Bill Hoppe - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Line switches put Sabres’ Jack Eichel with new wingers

BUFFALO – The optics say Jack Eichel has been demoted. This morning, the slick Sabres center skated between Zemgus Girgensons and Jason Pominville, one of four new lines coach Phil Housley assembled.

Based on recent production, Eichel’s trio is the third line. Just don’t tell Housley, whose Sabres have lost five straight games (0-3-2).

“There’s no third line,” Housley said this morning after the Sabres prepared for tonight’s tilt against the Columbus Blue Jackets inside ... Read the full article

Sabres prospect Brendan Guhle paying dues with Amerks

ROCHESTER – The Buffalo Sabres have a plan for Brendan Guhle.

That’s why one-quarter into another miserable season, their top prospect is still developing in the AHL. That’s why after a stunning rash of injuries – the Sabres, incredibly, are 12 defensemen down the depth chart – the slick Guhle is playing big minutes in Rochester, not Buffalo.

The Sabres’ new regime wants Guhle, 20, to pay his dues with the Americans.

... Read the full article

Reeling Sabres generate little early, lose to Hurricanes

BUFFALO – Fresh off an uninspired loss that rankled coach Phil Housley and, allegedly, his players, the Sabres responded by going the first 17 minutes without a shot on goal.

Oh, the Sabres still generated a scoring chance early in Saturday’s 3-1 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. For the second straight night, fourth-line winger Jordan Nolan, who has a 24-game goal drought dating back to Jan. 31, enjoyed a rare breakaway.

Nolan missed the ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Jason Pominville moving around lineup

BUFFALO – Moving Jason Pominville off the Sabres’ top line wasn’t related to the veteran winger’s performance, coach Phil Housley said.

“He was playing terrific,” Housley said prior to Saturday’s 3-1 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes inside KeyBank Center. “We’re trying to spark some other lines and find some balance.”

Housley shifted Pominville to right wing beside center Johan Larsson and Seth Griffith or Matt Moulson last Saturday. Sam Reinhart, meanwhile, moved from his ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Jason Pominville losing ice time on third line

BUFFALO – Moving Jason Pominville off the Sabres’ top line wasn’t related to the veteran winger’s performance, coach Phil Housley said.

“He was playing terrific,” Housley said this afternoon inside KeyBank Center. “We’re trying to spark some other lines and find some balance.”

Housley shifted Pominville to right wing beside center Johan Larsson and Seth Griffith or Matt Moulson last Saturday. Sam Reinhart, meanwhile, moved from his third-line center role to Pominville’s place with center ... Read the full article

Hockey Fights Cancer Night personal for Sabres coach Phil Housley

BUFFALO – In addition to her regular duties raising two boys and a girl in the 1970s and early 80s, MaryLee Housley helped her son Phil’s burgeoning hockey career with two extra jobs: chauffeur and cheerleader.

Phil Housley’s father, LeRoy, a plasterer, worked extra hours so Phil and his brother, Larry, could play hockey growing up in Minnesota. So MaryLee drove Phil to the rink and cheered him on like a proud mother.... Read the full article

Sabres goalie Chad Johnson not worried about numbers

BUFFALO – In eight games this season, Sabres goalie Chad Johnson has accumulated some pretty weak numbers: 1-3-2 with a 3.55 goals-against average and an .885 save percentage.

Those statistics, even with scoring up six weeks into the season, won’t win many games.

Of course, the reeling Sabres, who rank last in the Eastern Conference, have allowed 3.5 goals a game as a team, the NHL’s third-worst total. Their porous defense consistently hangs the goalie ... Read the full article

Sabres look to Kyle Criscuolo for spark

BUFFALO – Center Kyle Criscuolo left a pretty good gig to join the Sabres.

The undrafted Harvard product enjoyed a terrific rookie season in 2016-17, scoring 17 goals in the AHL and winning a Calder Cup with the Grand Rapids Griffins.

Leaving the Detroit Red Wings organization to sign a two-year, two-way contract with the Sabres on July 1 “was really tough,” he said.

... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Casey Nelson recalled with Taylor Fedun injured

BUFFALO – After suffering a lower-body injury, Sabres defenseman Taylor Fedun stayed on the bench for the rest of Tuesday’s 5-4 overtime loss in Pittsburgh.

“He was trying to work through it,” Sabres coach Phil Housley said Thursday. “He wanted to be a part of the team. It’s good to see him try to gut it out for a little bit.”

Fedun’s injury is so bad it will sideline him six to eight weeks, Housley ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Kyle Criscuolo thrilled to earn first NHL recall

BUFFALO – Center Kyle Criscuolo left a pretty good gig to join the Sabres.

The undrafted Harvard product enjoyed a terrific rookie season in 2016-17, scoring 17 goals in the AHL and winning a Calder Cup with the Grand Rapids Griffins.

Leaving the Detroit Red Wings organization to sign a two-year contract with the Sabres on July 1 “was really tough,” he said.

... Read the full article