Bill Hoppe - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres goalie Robin Lehner feels good in Amerks rehab start

ROCHESTER – Robin Lehner knew his first rehab appearance for the AHL Americans could be a bit rocky. After all, the goalie hadn’t played since suffering a high ankle sprain opening night, his debut as the Buffalo Sabres’ new starter.

Lehner, 24, looked shaky at times Friday inside the Blue Cross War Memorial. In his first action since Oct. 8, the Swede allowed a goal on the fifth shot he faced and three scores on ... Read the full article

Sabres still work in progress halfway through season

BUFFALO – Sabres coach Dan Bylsma noticed almost immediately, way back in September, and it surprised him. Training camp had just started with an overhauled roster – about 10 new faces, in fact – yet his players were already forming close bonds.

“They enjoy being a part of this team and part of this group,” Bylsma said Thursday inside the First Niagara Center. “It has developed. It is a part of what we are. … ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Rasmus Ristolainen struggling

BUFFALO – For a portion of today’s practice, Rasmus Ristolainen watched the Sabres go through their drills from bench. Was coach Dan Bylsma sending the struggling defenseman a message?

“Not at all,” Bylsma said inside the First Niagara Center.

Bylsma said “there was nothing to read into it” and he was simply trying out some new pairings. Still, Ristolainen, the Sabres’ ace defenseman all season, has been struggling beside partner Josh Gorges.

Ristolainen, 21, is ... Read the full article

Ryan O’Reilly grateful for NHL All-Star berth, opportunity with Sabres

BUFFALO – Right away, everything has clicked for center Ryan O’Reilly. In just half a season here, the 24-year-old has quickly become the Sabres’ MVP and perhaps their most popular player.

O’Reilly plays more minutes than any other NHL forward. He leads the Sabres in scoring and has 17 points in the last 17 games. No one in the league has taken more faceoffs. Following losses, he regularly takes responsibility for his performance and ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Ryan O’Reilly selected for NHL All-Star Game

BUFFALO – In just half a season here, center Ryan O’Reilly has already become perhaps the Sabres’ most popular player.

In a blue-collar city, O’Reilly’s versatile style and accountable personality have resonated with the Sabres’ rabid fan base. The 24-year-old plays more than any other NHL forward. He leads the team in scoring and has 17 points in the last 17 games. Following games, O’Reilly often passionately laments what he and his teammates couldn’t accomplish.... Read the full article

Sabres reeling after loss to Panthers

BUFFALO – In one dressing room, the smiles told the story. After shellacking the reeling Sabres 5-1 on Tuesday, the upstart Florida Panthers confidently celebrated their franchise-record 10^th consecutive victory.

“Ten, might as well just keep going and win every game,” said winger Jonathan Huberdeau, one of the Panthers’ young stars.

Yes, the Panthers, the NHL’s perennial laughingstock, have quickly morphed into the league’s hottest team.

Down the hallway inside the First Niagara Center, ... Read the full article

Panthers star Jaromir Jagr still feasting on Sabres

BUFFALO – Late Monday, around 10:30 or 11:30 p.m., as many of his Florida Panthers teammates were probably turning in for the night, 43-year-old Jaromir Jagr was allegedly inside the First Niagara Center working out.

“Our cameras caught him,” Sabres coach Dan Bylsma said Tuesday prior to Jagr’s 87^th career appearance against Buffalo, a 5-1 Panthers win in which the Czech scored his 736^th NHL goal.

As Jagr has grown older, his legend ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Robin Lehner and Mark Pysyk to begin rehab assignments

BUFFALO – Sabres goalie Robin Lehner and defenseman Mark Pysyk will begin AHL rehab assignments with the Rochester Americans later this week, coach Dan Bylsma said this morning.

The Amerks play three games in three days this weekend, so Lehner might start two of the three. Bylsma also said he would be with the team a week from Wednesday.

Lehner hasn’t played since suffering a high right ankle sprain Oct. 8, opening night. Pysyk, meanwhile, ... Read the full article

Sabres’ defense corps much improved

BUFFALO – When Mark Pysyk returns from his broken foot later this week, the Sabres will receive a smooth, puck-moving defenseman and have what coach Dan Bylsma believes is a good problem.

Assuming no one else gets injured before Pysyk plays his first game since Nov. 17, the Sabres, who have used the same six defensemen the last 11 games, will have eight on the roster, “not a good number to have,” Bylsma said.

Still, ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Nick Deslauriers out 3-5 weeks with lower-body injury

BUFFALO – Winger Nick Deslauriers, the Sabres’ top physical presence recently, will be out three to five weeks with a lower-body injury, coach Dan Bylsma said this afternoon.

Deslauriers was injured Saturday afternoon in the Sabres’ 4-3 loss to Detroit but finished the game. He was seen today wearing a boot on his right foot.

Bylsma said Deslauriers has “been our most physical guy the last 10 games” as a fourth-liner. Deslauriers has three ... Read the full article