Bill Hoppe - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres assign 3, recall 2 from Amerks, including rookie Mark Pysyk

BUFFALO – The Sabres changed up their roster this morning, sending three players to Rochester and recalling two.

Gone, most surprisingly, is rookie Mark Pysyk, who had played 31 games and was arguably the steadiest defenseman at times. The Sabres also assigned rookie defenseman Brayden McNabb and winger Luke Adam to the Americans.

Veteran forward Kevin Porter and rookie defenseman Chad Ruhwedel have been recalled.

The Sabres host the Winnipeg Jets tonight inside the ... Read the full article

Ted Nolan still evaluating Sabres’ defense corps

BUFFALO – Ted Nolan wants healthy competition between his defensemen. So with seven or eight at his disposal, the interim Sabres coach plans to keep tinkering until he finds the six he can play regularly.

Nolan hasn’t stopped evaluating a month into his tenure. That’s one reason Mark Pysyk, one of the NHL’s better rookie defenders, was scratched Saturday.

“Sometimes you like to take them out whenever they play a great game versus a ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Cody McCormick sidelined 4-6 weeks after blocking shot; Ted Nolan says roster move coming

BUFFALO – Sabres forward Cody McCormick suffered an upper body injury blocking a shot in Saturday’s 2-1 overtime loss to Calgary and will miss four to six weeks, interim coach Ted Nolan said Monday.

“One thing about doing what Cody does, unfortunately, sometimes that’s going to happen,” Nolan said after the Sabres prepared for tonight’s game against the Winnipeg Jets inside the First Niagara Center. “He’s fearless. He puts himself in front of shots that ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Cody McCormick out 4-6 weeks after blocking shot

“One thing about doing what Cody does, unfortunately, sometimes that’s going to happen,” Nolan said inside the First Niagara Center. “He’s fearless. He puts himself in front of shots that are coming 90 mph. Sometimes they hit you in the ... Read the full article

Sabres muster little offense against Flames, fall in OT

BUFFALO – An announced crowd of 18,368 fans trudged through the snow Saturday afternoon to watch the hapless Sabres face the Calgary Flames, a matchup of anemic NHL lightweights.

About three hours later, after the Sabres fell 2-1 in overtime, many of them had to be asking themselves why they bothered showing up.

Incredibly, the Sabres scored one goal or less for the 17^th time in 33 games this season.

Their 51^st goal, ... Read the full article

Matt Ellis on special recall to Sabres: ‘It couldn’t have happened any better’

BUFFALO – Moments after Matt Ellis scored the shootout winner in Friday’s wild Rochester outdoor game, Americans coach Chadd Cassidy found his captain at center ice in the midst of the celebration.

Cassidy had a special message for Ellis, who also had a goal and an assist in the “Frozen Frontier” game, an exciting 5-4 triumph played in 18-degree temperatures.

“(He) said, ‘The only thing that made tonight better is me getting to ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Cody Hodgson to take pregame warm-up

BUFFALO – Sabres center Cody Hodgson (lower body) will this take this afternoon’s pregame warm-up and decide if he can play against the Calgary Flames.

“He’s getting real close,” interim Sabres coach Ted Nolan said this afternoon inside the First Niagara Center.

Update: Hodgson is out again. Luke Adam is a healthy scratch up front.

If Hodgson misses his second game, Matt Ellis will play. The Sabres recalled the 32-year-old after he scored the ... Read the full article

Matt Ellis scores Amerks’ shootout winner in ‘Frozen Frontier,’ earns recall to Sabres

ROCHESTER – From a skill perspective, Chadd Cassidy had better options six rounds into Friday’s wild shootout. But the Americans coach wanted Matt Ellis, his trusted captain, to try to win the “Frozen Frontier,” an outdoor game played in 18-degree temperatures.

“With the game on the line, I want it on his tape because good things happen to good people,” Cassidy said. “There’s nobody that’s worked harder for the opportunities that he’s gotten than ... Read the full article

Sabres recall Matt Ellis from Amerks

ROCHESTER – Matt Ellis certainly earned this recall to the Buffalo Sabres.

Shortly after scoring the shootout winner in the Americans’ 5-4 triumph against the Lake Erie Monsters in Friday’s outdoor “Frozen Frontier,” the Sabres summoned their AHL captain, the Times Herald has learned.

Ellis also opened the scoring and added an assist. He hasn’t played in the NHL since the Sabres waived him in February.

The 32-year-old has played 197 games with the Sabres. ... Read the full article

Sabres confident offense improving, finally going to start scoring

BUFFALO – In Thursday’s 2-1 loss in Ottawa, Sabres winger Drew Stafford generated three strong scoring chances and a season-high six shots, yet endured his 15^th consecutive goalless game.

The 28-year-old missed the net on a glorious opportunity against a stickless goalie, drew a penalty after zooming to the crease and got stymied on a late breakaway by Craig Anderson with the Sabres down a goal.

No one embodies the Sabres’ scoring struggles more ... Read the full article