Bill Hoppe - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres’ Kyle Okposo out Saturday

BUFFALO – Leading Sabres scorer Kyle Okposo will miss Saturday’s game against the Tampa Bay Lightning with a rib injury, coach Dan Bylsma said this afternoon.

Bylsma didn’t have a full update on Okposo, who left Thursday’s 6-3 win against the Arizona Coyotes after Kevin Connauton hit him into the boards.

“He’s our leading scorer and absolutely a big part of our team and how we play, how we want to play,” Bylsma said following ... Read the full article

Sabres shake off threat, beat Coyotes

BUFFALO – Following Thursday’s 6-3 win, a contest tighter than the score might indicate, winger Evander Kane bluntly assessed the current edition of the Arizona Coyotes, a hapless outfit the Sabres lost to earlier this week.

“They’re not a very good hockey team,” said Kane, who scored the winning goal 14:24 into the third period. “Let’s be real here.”

Well, they were good enough to beat the Sabres five days ago.

Despite ranking 29th overall, ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Dmitry Kulikov still struggling

BUFFALO – In his first and probably only season here, defenseman Dmitry Kulikov has performed so poorly – the Russian has one goal, two points and a wretched minus-17 rating – the Sabres couldn’t even get a late-round pick for him before Wednesday’s trade deadline.

So the Sabres have Kulikov for 18 more games. Of course, that doesn’t mean coach Dan Bylsma will play him.

Kulikov, 26, could become a healthy scratch if he doesn’t ... Read the full article

Time with Sabres special for Coyotes’ Jamie McGinn

BUFFALO – For 63 games over five months last season, Jamie McGinn had a blast here. The winger showcased his versatility, scoring 14 goals all over the Sabres lineup. He played with Ryan O’Reilly, his buddy from Colorado, and made another friend for life, Jack Eichel.

“I was having fun,” McGinn said this morning after the Arizona Coyotes prepared for tonight’s tilt inside KeyBank Center. “You’re … enjoying being out there. You’re with ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Dmitry Kulikov close to getting scratched

BUFFALO – In his first and probably only season here, defenseman Dmitry Kulikov has performed so poorly – the Russian has one goal, two points and a wretched minus-15 rating – the Sabres couldn’t even get a late-round pick for him before Wednesday’s trade deadline.

So for 19 more games, starting with tonight’s tilt against the Arizona Coyotes, the Sabres have Kulikov. Of course, that doesn’t mean coach Dan Bylsma will play him.

Kulikov, 26, ... Read the full article

Sabres can’t find trade partners before deadline

BUFFALO – Tim Murray’s history as Sabres general manager shows he usually takes anything for a player who can leave for nothing following the season.

But as Wednesday’s trade deadline dragged on and some deals started materializing around the NHL, the Sabres curiously stayed quiet.

When the 3 p.m. deadline hit, word quickly spread the Sabres, who have four unrestricted free agents, hadn’t made any moves.

Murray couldn’t, say, get a late-round pick for defenseman ... Read the full article

Sabres GM Tim Murray: Awful road trip players’ fault

BUFFALO – Despite a loss in their final outing before last week’s bye, the Sabres entered the short break playing perhaps their best hockey all season. For the first time in years, the playoffs, while still a long shot, felt like a possibility.

Then the schedule resumed with road games against Colorado and Arizona, the NHL’s two worst teams.

“We go out west and we just can’t play, and that’s to me squarely on ... Read the full article

Sabres stay quiet before trade deadline

BUFFALO – Tim Murray’s track record as Sabres general manager shows he usually takes anything for a player who can leave for nothing following the season.

So why did the Sabres, who have five unrestricted free agents, make zero trades before today’s 3 p.m. deadline? Murray couldn’t, say, get a late-round pick for defenseman Dmitry Kulikov?

“I just go with what’s put in front of me,” Murray said this afternoon inside KeyBank Center. “I ... Read the full article

Trade deadline looms for Sabres

BUFFALO – Some trade deadline practice notes from KeyBank Center, where the media is gathered in the press room with a television tuned, of course, to TSN:

– Sporting some new lines, the Sabres practiced around 45 minutes today. Naturally, the looming deadline was felt a bit.

“A little of that lingers with an impending 3 o’clock deadline,” Sabres coach Dan Bylsma said. “But treat the situations and the players like they’re going to be ... Read the full article

Sabres implode late, lose to Predators in OT

BUFFALO – Before today’s trade deadline hits, before the reeling Sabres sell off assets, they imploded again Tuesday, illustrating why they’ll soon complete their sixth straight season without a playoff appearance.

Up 4-2 against the Nashville Predators late before 18,634 fans inside KeyBank Center, the Sabres frittered away a two-goal lead third-period lead for the second straight game, losing 5-4 in overtime.

Thanks to four straight losses, the Sabres are six points out of the ... Read the full article