Tyler Ennis had five points last week. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres’ Tyler Ennis named NHL’s first star of week

BUFFALO – Slick winger Tyler Ennis, who had one goal and five points during the Sabres’ three-game home winning streak, has been named the NHL’s first star for the week ending Dec. 14.

Ennis, who has eight goals and a team-high 21 points, enjoyed one of the best weeks of his six-year career.

The 25-year-old scored the only goal in Tuesday’s win 1-0 against Los Angeles, had three assists in Thursday’s 4-3 win against ... Read the full article

Josh Gorges hurt his left pinky finger Saturday. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres could have healthy defense corps tonight

BUFFALO – When the Sabres began their skate this morning, instead of a having a fresh body on the ice up from Rochester, Josh Gorges and Andrej Meszaros, the two defensemen injured Saturday, were practicing fully.

Defenseman Tyson Strachan, out the last four games, was also skating.

Seven defensemen will likely take the warm-up prior to tonight’s game against the Ottawa Senators inside the First Niagara Center.

The Sabres have some game-time decisions, but no ... Read the full article

Patrick Kaleta recorded his first assist this season Saturday. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Strong, balanced offense has buoyed Sabres during hot streak

BUFFALO – Yes, 30 games into the season, the Sabres still possess the NHL’s worst offense. At their current pace, they would score 142 goals, eight fewer than last year, when they set the NHL’s all-time low mark for a full campaign.

But the Sabres’ offense is no longer feeble. At times, it can even be downright dangerous.

Thirty of the Sabres’ 52 goals have come in the last 12 games, a stretch in which ... Read the full article

Nikita Zadorov scored his second NHL goal Saturday. ©2014, Janet Schultz, Olean Times Herald

Nikita Zadorov’s overtime goal puts Sabres past Panthers

BUFFALO – For much of the Sabres’ exciting 4-3 overtime victory against the Florida Panthers on Saturday, the young defense tandem of Rasmus Ristolainen, 20, and Nikita Zadorov, 19, struggled badly.

Up 2-0 early in the second period, Ristolainen coughed up the puck and the Panthers scored off of Zadorov’s skate. They tied it minutes later with the youngsters on the ice again.

“You don’t belittle, and you don’t blame them,” Sabres coach Ted Nolan ... Read the full article

Josh Gorges left Saturday’s game after blocking a shot. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres’ Josh Gorges among NHL’s best shot blockers

BUFFALO – Almost five years ago, Sabres defenseman Josh Gorges sold out while killing a penalty with Montreal. Against better judgment, Gorges dropped down to the ice and laid flat in front of a lethal one-timer from Washington’s Mike Green.

The puck hit Gorges in the back of the head, knocking him out cold.

“Scared the hell out of me,” Gorges recalled Saturday prior to the Sabres’ 4-3 overtime win against the Florida Panthers inside ... Read the full article

Mike Weber (6) battles San Jose’s Matt Nieto (83) for the puck Nov. 18. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres’ Mike Weber sidelined after knee surgery; Nikita Zadorov won’t join Russia

BUFFALO – Sabres defenseman Mike Weber underwent minor surgery on his left knee Friday and will be sidelined until just after Christmas, coach Ted Nolan said.

“It’s nothing major, but it’s kind of like a maintenance cleanup for an area he was battling for about three weeks or so,” Nolan said this morning inside the First Niagara Center. “He could probably go the rest of the year with it, but we thought it was best ... Read the full article

Matt Moulson celebrates one of his goals Thursday. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres’ Matt Moulson finally scoring again

BUFFALO – Matt Moulson can’t figure out what exactly caused his awful, career-worst start. Maybe the five-year, $25 million contract the Sabres awarded the high-scoring winger in free agency played in his head. Perhaps the expectations that accompany scoring 30 goals three straight years weighed on him.

Whatever the case, Moulson was downright terrible earlier this season. At one point during his 14-game goal drought, his wife, Alicia, gave him a little pep talk.

“I ... Read the full article

Ted Nolan’s team has won eight of the last 11 games. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Pride has helped fuel Sabres’ quick turnaround

BUFFALO – Having won eight of the last 11 contests, 29 games into what was once a trying season, the Sabres have quickly become one of the NHL’s hottest teams.

Forget about “the tank” and finishing last for a moment. The rebuilding club has crept to within seven points of last playoff spot.

Pride, Sabres coach Ted Nolan said, has helped fuel the turnaround.

“There’s a room full of guys that have a lot ... Read the full article

Patrick Kaleta changed his visor today. ©2014, Olean Times Herald

Sabres’ Patrick Kaleta won’t wear ‘RoboCop’ visor in game

BUFFALO – Sabres winger Patrick Kaleta spent weeks experimenting with different forms of facial protection after essentially breaking his face Sept. 28.

The agitator finally settled on a standard-looking tinted visor to help his vision problems.

Today, however, Kaleta practiced looking like RoboCop, wearing a shiny, mirrored visor.

Relax, he has no plans to wear it in a game.

“Oakley made it up,” Kaleta said this afternoon inside the First Niagara Center. “I was just ... Read the full article

Cody Hodgson was a healthy scratch Thursday. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres’ Cody Hodgson set to return from benching

BUFFALO – As the Sabres warmed up before practice this afternoon, coach Ted Nolan and Cody Hodgson skated around the ice together and talked about the season-long slump that forced the struggling center into the press box Thursday.

What was Nolan’s message to Hodgson, who will play again Saturday? The 24-year-old’s trying to work too hard, and that’s forcing him to do things out of his character.

“You don’t need Cody to be banging bodies,” ... Read the full article