Bill Hoppe - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres notes: Johan Larsson playing best hockey of season

BUFFALO – Early in the Sabres’ 4-2 comeback win Wednesday in Montreal, for one of the few times this season, center Johan Larsson drove to the net with authority and narrowly missed scoring just his second goal.

With 8:14 left in the contest, the Swede skated to the crease again and was rewarded with his first score in 20 games, the winner against the Canadiens.

For Larsson, 23, it was his best performance in what ... Read the full article

Rasmus Ristolainen’s friends to attend Bruins game; Sabres goalie Chad Johnson to start

BUFFALO – In his three NHL seasons, Rasmus Ristolainen’s close friends from his native Finland had never seen him play in person. Naturally, the defenseman wanted to make their first experience worthwhile, so he figured they should watch him in Montreal’s Bell Centre, one of the league’s best venues.

On Wednesday, five friends saw Ristolainen play in the Sabres’ 4-2 comeback win against the Canadiens. TV cameras caught the group clad in blue No. 55 ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Zemgus Girgensons finding offensive game beside Jack Eichel

BUFFALO – Barely a minute into the third period last Tuesday, Sabres winger Zemgus Girgensons roared down the left side into the Ottawa zone before stopping and lifting a saucer pass to center Jack Eichel, who was zooming to the net down the middle.

The rookie connected, got stymied by Senators goalie Craig Anderson but managed to tuck the loose puck in for the winner in the Sabres’ 3-2 comeback victory.

The slick score, ... Read the full article

Healthy Sabres defense corps presents problem

BUFFALO – In reality, it’s a good problem. With Josh Gorges ready to play, the Sabres have eight healthy defensemen. Given the rough-and-tumble nature of the position, bodies are always at a premium, especially at this time of year.

Still, Sabres coach Dan Bylsma doesn’t like it much. He’s already had to mothball defenseman Carlo Colaiacovo, who has played one game since Dec. 7. Now someone else must sit.

What will the Sabres do? Could ... Read the full article

Sabres feel rested, ready for final stretch following break

BUFFALO – Instead of jetting away for a quick vacation during the NHL All-Star break, Dan Bylsma stayed close to home and enjoyed a rare breather from the arduous six-month season. The Sabres coach still watched some AHL games in Rochester, but he mostly relaxed and spent a little time fishing.

After getting “muddied out” of one trip, Bylsma caught 15 steelhead at an undisclosed location.

“We had a very good day of steelhead fishing,” ... Read the full article

Sabres emerge from NHL All-Star break healed up

BUFFALO – Before the Sabres started their first post-NHL All-Star break practice this afternoon inside HarborCenter, coach Dan Bylsma wanted his team to scrimmage. But instead of using five on a side, he had the entire team go out and threw two pucks on the ice.

He also instructed players to use their opposite hands, so lefties shot righty and vice versa.

As you might expect, it looked pretty odd. It wasn’t easy, either.

“It’s ... Read the full article

John Scott named NHL’s first star; Sabres rookie Jack Eichel third

BUFFALO – Right now, it’s John Scott’s world … we’re merely living in it.

A day after earning NHL All-Star Game MVP honors as the Pacific Division captain, the former Sabres tough guy today was named the league’s first star of the week.

Remember, Scott, who scored two goals in the new three-on-three format, isn’t even on an NHL roster. The Arizona Coyotes recently traded the NHL’s leading All-Star vote-getter to the Montreal Canadiens, who ... Read the full article

Matt Donovan hopes regular duty with Amerks helps earn recall to Sabres

ROCHESTER – It’s easy to forget, but almost four months ago, Matt Donovan made the Buffalo Sabres’ roster out of training camp and briefly stayed as the eighth defenseman.

After sitting out three games as a healthy scratch, the Sabres sent Donovan, 25, to the AHL, where he has quietly resumed a career that stalled last season with the New York Islanders.

Sure, getting demoted to the Americans was disappointing. But simply having an opportunity ... Read the full article

Sabres goalie prospect Linus Ullmark happy with Amerks

ROCHESTER – Ten minutes after his occasionally suspect 20-save outing ended Wednesday, goalie Linus Ullmark was his normal loquacious self, joking and laughing with a familiar face following the Americans’ entertaining 6-5 overtime win.

Ullmark’s third appearance since the Buffalo Sabres sent him to their AHL affiliate earlier this month was perhaps his toughest game in what has mostly been an impressive rookie season. His teammates frequently abandoned him, leaving Syracuse Crunch players open for ... Read the full article

Sabres send forwards to Amerks

BUFFALO – The Sabres sent forwards Cal O’Reilly, Tim Schaller and Phil Varone to the Rochester Americans today, the start of the NHL All-Star break.

The Amerks host the Syracuse Crunch tonight.

O’Reilly, 29, has one assist in five NHL games this season. Schaller, 25, has one goal and three points in 17 appearances. Varone, 25, has one goal in four games.

O’Reilly is eligible again to play in the AHL All-Star Game on ... Read the full article