Buffalo Hockey Beat - WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage

Sabres’ defense corps much improved

BUFFALO – When Mark Pysyk returns from his broken foot later this week, the Sabres will receive a smooth, puck-moving defenseman and have what coach Dan Bylsma believes is a good problem.

Assuming no one else gets injured before Pysyk plays his first game since Nov. 17, the Sabres, who have used the same six defensemen the last 11 games, will have eight on the roster, “not a good number to have,” Bylsma said.

Still, ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Nick Deslauriers out 3-5 weeks with lower-body injury

BUFFALO – Winger Nick Deslauriers, the Sabres’ top physical presence recently, will be out three to five weeks with a lower-body injury, coach Dan Bylsma said this afternoon.

Deslauriers was injured Saturday afternoon in the Sabres’ 4-3 loss to Detroit but finished the game. He was seen today wearing a boot on his right foot.

Bylsma said Deslauriers has “been our most physical guy the last 10 games” as a fourth-liner. Deslauriers has three ... Read the full article

Sabres lose to Red Wings despite two Jack Eichel goals

BUFFALO – When the Sabres hatched their grand rebuild plan and sacrificed two seasons for future glory, they envisioned performances like youngsters Jack Eichel and Sam Reinhart gave in Saturday afternoon’s 4-3 loss to the Detroit Red Wings.

With the Sabres down 2-0, Eichel scored two slick goals – a nifty power-play score and a breakaway – in a span of 3:01 in the second period, igniting the capacity crowd of 19,070 fans inside the ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Sam Reinhart emerges from slump

BUFFALO – Sabres winger Sam Reinhart doesn’t care how his tying power-play goal late in Saturday afternoon’s 4-3 loss to the Detroit Red Wings went in the net. The rookie only cares about scoring his first goal in 11 games.

Just before Detroit’s Tomas Nosek hit the puck into his own net 8:58 into the third period, Reinhart narrowly missed beating Petr Mrazek in front. Reinhart was credited with his ninth goal since he was ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Tyler Ennis week-to-week

BUFFALO – Struggling Sabres winger Tyler Ennis is week-to-week with an upper-body injury, coach Dan Bylsma said this morning.

Ennis, who absorbed a big hit Wednesday from Washington’s Alex Ovechkin, is enduring a miserable season. The 26-year-old recently missed 14 games with an upper-body injury that is unrelated to his current one, Bylsma said. He has only three goals and 11 points in 23 games and hasn’t scored since Oct. 27, a 14-game stretch.

“He ... Read the full article

Sabres still struggling to score goals

BUFFALO – Just weeks before his 37^th birthday, Sabres captain Brian Gionta owns a coveted spot on the right wing beside slick rookie center Jack Eichel.

At an age when most players are either retired or reduced to supporting roles, the Sabres still lean heavily on Gionta in his 15^th season, skating him more than 18 minutes a game in every situation.

“I feel the overall game is there,” Gionta said Friday ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Mark Pysyk practices, nearing return

BUFFALO – With a “little crack” in his foot, Sabres defenseman Mark Pysyk couldn’t do much off-ice work as he spent the last six weeks recovering.

The boot he had to wear for a bit severely limited him.

“I could ride the bike with one leg and both my arms, so that’s not fun,” Pysyk said today after practicing inside the First Niagara Center.

But Pysyk, out the last 20 games, is finally getting close ... Read the full article

Sabres pump 43 shots on goal, still lose to Islanders

BUFFALO – Following the Sabres’ 2-1 loss Thursday, center Ryan O’Reilly wasn’t taking any solace in the improved power play they showcased against the New York Islanders.

Sure, the Sabres’ struggling power play got its first goal, an O’Reilly score, in eight games, ending a zero for 24 run. And early on, with rookie center Jack Eichel promoted to the top unit, the Sabres pumped seven shots on goal during their first chance, helping them ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Matt Moulson returns from scratch

BUFFALO – Struggling Sabres winger Matt Moulson understands that after going 24 games without scoring a goal – a career-long stretch that dates back to Nov. 1 – sitting out as a healthy scratch Wednesday was probably a good thing.

“I think … maybe (it) was a good time to just get my mind right and make sure I’m playing the way I’m capable of to help this team,” Moulson said Thursday inside the First ... Read the full article

Sabres veteran Mike Weber playing regularly, wants to stay

BUFFALO – When you sweat and bleed for an emblem for so long, Sabres defenseman Mike Weber said, it becomes a part of you.

Weber, 28, is the Sabres’ longest-tenured player by two full years. Having debuted Oct. 26, 2007, he has experienced all the highs and lows of the team’s recent tumultuous history.

The Pittsburgh native will proudly tell you he has grown up in the organization and how much he loves Buffalo.

“I ... Read the full article