Bill Hoppe - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres’ Brendan Guhle, Casey Nelson reunited as defense pair

BUFFALO – For a chunk of the season, Sabres defensemen Brendan Guhle and Casey Nelson formed a strong AHL tandem, showcasing their speed and slick puck-moving skills together.

Then the Sabres recalled Guhle, 20, in early January for two games. A week later, they summoned Nelson, 25, and he quickly earned a regular spot.

So the two hadn’t played together for about two months until Sabres coach Phil Housley reunited them for Monday’s 5-3 win ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Kyle Criscuolo ready for second NHL recall

BUFFALO – Kyle Criscuolo was about to leave for the rink Sunday morning when Rochester Americans coach Chris Taylor phoned him.

“He was giving me a little joke,” Criscuolo said this morning inside KeyBank Center. “He said, ‘You’re not playing tonight.’ I said, ‘OK.’ He said, ‘You’re suspended. No, I’m kidding, you’re going up.’”

With a dearth of centers, the Sabres summoned Criscuolo, 25, for the second time this season. He will play tonight against ... Read the full article

Sabres want Brendan Guhle to utilize speed during recall

BUFFALO – For a chunk of the season, Sabres defensemen Brendan Guhle and Casey Nelson formed a strong AHL tandem, showcasing their speed and slick puck-moving skills together.

Then the Sabres recalled Guhle, 20, in early January for two games. A week later, the Sabres summoned Nelson, 25, and he quickly earned a regular spot.

So the two haven’t played together for about two months. Tonight against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Guhle, who was brought ... Read the full article

Sabres finally renew long rivalry with Maple Leafs

BUFFALO – When the NHL scheduled the only four tilts between the Sabres and the Toronto Maple Leafs over a 28-day late-season stretch, the league likely envisioned the fierce rivals would be battling for playoff spots or positioning.

Sixty-six games into another lost season, the last-place Sabres finally play the Leafs tonight at KeyBank Center, their first meeting since April 3, 2017.

The Sabres, of course, are playing for pride. The Leafs, meanwhile, are firmly ... Read the full article

Sabres recall Brendan Guhle, Kyle Criscuolo from Amerks

BUFFALO – Despite having six healthy defensemen and 12 forwards practice today, the Sabres recalled top defense prospect Brendan Guhle and center Kyle Criscuolo from the Rochester Americans this afternoon.

The Amerks have a 3 p.m. home tilt against the Laval Rocket.

So why did the Sabres summon two players? Coach Phil Housley said earlier today they didn’t plan to recall a forward.

... Read the full article

Sabres’ Kyle Okposo on minus-29 rating: ‘It’s absolutely gross’

BUFFALO – Sabres winger Kyle Okposo heard the question coming and groaned, likely out of embarrassment.

The veteran owns a ghastly minus-29 rating, the NHL’s worst number among forwards.

“It’s gross, it’s absolutely gross,” Okposo said this morning inside KeyBank Center. “It’s something, whether the goal’s my fault or not, it just seems like it goes in, they’re just going in this year. It’s something I wanted to get better at. It’s something that’s very ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Jack Eichel skates for first time since ankle injury

BUFFALO – Sabres center Jack Eichel skated on his own Saturday, his first time on the ice since suffering a high right ankle sprain Feb. 10, coach Phil Housley said.

Now, don’t expect Eichel, 21, back in the lineup this week. Sprains are notoriously tricky injuries.

Still, Eichel’s progress is a good sign. The Sabres want their leading scorer to return this season.

... Read the full article

Amerks’ Danny O’Regan sees fit in Sabres organization

ROCHESTER – Early in Danny O’Regan’s junior season at Boston University, he earned a coveted spot playing beside an ultra-talented freshman center named Jack Eichel.

The two meshed well together, but around Christmas that rollicking 2014-15 campaign, an underrated senior began playing right wing with O’Regan and Eichel.... Read the full article

With trade deadline passed, Sabres want to finish strongly

BUFFALO – Sabres goalie Robin Lehner spent Monday at home with his family monitoring the NHL trade deadline activity on television and radio.

Lehner insisted for weeks he wasn’t worried about his future and wants to stay with the Sabres, something he reiterated Tuesday. But with a wife and two children, “you kind of want to know,” he said.

In the morning, a tweet from someone outside the hockey world – “I don’t know who ... Read the full article

GM Jason Botterill issues challenge to Sabres after trade deadline

BUFFALO – While Jason Botterill mostly stayed quiet before the NHL trade deadline, the Sabres general manager knows he must eventually make major changes to his 30th-place team.

So while only one player, winger Evander Kane, left the team before Monday’s deadline, something big will likely transpire following what is arguably the worst season in franchise history.... Read the full article