Bill Hoppe - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres’ Andrej Meszaros explains weak reply to hit

BUFFALO – At the 14:06 mark of the second period in the Sabres’ 2-1 loss Wednesday, the Winnipeg Jets’ Adam Lowry hit winger Patrick Kaleta face-first into the boards, earning a five-minute major and a game misconduct.

As a bloodied Kaleta stayed on his knees behind the net, Sabres defenseman Andrej Meszaros, the closest player to Lowry, watched for a moment. Eventually, he skated over a cross-checked him meekly.

Update: Lowry has been suspended ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Chris Stewart finally ends long goal slump

BUFFALO – The question made Chris Stewart pause for a moment.

“I’m searching for the right answer here,” the struggling winger said Wednesday prior to scoring a breakaway goal in the Sabres’ 2-1 loss to the Winnipeg Jets inside the First Niagara Center.

Stewart, a two-time 28-goal scorer, has arguably been the Sabres’ biggest disappointment this season, compiling just two goals and three points in 22 games.

So much for that breakout season.

“It’s not ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Patrick Kaleta thrilled to play game in Buffalo again

BUFFALO – The 412-day wait to play a home game has been excruciating for Sabres winger Patrick Kaleta, an Angola native.

Since his last appearance here Oct. 10, 2013, the 28-year-old has endured a 10-game suspension, a surprising demotion to the minors, a torn ACL and what was basically a broken face.

Finally, Kaleta will play again tonight at the First Niagara Center. It might be a different experience, too. Kaleta, a winger his entire ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Torrey Mitchell enjoying best stretch in years

BUFFALO – After watching Torrey Mitchell score the winning goal on a sore foot late in Saturday’s 2-1 win in Washington, Sabres coach Ted Nolan jokingly asked the center if he had heard of Toronto Maple Leafs legend Bobby Baun.

Mitchell’s outing, of course, wasn’t as gutsy or memorable as the time Baun scored an overtime winner in the Stanley Cup final on a broken leg 50 years ago.

Still, given the way Mitchell had ... Read the full article

Sabres could use Patrick Kaleta at center

BUFFALO – Patrick Kaleta, center? Believe it. It could be happen Wednesday, Sabres coach Ted Nolan said.

Kaleta, a winger his entire nine-year career, has practiced in the middle the last two days. Nolan said Monday the Sabres could recall a center. For now, however, they are “going to keep the status quo.”

“He’s been waiting to get in,” Nolan said this afternoon inside the First Niagara Center. “So we’ll maybe see how that ... Read the full article

Sabres goalie Jhonas Enroth making strong bid to regain No. 1 job

BUFFALO – Michal Neuvirth, the Sabres’ top goalie before a bruised knee briefly shelved him last week, has already recovered. The Czech has been practicing and appears ready to dress for Wednesday’s game.

But after recently starting six of eight games and seizing the No. 1 job, Neuvirth must wait his turn to play.

The goaltending tide is shifting again.

Sabres goalie Jhonas Enroth dazzled in Neuvirth’s absence, stopping 62 of the 64 shots ... Read the full article

Sabres have special memories of Pat Quinn; Michal Neuvirth ready to return

BUFFALO – Three Sabres – winger Tyler Ennis, center Cody Hodgson and defenseman Tyler Myers – played for former NHL coach and executive Pat Quinn, an iconic figure who died Sunday at 71 following a long illness.

Quinn coached the players to a gold medal with Team Canada at the 2009 world junior championship in Ottawa.

“He was awesome for us,” Ennis this afternoon inside the First Niagara Center.

Canada hasn’t won gold since, something ... Read the full article

Sabres send goalie Nathan Lieuwen to Amerks

BUFFALO – The Sabres sent goalie Nathan Lieuwen back to Rochester today.

That could mean goalie Michal Neuvirth, out since suffering a lower-body injury Tuesday, is healthy.

With Lieuwen backing up, Sabres goalie Jhonas Enroth made 43 saves in Saturday’s 2-1 win in Washington.

Lieuwen has struggled badly with the AHL Americans this season, going 3-4 with a 3.53 goals against average and .876 save percentage.... Read the full article

Sabres’ Cody McCormick out with apparent concussion

Buffalo Sabres center Cody McCormick left Saturday’s 2-1 win against the Capitals with a possible concussion after Eric Fehr’s skate hit him in the head during the first period.

“Any time it has to do with the head you worry all the time,” Sabres coach Ted Nolan told reporters in Washington. “There’s no such thing as a mild one or a little one. It is what it is. We’ll keep our fingers crossed and see ... Read the full article

Maturity has helped Sabres’ Nikita Zadorov become NHL regular

BUFFALO – Nine weeks ago, Nikita Zadorov wasn’t even ready to play in a prospects tournament. The 19-year-old Sabres defenseman, one of the few players with NHL experience, got benched.

“That benching was not because I’m a bad player, because I was not ready for that game,” Zadorov said Thursday inside the First Niagara Center. “Coach (Chadd Cassidy) said I didn’t have enough effort. It’s kind of my bad, and it was in my head.... Read the full article