Bill Hoppe - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres hoping to finally win at home, earn crowd’s support

BUFFALO – Fifteen days ago, as the Sabres began clawing back from a three-goal deficit against the Dallas Stars, the atmosphere inside the First Niagara Center shifted dramatically.

For one of the few times this trying season, the building buzzed with positive energy. The same fans who had booed and groaned all month cheered the Sabres’ strong effort.

The players felt the crowd’s support.

“That’s how it should be every game. We got to bring ... Read the full article

Ron Rolston switches up Sabres’ lines

BUFFALO – Top NHL lines rarely get benched long, especially on anemic teams with little or no depth.

So why did coach Ron Rolston sit the Matt Moulson, Cody Hodgson and Tyler Ennis trio the final 26 minutes of the Sabres’ 6-2 loss Friday in Anaheim.

“I’m not going to discuss that,” Rolston said Monday inside the First Niagara Center after the Sabres prepared for tonight’s contest against the Los Angeles Kings.

As expected, ... Read the full article

Ron Rolston moves Steve Ott to Sabres’ top line

BUFFALO – Top NHL lines rarely get benched long, especially on anemic teams with little or no depth.

So why did coach Ron Rolston sit the Matt Moulson, Cody Hodgson and Tyler Ennis trio the final 26 minutes of the Sabres’ 6-2 loss Friday in Anaheim.

“I’m not going to discuss that,” Rolston said after practice today inside the First Niagara Center.

As expected, the 3-15-1 Sabres, who have just 31 goals, mixed up their ... Read the full article

Sabres change lines after embarrassing loss

BUFFALO – When you’re 3-15-1 and have 31 goals, why should any line stay intact?

The Sabres, fresh off Friday’s embarrassing 6-2 loss in Anaheim, have changed their forward combinations for practice this morning inside the First Niagara Center.

The top trio coach Ron Rolston benched the final 26 minutes against the Ducks – Matt Moulson, Cody Hodgson and Tyler Ennis – is no longer.

Captain Steve Ott is skating on the right wing beside ... Read the full article

Former Sabres captain Jason Pominville on 50-goal pace with Wild

Warning! This might make you cringe, Buffalo Sabres fans.

Jason Pominville scored again in the Minnesota Wild’s 3-2 shootout win Saturday in Carolina, giving the former Sabres captain 11 goals in 18 games.

Nineteen games into the season, the hapless Sabres have 31 goals as a team. Their leading scorer, Cody Hodgson, has five goals and 13 points.

At his current pace, Pominville would score 50 goals. The 30-year-old winger tallied a career-high 34 ... Read the full article

Healthy scratch an early sign Sabres will move on from Ville Leino

Not long ago, there was a belief among Buffalo Sabres fans – actually, looking back, it was probably more of a wish – a healthy and refreshed Ville Leino would succeed this season.

Sure, maybe the 30-year-old winger would never reach the lofty expectations of the ridiculous six-year, $27 million contract he signed July 1, 2011. But perhaps the Finn, with his hip repaired and a full season under new coach Ron Rolston, would ... Read the full article

Forgetting about Sabres helped Amerks star Luke Adam find AHL game

BRIGHTON – Whatever’s going on with the Buffalo Sabres right now, well, Luke Adam doesn’t care about it. Whatever general manager Darcy Regier or coach Ron Rolston are saying, the 23-year-old Rochester Americans winger isn’t worried about it.

“I’m not focused on what the Sabres are doing,” Adam said Tuesday inside Bill Gray’s Iceplex. “Frankly, I don’t care what’s going on up there, what people are saying or how everything’s going.”

Adam, whose scorching eight-goal, ... Read the full article

Patrick Kaleta trying to embrace demotion from Sabres to Amerks

BRIGHTON – Inevitably, early during Patrick Kaleta’s stint with the Rochester Americans, an opponent will try taking the hard-hitting, ultra-aggressive winger over the edge.

As a former NHL regular in the AHL, a league full of yahoos, Kaleta will have a target on his back as he works at redesigning his game and earning another roster spot with the Buffalo Sabres. General manager Darcy Regier gave Kaleta a strong message after waiving him Saturday: ... Read the full article

Patrick Kaleta grateful for opportunity with Amerks

BRIGHTON – Patrick Kaleta knows his Buffalo Sabres career hasn’t ended.

Instead of jettisoning him from the organization, his hometown club sent the hard-hitting winger to the Rochester Americans with a strong message from general manager Darcy Regier: redesign your game, stop getting suspended and you could have a roster spot again in the future.

The Sabres haven’t closed the door on Kaleta, and the 27-year-old plans on using his first AHL assignment in nearly ... Read the full article

Struggling Drew Stafford sad to see teammates leave, wants to stay with Sabres: ‘I’m not going to quit’

BUFFALO – Drew Stafford started shaking his head. The veteran winger paused before answering a question about seeing so many teammates and friends depart the hapless Sabres recently.

With Thomas Vanek gone, only goalie Ryan Miller’s tenure outranks Stafford, who joined the Sabres early in 2006-07. When the 28-year-old looks around the dressing room these days, he mostly sees young, unfamiliar faces.

“It’s just times have changed, you know?” Stafford said last week inside ... Read the full article