Bill Hoppe - Buffalo Hockey Beat

New ‘Sabres Standby’ program will offer more tickets to public

BUFFALO – Beginning with Friday’s game against Boston, fans can purchase last-minute tickets to Sabres contests at the First Niagara Center through the new “Sabres Standby” program, the team announced today.

Fans can sign up to be part of a queue of potential ticket-buyers at sabres.com/standby starting at 7 p.m. tonight and be eligible to purchase from a limited quantity of tickets.

The NHL’s new collective bargaining agreement requires each team to reserve an increased ... Read the full article

Former Sabre Kennedy back in NHL with Sharks

South Buffalo native and former Sabres forward Tim Kennedy returned to the NHL on Tuesday, skating 15:33 in the San Jose Sharks’ 1-0 overtime loss in Nashville.

Kennedy had been dominating the AHL, compiling 13 goals and 37 points in 37 games with Worchester.

The 26-year-old last played in the big leagues on Jan. 5, 2012 with the Florida Panthers.

Kennedy’s NHL career famously derailed in August 2010 when the Sabres walked away from a ... Read the full article

Sabres possess slew of underachievers in disappointing season

BUFFALO – On the surface, it sounds like a dynamic early-season combination. Goalie Ryan Miller locked in, on top of his game. Twenty-two goals and 49 points from the Sabres’ top line, highlighted by 11 scores and 23 points from superstar Thomas Vanek.

Well, it’s added up to a 5-7-1 record, 11 points and a last-place Northeast Division standing entering tonight’s tilt in Ottawa against the Senators.

The defense, the Sabres’ supposed strength, is ... Read the full article

Ellis with Amerks after clearing waivers

BUFFALO – Matt Ellis cleared waivers Monday and will report to the Rochester Americans, his first AHL stint since serving as the Portland Pirates’ captain in 2010-11.

The respected 31-year-old forward, a veteran of 267 NHL games, played six pointless contests with the Sabres this season and was scratched six times.

The Sabres waived him Sunday to make room for defenseman Robyn Regehr on the 23-man roster.

“He plays the game with a lot of ... Read the full article

Ellis clears waivers, will go to Amerks

BUFFALO – Matt Ellis cleared waivers this afternoon, TSN reported.

The forward will report to the Rochester Americans, his first AHL stint since serving as the Portland Pirates’ captain in 2010-11.

The 31-year-old, a veteran of 267 NHL games, played six contests with the Sabres this season and was scratched six times.

The Sabres waived him Sunday to make room for defenseman Robyn Regehr on the 23-man roster.

Ellis has 81 goals and 188 points ... Read the full article

Sabres give goalie Miller little help, fall to Bruins late

BUFFALO – A night after his dynamic effort stole a victory for his teammates in New York, the Sabres demanded an encore performance from goalie Ryan Miller.

Thirteen games into the season, the Sabres are a gigantic mess defensively, allowing 40 shots some nights and loads of scoring chances.

Miller can only do so much, but he dazzled again Sunday in the Sabres’ 3-1 loss to the scorching Boston Bruins, stopping 36 shots before 18,869 ... Read the full article

Grigorenko and Myers sit as Regehr returns; Sabres waive Ellis

BUFFALO – The Sabres’ lineup reshuffling Sunday included rookie Mikhail Grigorenko’s first healthy scratch but still left struggling defenseman Tyler Myers’ watching for a second consecutive night.

Meanwhile, the Sabres waived forward Matt Ellis to make room for defenseman Robyn Regehr on the 23-man roster prior to their 3-1 loss to the Boston Bruins.

Teams have until noon today to claim the 31-year-old Ellis, a high-energy fourth-liner.

Sabres’ Matt Ellis has been asset for years

With no roster space left, the Sabres waived forward Matt Ellis today.

Is this the end of the 31-year-old’s five-year run with the team? Would he clear waivers? It’s possible a team will grab him. Will he make it to Rochester?

Ellis could come back right away even if he goes down. He was the Sabres’ only spare forward just days ago. Another player will get injured at some point.

Whatever happens, the hardworking ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Myers still out as Regehr returns; Ellis on waivers

BUFFALO – Tyler Myers, an NHL-worst minus-9 this season, will sit his second straight game tonight, the struggling defenseman told the Times Herald.

It’s also expected defenseman Robyn Regehr will return tonight inside the First Niagara Center following a seven-game absence (lower body). Rookie T.J. Brennan could sit against the Boston Bruins.

With Regehr on injured reserve and the Sabres at the 23-man roster limit, the Sabres placed Matt Ellis, a healthy scratch recently, ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Tyler Myers could’ve been scratched much earlier

If the Buffalo Sabres’ defense corps hadn’t been down three regulars, it’s possible coach Lindy Ruff would’ve scratched the struggling Tyler Myers long before tonight’s contest against the Islanders in New York.

Instead, Myers got a few extra games to work his problems out. Ruff said Wednesday the 23-year-old’s game was improving.

Still, with Andrej Sekera (bone bruise) set to return, Myers will sit tonight as healthy scratch for the second time in his four-year ... Read the full article