December, 2014 - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres recall Mikhail Grigorenko from Amerks

BUFFALO – The Sabres recalled center Mikhail Grigorenko from Rochester this afternoon.

With only 11 healthy forwards, the Sabres needed to summon someone to play tonight against the New York Islanders. Grigorenko, who was assigned to the AHL on Wednesday, appeared to be the likely candidate.

The 20-year-old Russian just averaged 15 minutes, 42 seconds of ice time in four games with the Sabres, compiling one assist. He has seven goals and 22 points in ... Read the full article

Sabres have more healthy players; Mikhail Grigorenko back up

BUFFALO – Slowly, the Sabres, a team riddled by injuries and illness, are getting back to full strength.

Three more players – center Cody McCormick, winger Matt Moulson and defenseman Mike Weber – will return tonight against the New York Islanders following a three-day Christmas break. Still, the Sabres have only 11 healthy forwards, so they will recall a forward soon, coach Ted Nolan said this morning.

Update: The Sabres have recalled center Mikhail Grigorenko.... Read the full article

Sabres face stiff test in surging Isles

BUFFALO – Since creeping to within four points of the final playoff spot Dec. 15, the Sabres have lost four straight games, earning just a single point for Sunday’s 4-3 overtime loss in Boston.

Are the Sabres swooning again? Opponents have scored a whopping 20 goals during their skid.

Or is this just a normal part of a young club’s growth? A team battered by injuries and illness had the lead in two straight road ... Read the full article

Former Sabres goalie Clint Malarchuk bares soul in new book

BUFFALO – In his gritty new memoir, “A Matter of Inches: How I Survived in the Crease and Beyond,” former Sabres goalie Clint Malarchuk describes the brief time in his turbulent life he felt like a king and a savior in Buffalo.

It was March 1989, and the Sabres had just acquired Malarchuk for their playoff run. In his first appearance, he shut out the New York Rangers in Madison Square Garden. He ... Read the full article

Sabres send 4 youngsters to Amerks

BUFFALO – The Sabres sent forwards Joel Armia, Mikhail Grigorenko and Tim Schaller and defenseman Mark Pysyk back to the Rochester Americans today.

All four played in Tuesday’s 6-3 loss in Detroit. The Sabres are off until Saturday, when they host the New York Islanders.

By then, some of the eight Sabres who are injured or sick could be ready to play. Defenseman Mike Weber (knee) will likely return from a short absence, Sabres ... Read the full article

Sabres recall prospect Joel Armia from Amerks

With injuries ravaging the Buffalo Sabres, the team recalled slick winger Joel Armia from the Rochester Americans today. The 21-year-old prospect will likely make his NHL debut tonight against the Detroit Red Wings.

The Finn, the 16th pick in 2011, has seven goals and 16 points in 21 AHL games this season. The Sabres wanted to recall Armia over the weekend but he had just returned from an upper-body injury. They didn’t want him to ... Read the full article

Bruins’ Matt Bartkowski won’t be suspended for hitting Sabres’ Brian Gionta

Bruins defenseman Matt Bartkowski won’t be suspended or fined for hitting Sabres captain Brian Gionta high in Buffalo’s 4-3 overtime loss Sunday in Boston.

The NHL Department of Player Safety explained its decision this afternoon in three tweets, writing, “Bartkowski/Gionta is an example of incidental contact on an otherwise full body check. The head was NOT the main point of contact. Also, Gionta puts himself in a vulnerable position making contact with his head unavoidable. ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Marcus Foligno out ‘a while’ with apparent hand injury; 10 players injured or sick

The Buffalo Sabres are down 10 players to injuries and illness after losing center Marcus Foligno and captain Brian Gionta in Sunday’s 4-3 overtime loss in Boston.

Foligno apparently hurt his hand fighting the Bruins’ Matt Bartkowski after the defenseman leveled Gionta high during the first period. An upper-body injury will sideline Foligno for “a while,” Sabres coach Ted Nolan told reporters in Boston.

“One of those freak accidents that happen when you play,” Nolan ... Read the full article

Sabres recall Mark Pysyk and Tim Schaller from Amerks

BUFFALO – With injuries and illnesses ravaging the Sabres, the team has recalled defenseman Mark Pysyk and center Tim Schaller from Rochester for tonight’s game against the Boston Bruins.

Defenseman Tyler Myers is questionable after suffering a lower-body injury in Saturday’s 5-1 loss to Colorado. Meanwhile, wingers Patrick Kaleta and Matt Moulson are both sick. Kaleta will definitely miss tonight’s game, Sabres coach Ted Nolan said.

Pysyk has one goal and 10 points in 27 ... Read the full article

Sabres lose game to Avalanche, Tyler Myers to injury

BUFFALO – Saturday’s 5-1 loss to the Colorado Avalanche, the Sabres’ second consecutive ugly defeat, also ended their six-game home winning streak. After winning 10 of 13 contests to creep within four points of a playoff spot early last week, the Sabres have been outscored 10-2 in the last two games.

Uh-oh.

To make matters worse, injuries and illnesses are starting to ravage the Sabres. They lost three more players Saturday, including minute-munching defenseman Tyler ... Read the full article