Buffalo Hockey Beat - WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage

John Scott named NHL’s first star; Sabres rookie Jack Eichel third

BUFFALO – Right now, it’s John Scott’s world … we’re merely living in it.

A day after earning NHL All-Star Game MVP honors as the Pacific Division captain, the former Sabres tough guy today was named the league’s first star of the week.

Remember, Scott, who scored two goals in the new three-on-three format, isn’t even on an NHL roster. The Arizona Coyotes recently traded the NHL’s leading All-Star vote-getter to the Montreal Canadiens, who ... Read the full article

Matt Donovan hopes regular duty with Amerks helps earn recall to Sabres

ROCHESTER – It’s easy to forget, but almost four months ago, Matt Donovan made the Buffalo Sabres’ roster out of training camp and briefly stayed as the eighth defenseman.

After sitting out three games as a healthy scratch, the Sabres sent Donovan, 25, to the AHL, where he has quietly resumed a career that stalled last season with the New York Islanders.

Sure, getting demoted to the Americans was disappointing. But simply having an opportunity ... Read the full article

Sabres goalie prospect Linus Ullmark happy with Amerks

ROCHESTER – Ten minutes after his occasionally suspect 20-save outing ended Wednesday, goalie Linus Ullmark was his normal loquacious self, joking and laughing with a familiar face following the Americans’ entertaining 6-5 overtime win.

Ullmark’s third appearance since the Buffalo Sabres sent him to their AHL affiliate earlier this month was perhaps his toughest game in what has mostly been an impressive rookie season. His teammates frequently abandoned him, leaving Syracuse Crunch players open for ... Read the full article

Sabres send forwards to Amerks

BUFFALO – The Sabres sent forwards Cal O’Reilly, Tim Schaller and Phil Varone to the Rochester Americans today, the start of the NHL All-Star break.

The Amerks host the Syracuse Crunch tonight.

O’Reilly, 29, has one assist in five NHL games this season. Schaller, 25, has one goal and three points in 17 appearances. Varone, 25, has one goal in four games.

O’Reilly is eligible again to play in the AHL All-Star Game on ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Cal O’Reilly waited for fresh NHL opportunity

BUFFALO – For sure, Cal O’Reilly said, the thought had crossed his mind. Before he even hit his late 20s, the Sabres forward knew his NHL dream could be over.

Despite some big league success and gaudy minor league numbers, teams never showed much interest in the playmaker after he broke his leg with the Nashville Predators five years ago. O’Reilly, 29, understood he might have to settle into a career as a very good ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Zach Bogosian regaining old form

BUFFALO – In seven seasons in Atlanta and Winnipeg, two NHL cities a long ways from Massena, Sabres defenseman Zach Bogosian never enjoyed the comfort he has felt playing just five hours from home.

As an upstate New York guy, Bogosian feels he “can really relate to a lot of people in the area.” He’s so close to home his father, Ike, drives to Buffalo for almost every game.

“It’s just been a comfort maybe ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Zemgus Girgensons ready to play

BUFFALO – Sabres winger Zemgus Girgensons, out the last four games with an upper-body injury, practiced this morning inside HarborCenter beside center Jack Eichel and Matt Moulson and should play in Monday’s road game against the New York Rangers.

“Pretty back to normal,” said Girgensons, who hit Boston’s Kevan Miller early Jan. 15.

Girgensons, 22, has struggled offensively this season, compiling only three goals and eight points in 40 games. Still, the Latvian, who ... Read the full article

Sabres goalie Robin Lehner sharp in shutout loss to Red Wings

BUFFALO – So far, three games into Robin Lehner’s return, the Swede has looked every bit like the No. 1 the Sabres envisioned when they dished a first-round pick for the unproven goalie.

After missing more than three months, Lehner has performed splendidly, stopping 85 of the 92 shots he has faced, including 42 on Friday in the Sabres’ ugly 3-0 loss to the Detroit Red Wings.

At this point, 48 games and 29 ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Matt Moulson moves up to scoring line

BUFFALO – Don’t call it a promotion. Winger Matt Moulson hardly earned his spot beside No. 1 center Ryan O’Reilly and Evander Kane for the Sabres’ 3-0 loss to the Detroit Red Wings on Friday. The struggling veteran hasn’t scored since Nov. 1, a stunning 36-game stretch.

With winger Sam Reinhart sidelined about a week with an upper-body injury, the Sabres are down three of their top nine forwards. Limited options forced coach Dan Bylsma ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Matt Moulson moves up; Sam Reinhart out a week

BUFFALO – Matt Moulson’s move up to the wing beside No. 1 center Ryan O’Reilly and Evander Kane is hardly a promotion for the struggling Sabres veteran, who hasn’t scored in 35 straight games entering tonight’s tilt against the Detroit Red Wings

With winger Sam Reinhart sidelined about a week with an upper-body injury, the Sabres are down three of their top nine forwards. Limited options forced coach Dan Bylsma to move Moulson up ... Read the full article