WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
Offseason Edition
Alexander Nylander got off to a slow start in Rochester. ©2018, Michline Veluvolu, Rochester Americans
BUFFALO – In the AHL, where Alexander Nylander has spent most of the last season and a half, the slick forward is still a youngster adjusting to pro hockey.
But at the World Junior Championship, Nylander, 19, is a veteran. In his third and final tournament, Team Sweden, which will compete for a gold medal tonight, has leaned heavily on the Sabres prospect.
Kyle Okposo believes the Sabres can draw on their Winter Classic experience someday. ©2018, Michline Veluvolu, Olean Times Herald
NEW YORK – For a few days at least, the Winter Classic allowed the last-place Buffalo Sabres to experience the NHL’s grand stage.
Everything about the outdoor game, the league’s signature non-playoff event, is big. The Sabres, seven years removed from their last playoff appearance, haven’t been in the spotlight for a long time.
So the Sabres’ time here, which culminated with Monday afternoon’s 3-2 overtime loss to the New York Rangers before a packed ... Read the full article
Sam Reinhart scored his sixth goal this season Monday afternoon. ©2018, Michline Veluvolu, Olean Times Herald
NEW YORK – In his NHL and major junior career, winger Sam Reinhart has scored 166 goals, including 46 with the Buffalo Sabres.
Reinhart’s power-play goal in Monday afternoon’s Winter Classic, his first score in 17 games dating back to Nov. 22, might’ve been the biggest of his career.
Fifty-three seconds into the second period, Reinhart potted a loose puck beside New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist as he fell down, capitalizing after Kyle Okposo ... Read the full article
Jack Eichel has been on a tear. ©2018, Michline Veluvolu, Olean Times Herald
NEW YORK – Jack Eichel offered little explanation for his recent hot streak. The Buffalo Sabres center joked he took some vegetables out of his pregame meal.
Come on, Jack. Something clearly ignited you during the last month.
“I don’t really think I’ve changed too much,” Eichel said Sunday after the Sabres prepared for this afternoon’s Winter Classic against the New York Rangers at Citi Field.... Read the full article
Jason Pominville skates during the first Winter Classic 10 years ago. ©2018, Janet Schultz, Olean Times Herald
NEW YORK – Four years ago, Buffalo Sabres forward Evan Rodrigues was injured when Boston University participated in “Frozen Fenway,” an outdoor game at the historic ballpark.
At first, Rodrigues held out some hope he would return in time. Then the college junior realized he would miss the special tilt.
“At the time, (it was) heartbreaking, because you always want to play in something like this,” Rodrigues said Sunday after the Sabres prepared for this ... Read the full article
Evan Rodrigues missed an outdoor game four years ago. ©2017, Hickling Images, Olean Times Herald
NEW YORK – Four years ago, Buffalo Sabres forward Evan Rodrigues was injured when Boston University participated in “Frozen Fenway,” an outdoor game at the historic ballpark.
At first, Rodrigues held out some hope he would return in time. Then the college junior realized he would miss the special tilt.
“At the time, (it was) heartbreaking, because you always want to play in something like this,” Rodrigues said today after the Sabres prepared for Monday’s ... Read the full article
Jason Pominville played in the first Winter Classic. ©2017, Hickling Images, Olean Times Herald
NEW YORK – When the NHL announced more than 10 years ago it planned to stage an outdoor game in Buffalo, the novel idea the league named the “Winter Classic” was met with some skepticism, including from one of the Sabres’ marquee names.
“Originally, (I was) probably like, ‘I don’t want to play outside,’” former Sabres defenseman Brian Campbell told the Times Herald by phone Friday.
NHL players are creatures of habit. They don’t ... Read the full article
Casey Mittelstadt had three assists Friday. ©2017, Hickling Images, Olean Times Herald
ORCHARD PARK – As the conditions worsened during Friday’s memorable outdoor tilt between Team USA and Team Canada, the stoppages grew longer. Workers hustled to clear the snow rapidly accumulating on the ice surface, filling garbage cans and wheelbarrows and dumping them.
By the third period, the unwieldy mound of snow at the tunnel end of New Era Field looked higher than the end boards.... Read the full article
Jake Oettinger sported a patriotic look Wednesday. ©2017, Olean Times Herald
ORCHARD PARK – Right away, Team’s USA’s Bob Motzko experienced what he called a “wow moment.” Over his 30-year career coaching college and junior hockey, he has never participated in an outdoor game.
So walking out of the New Era Field tunnel Wednesday afternoon and seeing an ice rink in the middle of the 72,000-seat NFL facility, the home of the Buffalo Bills, was “pretty cool,” Motzko said.
“I’ve only seen (outdoor games) on TV,” ... Read the full article
Linu Ullmark has 21 games of NHL experience. ©2017, Hickling Images, Olean Times Herald
Two wins and a sterling 1.46 goals-against average helped Rochester Americans goalie Linus Ullmark earn AHL Player of the Week for the period ending Sunday, the league announced today.
The Swede stopped 65 of 68 shots (a .956 save percentage) in two starts, beating the Belleville Senators and Laval Rocket.