evander Kane won’t be charged after an investigation into a sexual encounter the Sabres winger had Dec. 27 at a downtown hotel.

The Erie County District Attorney’s Office and the Buffalo Police sex offense squad followed automatic protocols and determined Kane, 24, did nothing illegal. No criminal complaint was ever filed.

“After careful and diligent examination of all the known facts, including the results of forensic and toxicology testing, neither the provable facts ... Read the full article

Ryan O’Reilly skated today. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres’ Ryan O’Reilly skates for first time since injury

BUFFALO – If Sabres center Ryan O’Reilly had his way, he might’ve stayed out for hours. But the rink inside HarborCenter was only available until 1:30 p.m., so the NHL All-Star’s first skate since hurting his right foot three weeks ago ended a little early.

“Kind of kicked off, I guess,” O’Reilly said after walking back to the First Niagara Center.

O’Reilly, who was joined by defenseman Cody Franson, skated at least 90 minutes.

O’Reilly, ... Read the full article

Brian Gionta (12) battles the New York Rangers’ Brady Skjei on Tuesday. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres captain Brian Gionta happy back in checking role

BUFFALO – What’s new for Sabres captain Brian Gionta is really old.

As a youngster with the New Jersey Devils, years before he developed into an often lethal scoring threat, the diminutive winger won a Stanley Cup in 2003 playing on a checking line.

“I came into the league kind of in the role I’m in now,” Gionta said Wednesday after the Sabres prepared for tonight’s road tilt against the Montreal Canadiens, the team he ... Read the full article

Robin Lehner was pulled Tuesday. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres’ Ryan O’Reilly itching to return; Robin Lehner to start Thursday

BUFFALO – As Ryan O’Reilly nears the three-week mark of his injury, the Sabres are starting to see more of their No. 1 center around the rink.

O’Reilly, who hurt his right foot Feb. 19 in Columbus, has started attending meetings and watching practice from the bench, Sabres coach Dan Bylsma said.

“He’s even chirping the coaches a little bit in practice,” Bylsma said this afternoon. “He’s trying to get as close as he ... Read the full article