WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
Offseason Edition
Jason Pominville also sat out Sunday afternoon. ©2019, Janet Schultz
BUFFALO – Jason Pominville understands why he is sitting out. Having played 1,052 NHL games, the Sabres know what the veteran winger offers them.
Ten contests remain in a miserable season. The Sabres, who have fallen from first overall to sixth in the Atlantic Division, want to evaluate other players.
So Pominville, 36, will be a healthy scratch for the second straight game tonight against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Sabres coach Phil Housley inserted Vladimir ... Read the full article
Carter Hutton has played a career-high 44 games this season. ©2019, Janet Schultz
BUFFALO – Earlier this season, goalie Carter Hutton reacted to the Sabres’ struggles by trying to steal every game.
Hutton, 33, quickly learned overcompensating wouldn’t work.
“I don’t think you can really play that way,” Hutton said Tuesday inside KeyBank Center. “I think I need to just control what I can. I think when I’m playing (like) that, just controlling what I can, I think that’s when I’m at my best.”
Hutton has adapted this ... Read the full article
Alexander Nylander has played four NHL games this season. ©2019, Micheline Veluvolu, Rochester Americans
BUFFALO – Sabres winger Alexander Nylander mentioned it few times during his short chat with the media this afternoon.
“I’m ready for this,” the rookie said following practice inside KeyBank Center.
So far, through four outings, it would be tough to argue with Nylander. The former eighth overall pick has been showcasing his slick skill and looking more comfortable each game beside center Evan Rodrigues and Conor Sheary.... Read the full article
Carter Hutton makes a shootout stop on St. Louis’ Ryan O’Reilly to secure Sunday afternoon’s win. ©2019, Hickling Images
BUFFALO – Sabres winger Kyle Okposo heard the crowd roaring and wanted in on the action.
For a 27-second stretch late in the third period of Sunday afternoon’s entertaining 4-3 shootout win, the Sabres started thumping every opponent in sight.
The normally docile fans inside KeyBank Center grew louder and louder with each hit.
So Okposo wasn’t about to pass up an opportunity to hit St. Louis Blues defenseman Jay Bouwmeester.... Read the full article
Ryan O’Reilly spent three seasons with the Sabres. ©2019, Hickling Images
BUFFALO – St. Louis Blues center Ryan O’Reilly hasn’t experienced a season like this in five years, since he played for the Colorado Avalanche.
For the first time since 2013-14, O’Reilly, 28, has a legitimate chance to reach the playoffs.
Simply contending for a spot has helped rejuvenate O’Reilly, who was beaten down by the losing he endured in Buffalo so much he acknowledged following last season it sapped some of his love for hockey.... Read the full article
Jason Pominville also sat out Jan. 30. ©2019, Janet Schultz
BUFFALO – The Sabres cleared one huge hurdle in Saturday’s 4-2 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes by, uh, scoring a goal for the first time in more than three games.
“It certainly was a relief,” coach Phil Housley said of the Sabres ending their drought at 199:58. “I really like the way we started, and just taking a look at the game after the fact, I really liked the way we played. We had a ... Read the full article
Losing sapped Ryan O’Reilly’s love for hockey last season. ©2019, Janet Schultz
BUFFALO – The trade could go down as one of the worst in Sabres history.
For NHL All-Star Ryan O’Reilly, the Sabres received two overpaid veteran forwards, a prospect who has been in and out of the lineup and first- and second-round picks from the St. Louis Blues, this afternoon’s opponent at KeyBank Center.
The Sabres’ struggles this season can be sliced and diced a thousand ways. But getting rid of O’Reilly on July ... Read the full article
Jack Eichel will return from his suspension against Carolina. ©2019, Janet Schultz
BUFFALO – Having completed his two-game suspension, leading scorer Jack Eichel will return for tonight’s road contest against the Carolina Hurricanes. So maybe, just maybe, the hapless Sabres can end their embarrassing goal drought.
Forget about the Sabres’ six-game losing streak. At this point, simply scoring a goal – they’ve been shut out three straight games – would be a huge moral victory.
Incredibly, the Sabres haven’t scored in 197:40, a shocking stretch of futility ... Read the full article
Jack Eichel has recorded a team-high 72 points this season. ©2019, Hickling Images
BUFFALO – After serving his two-game suspension, captain and leading scorer Jack Eichel will return for Saturday’s road game against the Carolina Hurricanes. So maybe, just maybe, the Sabres can end their dubious drought and score a goal.
Of course, Eichel’s last outing, Saturday afternoon’s miserable 3-0 loss to the Colorado Avalanche, was one of the Sabres’ worst offensive efforts in recent memory.
So forget about the Sabres’ six-game losing streak. At this point, ... Read the full article
Carter Hutton allowed five goals Thursday. ©2019, Janet Schultz
BUFFALO – Late in the second period of Thursday’s ugly 5-0 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins, a disgruntled fan had enough of the Sabres’ awful performance and gave Jason Botterill his unvarnished thoughts.
“Botterill, this is garbage!” the fan yelled to the general manager, who was sitting in a nearby box, as the Sabres trudged to their third consecutive shutout loss, one of the lowest points in franchise history.
Right now, few would argue that ... Read the full article