Bill Hoppe - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres goalie Robin Lehner questionable to back up tonight

BUFFALO – Late in the morning skate, Sabres goalie Robin Lehner, who’s nursing a sore hip and questionable to even dress for tonight’s game, left the ice first.

Did it mean he was ready to play? The first goalie off almost always starts.

No. The Sabres still aren’t sure if Lehner will back up goalie Anders Nilsson tonight against the New York Rangers.

“It feels 90 percent, it’s a little stiff still,” Lehner said ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Ryan O’Reilly ends slump with helmetless goal

BUFFALO – In his eight-year NHL career, Ryan O’Reilly has scored 117 times, so the Sabres center has about every type of goal on his impressive resume.

But after O’Reilly recently lost his helmet in the thick of the action and nearly scored, he started thinking – or, perhaps more appropriately, daydreaming – about getting a goal and celebrating without, as hockey players say, his “bucket.”

“We talked about this like two weeks ago,” O’Reilly ... Read the full article

Sabres goalie Robin Lehner still day-to-day

BUFFALO – Sabres goalie Robin Lehner, who left Tuesday’s 5-4 win in Ottawa after injuring his hip in the first period, is still day-to-day, coach Dan Bylsma.

“He’s lobbying to back up tomorrow,” Bylsma said this afternoon inside KeyBank Center. “He’s going to see how it is in the morning.”

Lehner was injured on the Senators’ first goal. The Swede stayed in the game, but his hip cramped up when he stepped out to play ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Jack Eichel wows in season debut

OTTAWA – The Jack Eichel Show started on the slick center’s third shift of the season, just 6:16 into the Buffalo Sabres’ exciting 5-4 win against the Senators.

Stationed above the left circle on the power play, Eichel showcased some supreme vision and adroit passing, finding Kyle Okposo in front for the opening goal Tuesday.

On his next shift, Eichel, 20, unleashed a wicked power-play one-timer from the left circle off Ryan O’Reilly’s feed, beating ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Evander Kane searching for first goal

OTTAWA – Five years ago, Buffalo Sabres winger Evander Kane enjoyed the best start of his eight-year career, scoring 18 times in his first 36 games for the Winnipeg Jets, a torrid 41-goal pace over a full season.

Then, in the midst of his career year, Kane suddenly endured an 11-game goal drought.

“Maybe I could’ve scored 40 if I didn’t have that slump,” Kane said to Tuesday prior to recording an assist in the ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Jack Eichel ready for season debut

OTTAWA – The 21-game wait is over. Buffalo Sabres center Jack Eichel, sidelined by a high left ankle sprain for almost seven weeks, will make his season debut tonight against the Senators at the Canadian Tire Centre.

Eichel can still feel the injury he sustained late in practice Oct. 12, the eve of the season opener. Still, it doesn’t restrict the second-year star.

“You can notice it at all times, to be honest,” ... Read the full article

Jack Eichel’s presence provides sense of relief for Sabres

OTTAWA – The smiles told the story. They adorned the faces of Jack Eichel’s Buffalo Sabres teammates and his coach, Dan Bylsma, who looked relieved his young star could make his season debut tonight against the Senators.

Eichel, meanwhile, tried to keep his emotions in check following a 50-minute practice Monday inside KeyBank Center. The second-year center said he has passed every hurdle – “No real restrictions,” he said – in his recovery from a ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Jack Eichel could play Tuesday

BUFFALO – Sabres center Jack Eichel refused to say if he plans to make his season debut Tuesday. Coach Dan Bylsma would only say “there’s a possibility.”

But Eichel, out since suffering a high left ankle sprain Oct. 12, skated between his regular linemates, Evander Kane and Sam Reinhart, this morning during practice. Eichel also manned a point during power-play drills.

All signs point to Eichel, 20, playing in the road game against the Ottawa ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Jack Eichel nearing return

BUFFALO – Given Jack Eichel’s workload so far in practice – the talented Sabres center has only participated in a couple of battle drills and lines rushes – it seems unlikely he could return from a high left ankle sprain Tuesday.

But Eichel, 20, keeps making positive progress. Today inside HarborCenter, Eichel briefly bumped with some teammates and skated beside Evander Kane, his regular left winger late last season, and a couple of right wingers.... Read the full article

Sabres sent 3 forwards to Amerks

BUFFALO – The Sabres sent forwards William Carrier, Cal O’Reilly and Cole Schneider back to the Rochester Americans on Saturday.

All three played for the AHL club later in the day against the Albany Devils.

The Sabres, who had Saturday off and don’t play again until Tuesday, have limited salary cap space, so sending players down between games helps save some money.

O’Reilly and Schneider rank third and fourth in AHL scoring.... Read the full article