Bill Hoppe - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres’ Evander Kane apologizes for missing practice

Calling his actions “irresponsible,” Buffalo Sabres winger Evander Kane said Tuesday he had apologized to his teammates for oversleeping and missing practice a day earlier after partying at the NBA All-Star Game in Toronto.

The Sabres benched Kane for Tuesday’s road contest against the Ottawa Senators, the only game the 24-year-old will sit out, coach Dan Bylsma said Monday.

“First and foremost, I want to apologize, obviously, to my teammates for letting them down,” Kane ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Josh Gorges rejuvenated after nightmare season

BUFFALO – Sometimes after a particularly rough shift, when Sabres defenseman Josh Gorges is gassed and trying to catch his breath, he’ll glance over and marvel at his partner Rasmus Ristolainen, an emerging star 10 years younger than him.

“Risto’s sitting there like he’s not even tired yet, and he was out there the same amount of time,” Gorges said Monday after the Sabres prepared for tonight’s road tilt against the Ottawa Senators.

In ... Read the full article

Sabres suspend Evander Kane for missing practice

BUFFALO – The Sabres suspended Evander Kane for tonight’s road game against the Ottawa Senators after the winger “slept in” and missed practice Monday, coach Dan Bylsma said.

A “disappointed” Bylsma said Kane called him and general manager Tim Murray in the morning and told them he wouldn’t be coming to practice.

“Broke a team rule,” Bylsma said inside the First Niagara Center. “We’ll be dealing with it internally.”

Following the Sabres’ 4-1 home win ... Read the full article

Sabres suspend Evander Kane for sleeping in, missing practice

BUFFALO – The Sabres have suspended Evander Kane for Tuesday’s game in Ottawa after the winger “slept in” and missed practiced today, coach Dan Bylsma said.

Bylsma said Kane called his coach and general manager Tim Murray today and told them he wouldn’t be coming to practice.

“Broke a team rule,” Bylsma said this afternoon inside the First Niagara Center. “We’ll be dealing with it internally.”

Bylsma also said: “I’m disappointed.”

Following the Sabres’ 4-1 ... Read the full article

Early lead helps Sabres down Avalanche

BUFFALO – Just like that, for one of the few times this season, the Sabres seized full control of a game early in Sunday afternoon’s 4-1 win against the Colorado Avalanche.

By the 4:42 mark, Avs goalie Semyon Varlamov was on the bench, a lethal Jack Eichel shot and a flubbed 50-footer from Evander Kane his undoing.

Varlamov didn’t even make one save inside the First Niagara Center. Yikes.

“Couldn’t ask for a better start,” ... Read the full article

Sabres rookie Sam Reinhart continues hot streak

BUFFALO – Many days, long after most of their Sabres teammates have finished practicing, center Ryan O’Reilly and winger Sam Reinhart stay on the ice and work on tip drills.

O’Reilly, an adroit passer, has probably fed Reinhart thousands of pucks this season, helping the rookie quickly morph into a supreme net-front presence.

The chemistry they’ve quickly developed was on display 17:14 into the Sabres’ 4-1 win Sunday afternoon against the Colorado Avalanche, when Reinhart ... Read the full article

Mother’s guidance helped Justin Bailey reach Sabres

BUFFALO – On Thursday night, after proudly watching her son, Sabres winger Justin Bailey, make his NHL debut, everything finally hit Karen Buscaglia.

Bailey, 20, had just become the fifth Buffalo-born player to skate for the Sabres, and before Buscaglia went to bed in her Philadelphia hotel room, she looked at her mother.

“I’m like, ‘Holy crap, we just saw Justin’s first NHL game,’” Buscaglia said Friday prior to seeing Bailey, a Williamsville native, ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Dan Bylsma not rotating defensemen; Zemgus Girgensons ready

BUFFALO – In the last three games, Sabres coach Dan Bylsma has used all eight defensemen on his roster, including Carlo Colaiacovo, who played Friday after sitting 15 straight games and 26 out of 27.

So, is Bylsma finally OK with having two spare defensemen?

“Am I warming to it?” Bylsma asked this afternoon. “No, I’m not warming to it. I don’t think I’ll ever warm to it.”

Why doesn’t he like having eight?... Read the full article

Marcus Foligno stars in Sabres’ wild win over Canadiens

BUFFALO – On the Sabres bench, they were all wondering what Marcus Foligno would do with his second-period penalty shot Friday, coach Dan Bylsma said.

The hulking winger possesses a lethal shot, yet he rarely utilizes it. From watching him up close in practice for months, Bylsma has learned Foligno has a tendency to deke.

So as he roared in at 17:41, Bylsma must’ve been mildly surprised to see him unleash a wicked wrist shot ... Read the full article

Sabres believe Flyers’ Radko Gudas targeted Dan Catenacci

BUFFALO – Before Dan Bylsma answered a question about the suspect hit that likely concussed Sabres winger Dan Catenacci late in Thursday’s ugly 5-1 road loss in Philadelphia, the coach paused for a few moments.

Clearly, Bylsma, who said he hadn’t watched a replay, wanted to choose his words carefully.

Flyers defenseman Radko Gudas, who has a reputation for questionable hits and has been suspended by the NHL once, won’t have a disciplinary hearing. Meanwhile, ... Read the full article