Bill Hoppe - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres’ Christian Ehrhoff OK after gruesome ear injury

BUFFALO – Forget about “Hoff,” Sabres defenseman Christian Ehrhoff has a new nickname.

“‘Earhoff,’ it’s the most common one, I think,” Ehrhoff, who needed 40 stitches to repair a cut on his right ear Sunday, said this morning inside the First Niagara Center.

As Ehrhoff spoke, a teammate shouted the nickname.

“I guess when you have a situation like that, the jokers, they always come out pretty quick,” Ehrhoff said.

He can smile now. But ... Read the full article

Sabres upset about Zac Rinaldo’s suspension, plan to be ‘vocal on this one’

BUFFALO – About three games ago, Sabres general manager Tim Murray told coach Ted Nolan to tell him everything that was happening.

“Because we’re going to complain about it,” Murray said.

The Sabres are clearly angry Flyers agitator Zac Rinaldo only received a four-game suspension for elbowing defenseman Chad Ruhwedel in the head late in Sunday’s 5-2 loss in Philadelphia.

Ruhwedel is home recovering from a concussion. Rinaldo, meanwhile, can play again next week.

Nolan ... Read the full article

Sabres recall Andrey Makarov, Mark Pysyk from Amerks

BUFFALO – With goalie Nathan Lieuwen sidelined by a concussion, the Sabres recalled rookie Andrey Makarov from Rochester this morning.

The team also summoned defenseman Mark Pysyk to replace the concussed Chad Ruhwedel and sent winger Luke Adam back to the Americans.

The 20-year-old Makarov has never played in the NHL and only recently earned a promotion to the Amerks.

Still, Makarov has played well in the AHL, going 3-3 with a 2.70 goals-against ... Read the full article

Injury-plagued Sabres could get 3 players back against Red Wings

BUFFALO – There is some good news for the reeling, injury-ravaged Sabres. They could have three players back tonight against the Detroit Red Wings. Of course, 13 – yes, a stunning 13 – are hurt right now.

Incredibly, the NHL’s worst team lost three more players in the third period of Sunday’s disastrous 5-2 loss in Philadelphia.

– Goalie Nathan Lieuwen, who has a disturbing history of concussions, suffered another one, coach Ted ... Read the full article

NHL suspends Flyers’ Zac Rinaldo 4 games for elbowing Sabres’ Chad Ruhwedel in head

BUFFALO – The NHL tonight suspended Philadelphia Flyers agitator Zac Rinaldo four games for elbowing Sabres defenseman Chad Ruhwedel in the head late in Sunday’s 5-2 loss to the Flyers.

Ruhwedel suffered a concussion and is out indefinitely.

In suspending Rinaldo for the second time in his 165-game career, NHL disciplinarian Brendan Shanahan said the winger took a poor angle of approach and didn’t make full-body contact with Ruhwedel, who had just shot the puck.... Read the full article

Injuries still ravaging Sabres; Goalie Nathan Lieuwen out with concussion

BUFFALO – There is some good news. The Sabres could have three injured players back Tuesday against Detroit. Of course, 13 players – yes, a stunning 13 – are hurt right now.

Incredibly, the Sabres suffered three more injuries in the third period of Sunday’s 5-2 loss in Philadelphia.

– Goalie Nathan Lieuwen, who has a disturbing history of concussions, suffered another one, coach Ted Nolan said. Philadelphia’s Jay Rosehill possibly hit the rookie ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Chad Ruhwedel out with concussion after elbow to head

Sabres defenseman Chad Ruhwedel suffered a concussion when Flyers agitator Zac Rinaldo elbowed him in the head 4:29 into the third period Sunday, Buffalo coach Ted Nolan said.

“Those are tough hits that we have to get rid of,” Nolan told reporters in Philadelphia following the Sabres’ 5-2 loss. “Those are not only dangerous hits, but it’s a putting a fellow player in jeopardy of his career.”

He added: “It’s just a dirty hit, and ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Marcus Foligno, Chris Stewart could return Tuesday

Surprise, surpise.

Three days after suffering what appeared to be a season-ending right leg injury, Sabres winger Marcus Foligno skated with his teammates this morning in Philadelphia and could play Tuesday.

“I was very shocked and quite surprised that he was able to walk around yesterday, and all of a sudden, to see him on the ice today … it’s very encouraging news,” coach Ted Nolan told reporters this afternoon in Philadelphia after the ... Read the full article

Dan Hickling on capturing Sabres goalie Nathan Lieuwen’s nifty glove save on Jaromir Jagr

Here’s Dan Hickling, our ace photographer, on capturing Nathan Lieuwen’s big glove save on the legendary Jaromir Jagr in Tuesday’s dramatic 3-2 shootout win against the New Jersey Devils, the rookie’s first NHL win.

Take it away, Dan …

Jaromir Jagr will be a certain first ballot Hall of Famer once his number finally does come up. He began his storied NHL career way back in 1990, which was one year before Sabres rookie ... Read the full article

Sabres recall Luke Adam from Amerks on emergency basis

With winger Marcus Foligno out for the season, the Buffalo Sabres today recalled Luke Adam from the Rochester Americans on an emergency basis.

The Sabres play tonight in Detroit against the Red Wings.

This is Adam’s third recall this season. The 23-year-old has one goal and one point in 10 NHL games.

Adam has 27 goals and 47 points in 63 AHL games.

The injury-ravaged Sabres are down 10 players.

Update: In a paper move ... Read the full article