WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
November Edition
Michal Neuvirth kept the Sabres in Tuesday’s game. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
TORONTO – It turns out that nice win three days earlier was an anomaly. The hapless Buffalo Sabres reverted back into a laughingstock in Tuesday’s embarrassing 4-0 loss to the Maple Leafs, getting thoroughly dominated throughout their eighth loss in 10 tries this season.
How ugly was Buffalo’s effort?
The Sabres, three weeks into their 44th season, sprinkled a franchise-low 10 shots on Leafs goalie Jonathan Bernier. The Leafs, meanwhile, pumped 37 shots on ... Read the full article
Chris Stewart began his NHL career in 2008-09. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
TORONTO – Incredibly, Tuesday’s 4-0 loss to the Maple Leafs, Chris Stewart’s 392nd NHL game, was his first appearance in his hometown.
Toronto was the only city the 26-year-old Buffalo Sabres winger hadn’t played in.
How did that happen?
Stewart played in the Western Conference with Colorado and St. Louis before the Sabres acquired him in March.
“My first year I got healthy scratched here, and then the lockout year we didn’t play the ... Read the full article
Tonight will be Chris Stewart’s 392nd NHL game. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
TORONTO – Incredibly, tonight’s tilt against the Maple Leafs, Chris Stewart’s 392nd NHL game, will be his first appearance in his hometown.
Toronto’s the only city the 26-year-old Buffalo Sabres winger hasn’t played in.
How did that happen?
Stewart played in the Western Conference with Colorado and St. Louis before the Sabres acquired him in March.
“My first year I got healthy scratched here, and then the lockout year we didn’t play the East, ... Read the full article
Josh Gorges (4) leads the NHL in blocked shots. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
TORONTO – Take away the character, take away the tenacity, and Buffalo Sabres veteran Josh Gorges becomes a run-of-the-mill defenseman.
The undrafted Gorges has built an unlikely 10-year NHL career by showcasing passion – on and off the ice.
“I have to play with my heart,” Gorges, whose Sabres play the Maple Leafs tonight, said Monday. “I have to play everything I got every shift.”
The 30-year-old believes he couldn’t do either of those wearing ... Read the full article
Michal Neuvirth has played three games this season. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
TORONTO – Goalie Michal Neuvirth, once thought to be the Buffalo Sabres’ backup, will make his second consecutive start tonight in Toronto, coach Ted Nolan said.
What’s going on? Wasn’t Jhonas Enroth supposed to be the No. 1 goalie?
Tonight’s contest will be Neuvirth’s third nod in the last four games.
Nolan said Monday he never anointed Enroth, who’s played six contests, the starting netminder.
“I said he won the right to start the season,” ... Read the full article
Jhonas Enroth has played six games this season. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Goalie Michal Neuvirth, once thought to be the Sabres’ backup, will make his second consecutive start Tuesday in Toronto, coach Ted Nolan said this afternoon.
What’s going on? Wasn’t Jhonas Enroth supposed to be the No. 1 goalie?
Neuvirth will have earned three of four nods after the Sabres play the Maple Leafs.
Nolan said today he never anointed Enroth, who’s played six games, the starting netminder.
“I said he won the right ... Read the full article
Brian Gionta returned to today’s game shortly after taking a scary hit. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
So, umm, there were no penalties called on the play below.
Even Sabres winger Torrey Mitchell, who jumped the San Jose Sharks’ Tommy Wingels after he knocked captain Brian Gionta head-first into the boards early in today’s game, escaped unscathed.
How can that scary hit go unpenalized? Would something have been called if Wingels hit a star player?
Luckily, Gionta got up and returned to the game later in the period.
Check out the video ... Read the full article
Connor McDavid had four points Wednesday. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Six months ago, Steve Poland paid $110 for a discounted gold Sabres alternate jersey at the team store and had 17-year-old junior superstar Connor McDavid’s last name and No. 97 stitched on it.
“I bought it as a joke for this forthcoming season,” Poland said Wednesday prior to watching McDavid and the Erie Otters inside the First Niagara Center.
Poland, like a lot of rabid fans, wants the Sabres to lose all season ... Read the full article
Connor McDavid stretches Tuesday in Buffalo. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Hockey phenom Connor McDavid mostly avoids the kind words that are being written about him.
“I’ve been trying to do that as much as I can, because it can either get in your head that you’re too good, or bad press can also get in your head and do negative things for you,” the slick Erie Otters center said Tuesday. “I just try to stay away from reading about yourself.”
Some words, however, ... Read the full article
Drew Stafford has zero goals this season. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The Sabres, the lowest-scoring team in modern NHL history last season, have picked up where they left off in April.
Yes, it’s still early, but the Sabres have scored just seven goals in six games, a paltry 1.17 average. The only team averaging fewer goals a game, the Florida Panthers, beat the Sabres 1-0 on Friday.
Four Sabres have scored this season. Tyler Ennis, Marcus Foligno and Zemgus Girgensons all have two ... Read the full article