WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
Offseason Edition
Robin Lehner makes a stop Tuesday. ©2017, Hickling Images, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – In Robin Lehner’s 13 appearances at home, the goalie has morphed into the Sabres’ only consistent presence, providing the feeble club a chance to win most nights.
Lehner has performed splendidly at KeyBank Center this season, compiling a 1.94 goals against average (No. 1 at home in the NHL) and a .935 save percentage (tied for first).
But the hapless Sabres own the NHL’s worst offense, averaging 2.1 goals a game. Incredibly, ... Read the full article
Chad Johnson has poor numbers this season. ©2017, Hickling Images, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – To Chad Johnson, his weak numbers are deceiving. Other than a poor 20-minute outing, the Sabres goalie believes he has played well this season.
Naturally, Johnson is frustrated. In 12 games, he is 1-5-3 with a ghastly 3.76 goals-against average and an .880 save percentage, his lone win coming Oct. 15.
Among goalies with 10 or more appearances this season, only Vegas Golden Knights rookie Maxime Lagace has a higher goals-against average and ... Read the full article
Chad Johnson has one win this season. ©2017, Hickling Images, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – To Chad Johnson, his weak numbers are deceiving. Other than a poor 20-minute outing, the Sabres goalie believes he has played well this season.
Naturally, Johnson is frustrated. In 12 games, he is 1-5-3 with a ghastly 3.76 goals-against average and an .880 save percentage, his lone win coming Oct. 15.
Among goalies with 10 or more appearances this season, only Vegas Golden Knights rookie Maxime Lagace has a higher goals-against average and ... Read the full article
Rasmus Ristolainen (55) and Johan Larsson (22) squeeze Boston’s Patrice Bergeron on Dec. 29. ©2017, Hickling Images, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Having played eight seasons in the old Adams Division, coach Phil Housley understands the Sabres-Bruins rivalry well. Back then, the foes played each other eight times a season and played two memorable playoff series in 1983 and 1988.
“The Buffalo-Boston games have always been physical,” Housley said this morning. “It’s a big divisional game. … They’re in a pretty good spot right now.”
The third-place Bruins are five spots ahead of the last-place ... Read the full article
Jake McCabe has scored two goals in the last five games. ©2017, Hickling Images, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Zero goals scored by a defense corps over a two-month stretch would be surprising for any NHL team, but one coached by Phil Housley, how could that happen?
Housley, of course, is a Hall of Famer who scored 338 goals, the fourth-highest total among defensemen in NHL history. The Sabres coach once scored 31 times in a season.
But Housley’s defense has produced just two goals this season entering tonight’s tilt against the ... Read the full article
Jacob Josefson played three games before tweaking his ankle. ©2017, Hickling Images, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – During his brief return from an ankle injury last month, Sabres center Jacob Josefson contributed immediately, scoring a goal and two points in three outings.
But Josefson, 26, is a third- or fourth-liner whose offensive production is a bonus. Since the Swede tweaked his ankle Nov. 25, the Sabres have missed the veteran’s savviness.... Read the full article
Jacob Josefson has missed nine games. ©2017, Hickling Images, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – After losing three overtime affairs over a five-game stretch, coach Phil Housley knew the Sabres needed to start practicing three-on-three hockey.
So for perhaps the first time this season, the Sabres ended this morning’s practice with six skaters zooming up and down the ice inside KeyBank Center.
The Sabres lost in overtime Friday, falling 5-4 when Carolina scored seconds after winger Evander Kane missed a breakaway at the other end.... Read the full article
Jack Eichel has 11 goals this season after scoring three Friday. ©2017, Hickling Images, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The first hat trick of Jack Eichel’s short career and the first witnessed by Sabres fans here since 2011 deserved to be celebrated wildly.
The slick center dominated Friday’s tilt late, scoring twice in a 10-second span to erase the Carolina Hurricanes’ brief third-period lead and secure the first three-goal outing of his 175-game career.
A night after registering zero shots on goal, Sabres coach Phil Housley said “something must’ve been triggered” in ... Read the full article
Zach Bogosian missed more than two months earlier this season. ©2017, Michline Veluvolu, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – In Zach Bogosian’s first two appearances following a 25-game absence, adrenaline carried the Sabres defenseman, coach Phil Housley said.
“Those first two games he was our best defenseman,” Housley said prior to Friday’s 5-4 overtime loss to the Carolina Hurricanes inside KeyBank Center.
But after those outings earlier this month, Bogosian experienced a normal dip returning from his lower-body injury.
“The adrenaline’s not there, now you’re in the game mode and getting prepared, ... Read the full article
Alexander Nylander played with Sweden the last two years. ©2017, Michline Veluvolu, Rochester Americans
BUFFALO – If the Sabres want to jumpstart prospect Alexander Nylander’s season, they have a pretty strong option.
Nylander, 19, has endured a rough four months. After suffering a lower-body injury in rookie camp, the slick forward missed all of the main camp and didn’t make his season debut until Nov. 17 with the Rochester Americans.
So far, Nylander has struggled in his second AHL season, compiling one goal, four points and a minus-8 ... Read the full article