Buffalo Hockey Beat - WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage

Amerks Hall of Fame: Before starring role in Buffalo, Sabres could’ve lost Jason Pominville on waivers

ROCHESTER – No one, it seems, except for perhaps Jason Pominville himself, could believe the Buffalo Sabres did it.

Sure, the team was stacked up front in 2005 as the NHL emerged from the lockout. But why would they waive Pominville, one of their top prospects? He was out of options, and if they wanted to assign him to the Americans again, he would have to clear.

Every other team would have a chance to ... Read the full article

Sabres prospect Lukas Rousek earns spot in AHL All-Star Classic

ROCHESTER – Buffalo Sabres prospect Lukas Rousek has been named as a replacement for injured teammate Brandon Biro on the North Division team for the upcoming AHL All-Star Classic.

Biro, a center who has a team-high 29 points, is week to week after suffering an upper-body injury, Amerks coach Seth Appert said.... Read the full article

Sabres’ Peyton Krebs learning to utilize shot, starting to score goals

BUFFALO – If he had grabbed the puck in the same area just a few weeks earlier, Sabres center Peyton Krebs might’ve held onto it or dished it off.

Shooting likely wouldn’t have been his first choice.

But when Krebs zoomed into the Anaheim zone late in the third period Saturday afternoon, he looked hellbent on beating Ducks goalie John Gibson. After taking a few quick strides, he unleashed a wicked wrist shot from high ... Read the full article

After struggles, Sabres’ Victor Olofsson scoring goals, becoming star

BUFFALO – At times this season, Sabres winger Victor Olofsson has battled adversity and the perception he’s too one-dimensional.

For stretches, he has struggled at even strength and lost ice time, doing little to dispel the belief he’s simply a power-play guy who possesses a lethal shot.

Still, 45 games into the campaign, Olofsson has already registered a career-high 21 goals.... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Ryan Miller on why he choose No. 30; Rasmus Dahlin joins elite company

BUFFALO – Growing up, Sabres legend Ryan Miller said he usually wore No. 30. Mike Gilmore, a Michigan State goalie he liked, sported it. So did some of the NHL’s best netminders at the time.

But when Miller reached junior hockey in 1997, an older goalie for the Soo Indians had the digits.

“There’s not a chance I’m getting that number,” Miller said Thursday after the Sabres retired his No. 30 and inducted him into ... Read the full article

Goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen helps Sabres earn thrilling overtime win on ‘Ryan Miller Night’

BUFFALO – It was only fitting, right? On a night the Sabres honored Ryan Miller by retiring his No. 30 and inducting him into their Hall of Fame, the goalies stole the show in the home team’s thrilling 3-2 overtime victory.

At one end, rookie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, the Sabres’ best young netminder since Miller in the early 2000s, made several game-saving stops. Meanwhile, New York Islanders goalie Ilya Sorokin made 19 of his 42 saves ... Read the full article

Practice habits helped make former Sabres goalie Ryan Miller legend

BUFFALO – Having played with Dominik Hasek in Detroit, Matt Ellis learned firsthand how his legendary work ethic helped make him perhaps the greatest goalie in history.

When Ellis arrived here in 2008, he quickly noticed that goalie Ryan Miller, whose No. 30 was retired by the Sabres prior to Thursday’s 3-2 overtime win against the New York Islanders at KeyBank Center, possessed a similar drive to be the best.

“The thing that jumped ... Read the full article

Sabres assign Vinnie Hinostroza to Rochester after clearing waivers

BUFFALO – As the Sabres mature and their roster evolves, they’re going to lose some popular players. It’s a reality in the modern NHL, and they must get used to it.

Winger Vinnie Hinostroza, who on Thursday cleared waivers and was assigned to the Rochester Americans, won’t be the last friend they see leave.

Over his season and a half in the organization, Hinostroza, 28, has grown close to his Sabres teammates.

“Us as ... Read the full article

Sabres want to feed off energy from crowd on ‘Ryan Miller Night’

BUFFALO – Over the past year, the Sabres have thrived off the energy the raucous home crowd creates for special occasions. Think of Jack Eichel’s return and “RJ Night.”

Expect them to get a boost tonight against the New York Islanders after the Sabres retire legendary goalie Ryan Miller’s No. 30 and induct him into their Hall of Fame.

The ceremony, of course, promises to be very emotional.... Read the full article

Ryan Miller, Martin Biron and Sabres’ goalie ‘battle’ of 2005-06

BUFFALO – Martin Biron remembers worrying about himself, not the arrival of Ryan Miller or any looming goalie battle, when the NHL lockout ended in 2005.

In 1999, the Sabres had used a fifth-round pick on a lanky American – “Took a flier on him,” former goalie coach Jim Corsi told the Times Herald – who would develop into a dynamic prospect.

“We drafted this young man, he was so skinny he had to run ... Read the full article