WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
Stanley Cup Playoffs Edition
Rasmus Ristolainen already has seven goals. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
As I wrote a week ago, before he scored the first hat trick by a Buffalo Sabres defenseman in almost 28 years, Rasmus Ristolainen is quickly becoming a star.
Ristolainen, 21, might be the Sabres’ best player. With three third-period goals Thursday in Calgary in the Sabres’ 4-3 loss to the Flames, he already has 21 points in 29 games, one more point than he compiled last season in 49 fewer games.
“He ... Read the full article
Blood clots have sidelined Cody McCormick almost a year. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Almost a year after Cody McCormick developed blood clots that spread to his lungs, the Sabres forward has a routine.
Most mornings, he’s on the First Niagara Center ice working with rehab coordinator Dennis Miller and two or three injured players. McCormick then hangs around the rink for bit, works out and heads home.
McCormick has no symptoms from the clots that briefly hospitalized him in early January – “I feel normal,” he ... Read the full article
Evander Kane (9) keeps the puck away from Arizona’s Stefan Elliott on Friday. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Realistically, having scored six times in 16 games this season, Sabres winger Evander Kane likely won’t hit his lofty preseason target of 40 or 50 goals.
Scoring once in his first 11 appearances and missing 10 contests with an MCL injury certainly didn’t help.
But that disappointing start has recently become an afterthought, as Kane’s one of the NHL’s hottest scorers as the Sabres start a three-game Canadian road trip tonight against the ... Read the full article
Cal O’Reilly played with his brother during the preseason. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The Sabres recalled forward Cal O’Reilly, the older brother of center Ryan O’Reilly, from the Rochester Americans this morning before leaving on a three-game road trip.
Cal O’Reilly, the Amerks’ captain, has three goals and a team-best 14 points in 21 games, including eight in his last seven appearances.
O’Reilly, 29, has played 113 NHL games with Nashville, Arizona and Pittsburgh, compiling 13 goals and 41 points. He hasn’t appeared in an NHL ... Read the full article
Evander Kane scored twice Friday. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – First, Sam Reinhart utilized his soft hands around the net Friday. Jamie McGinn followed with a wicked one-timer off a perfect feed from Jack Eichel. Evander Kane scored later on a short-handed breakaway.
Not only are the Sabres finally scoring goals these days, they’re generating pretty ones, a sure sign the offense is humming for the first time all season.
The Sabres’ third win in four games, an exciting 5-2 victory against the ... Read the full article
John Scott played only his seventh game Friday. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The sight, of course, would be odd. Just imagine 6-foot-8 former Sabres tough guy John Scott, who has five goals in his eight-year career, competing against superstars like Alex Ovechkin and Steven Stamkos in the new three-on-three NHL All-Star Game format.
If fans keep casting online ballots for Scott, that could happen Jan. 31 in Nashville.
Right now, Scott, a healthy scratch 19 times with the Arizona Coyotes this season, is the ... Read the full article
Chad Johnson posted strong numbers in November. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The Arizona Coyotes, of course, hardly register on the radar around here. As one of the NHL’s perennial dregs, they usually rank among the league’s most irrelevant teams.
But that’s starting to change this season, as two talented rookie forwards – Max Domi and Anthony Duclair – have helped a team many pegged for a lottery pick race out to a 13-11-1 start.
“We don’t see Arizona all that often, but it’s hard ... Read the full article
Rasmus Ristolainen was all over the ice Tuesday. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – No one could believe the number that has been attached to Rasmus Ristolainen’s stat line all season: zero.
In 606 minutes, 12 seconds on the ice spread over 25 games – that’s a team-high 24 minutes, 14 seconds a contest – the Sabres’ ace defenseman hasn’t taken a penalty.
“Zero?” Josh Gorges, Ristolainen’s defense partner, asked incredulously Thursday before saying he was “impressed” and “surprised.”
When informed Ristolainen has zero penalty minutes, ... Read the full article
Sam Reinhart starred for Team Canada last year. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Eleven months ago, on the grand stages of Montreal and Toronto, Sabres winger Sam Reinhart showcased why he’s regarded as one of hockey’s top prospects, starring for Team Canada during its run to world junior championship gold.
“I had a blast, one of the best times of my life,” Reinhart said this afternoon, shortly after it was announced Buffalo would host the tournament again in 2018.
Two years ago in Sweden, defenseman Rasmus ... Read the full article
Sabres rookie Jack Eichel played in the world junior championship last year. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – USA Hockey announced this morning it will make a “major announcement” – that means the 2018 world junior championship – at 3 p.m. Friday on the 18-yard line at Ralph Wilson Stadium.
Sabres owner Terry Pegula and president Russ Brandon will attend the news conference.
The Sabres hosted the 2011 world juniors. Buffalo competed with Pittsburgh and St. Louis for the 2018 tournament.
Stay tuned for more details. Based on the venue for ... Read the full article