WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
Calder Cup Playoffs Edition
Drew Stafford skates this morning. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – If you haven’t noticed, the Sabres received no help Thursday night. The eighth-place New York Rangers, tonight’s opponent, throttled hapless Florida. Ninth-place Winnipeg beat Carolina in overtime.
With 48 points, both clubs lead the 10th-place Sabres by four. A regulation loss tonight eliminates them from postseason contention.
“We just got to win out,” Sabres winger John Scott said this morning inside the First Niagara Center. “We got to do what we ... Read the full article
Steve Ott knows the Sabres need help to make the playoffs. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The Sabres have shattered the widespread belief they would finish a lost season meekly and perhaps contend for a lottery pick instead of making an unlikely run at the Eastern Conference’s final playoff spot.
In dealing captain Jason Pominville and two other respected veterans for draft picks and prospects prior to the April 3 trade deadline, general manager Darcy Regier openly talked about the future and shifting the focus to next season.
The ... Read the full article
Thomas Vanek (26) and some teammates wanted to salute Boston fans. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The Sabres first talked about a postgame salute beside the Boston Bruins for fans inside the TD Garden prior to Wednesday’s emotional game, the city’s first major sporting event since the Boston Marathon bombings killed three people and injured 180 on Monday.
Sabres assistant captains Steve Ott, Drew Stafford and Thomas Vanek spoke with trainer Tim Macre and equipment manager Rip Simonick about a special tribute for the more than 17,000 spectators in ... Read the full article
Steve Ott knows the Sabres need help to make the playoffs. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
AMHERST – For one night at least, the Sabres will become huge Florida Panthers fans.
“Absolutely,” winger Steve Ott said following the 10th-place Sabres’ short practice inside the Northtown Center. “We need help. With (teams ahead) having games in hand, we definitely need help.”
The NHL’s worst club faces the eighth-place Rangers tonight in New York, a tilt the Sabres desperately need the Blue Shirts to lose in regulation.
“Any opponent that’s playing ... Read the full article
Thomas Vanek talked to Boston captain Zdeno Chara about saluting the crowd. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
AMHERST – The Buffalo Sabres first talked about a postgame salute beside the Boston Bruins for fans inside the TD Garden prior to Wednesday’s emotional game, the first major sporting event in the city since Monday’s Boston Marathon bombings killed three people and injured 180.
Sabres assistant captains Steve Ott, Drew Stafford and Thomas Vanek spoke with trainer Tim Macre and equipment manager Rip Simonick about a special tribute for the more than 17,000 fans ... Read the full article
Some key goals from Kevin Porter (12) have helped the Sabres recently. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
It’s still a long shot, Sabres fans. But Wednesday’s dramatic 3-2 shootout win in Boston moved the 10th-place club to within two points of the eighth-place New York Rangers for the Eastern Conference’s final playoff spot.
Conveniently, the Rangers come to Buffalo on Friday for a must-see showdown.
Show of hands … who thought the Sabres would still be in the postseason picture a week after their wretched 5-1 home loss to ... Read the full article
Nathan Gerbe played three seasons at Boston College. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – If Sabres defenseman Chad Ruhwedel hadn’t signed his first NHL contract last week, then the rookie would’ve been watching the Boston Marathon up close on Monday, celebrating Patriots’ Day with friends like he had while attending UMass Lowell.
Ruhwedel knows Boston well and enjoys the city. So does Sabres winger Nathan Gerbe, who spent three years at Boston College.
Naturally, Monday’s terrorist bomb attacks that killed three people near the marathon finish ... Read the full article
Luke Adam played four games with the Sabres. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The Rochester Americans received two forwards for their playoff push today.
The Sabres sent Luke Adam, a healthy scratch three of the last four contests, back to the Amerks after playing four games, the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle reported.
The 22-year-old scored one goal during his first NHL stint in more than a year.
Meanwhile, the Amerks have recalled Daniel Catenacci, the 77th overall pick in 2011, from the Ontario ... Read the full article
Mikhail Grigorenko (25) returned to the Sabres on Tuesday. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – For the time being at least, 18-year-old rookie Mikhail Grigorenko is back with the Sabres following a one-month stint in junior.
The Russian center practiced Tuesday inside the First Niagara Center and traveled with the team to Boston for tonight’s tilt against the Bruins. But Grigorenko will likely be scratched.
Rather than sending Grigorenko to AHL Rochester, where he’s now eligible to play with the Quebec Remparts’ season having ended last week, ... Read the full article
Chad Ruhwedel would’ve been watching the Boston Marathon if he hadn’t left school. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – If Chad Ruhwedel hadn’t signed his first NHL contract last week, then the Sabres rookie would’ve been watching the Boston Marathon, celebrating Patriots’ Day with friends like he had while attending UMass Lowell.
Monday’s bomb blasts near the finish line that killed three people and injured 180 have shaken Ruhwedel. He had friends in the area enjoying the day. His sister was just landing in Boston. Everyone was OK.
“If I didn’t have ... Read the full article
