Bill Hoppe - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Winless Sabres mixing things up; Jhonas Enroth likely starting

BUFFALO – So, who’s starting in goal for the winless Sabres against the Tampa Bay Lightning?

“You’ll see tonight,” Sabres coach Ron Rolston said this morning inside the First Niagara Center.

Jhonas Enroth left the ice first following the morning skate, a sign the backup will likely receive his second straight nod with Ryan Miller nursing a sore groin.

Still, Miller participated fully in the skate and Matt Hackett, the organization’s No. 3 goalie... Read the full article

Youthful Sabres focusing on solving long list of problems

BUFFALO – This is a new era for the rebuilding Sabres, a struggling team featuring five rookies, three of them teenagers.

At one point during Monday’s long practice, the Sabres, who’ve done little right while losing their first three games, went through a pass-heavy drill.

Simply dishing the puck can be an arduous task these days.

“We need to get better there,” coach Ron Rolston said inside the First Niagara Center after the Sabres ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Ryan Miller could play Tuesday; Marcus Foligno set to return

BUFFALO – Ryan Miller wants to act cautiously. The Sabres goalie doesn’t want his mild groin injury dogging him all season.

“Three games into the season I didn’t want to create a bigger issue out of it,” Miller said today after taking some shots on the ice. “(I’m) just trying to get myself to the point where I don’t have to worry about the rest of the year instead of having something that keeps coming ... Read the full article

Alexander Sulzer back with Sabres following unexpected AHL stint

PITTSBURGH – Alexander Sulzer lasted one game – check that, one “really rough game,” the defenseman said – in the minors before the Buffalo Sabres recalled him.

In his first AHL appearance since April 14, 2010, Sulzer was a minus-3 in Rochester’s embarrassing 8-1 season-opening loss to Grand Rapids on Friday.

Still, with Henrik Tallinder (upper body) hurt, the Sabres summoned Sulzer, who was waived last Sunday, following the game for some insurance.

The ... Read the full article

Feeble Sabres fall to Penguins, left searching for answers

PITTSBURGH – Three defeats. Two goals. One team going nowhere fast.

For the first time in their 43-year history, the Buffalo Sabres have started a season with three consecutive losses.

In Saturday’s setback, a 4-1 loss to the high-powered Penguins before 18,641 fans inside the Consol Energy Center, the Sabres’ goal drought went on the length of more than two full games before Thomas Vanek scored with 4:54 left in the contest.

“It’s the same ... Read the full article

Ryan Miller’s ‘minor’ injury forces Sabres to recall goalie Matt Hackett

PITTSBURGH – Matt Hackett was home in Rochester, “about to pass out,” the goalie joked, when the phone rang around midnight Saturday.

Hackett had just been shelled in the Americans’ disastrous 8-1 season-opening loss to Grand Rapids, allowing six goals on 30 shots in just 36:35 before mercifully getting yanked.

The 23-year-old wasn’t expecting a recall to the Buffalo Sabres hours later.

“Never seen getting called up for six goals,” Hackett said Saturday afternoon prior ... Read the full article

Sabres goalie Ryan Miller questionable for tonight’s game against Penguins; Matt Hackett up from Amerks

PITTSBURGH – Matt Hackett was home in Rochester, “about to pass out,” the goalie joked, when the phone rang around midnight.

Hackett had just been shelled in the Americans’ disastrous 8-1 season-opening loss, allowing six goals on 30 shots in just 36:35 before mercifully getting yanked.

The 23-year-old wasn’t expecting a recall to the Buffalo Sabres.

“Never seen getting called up for six goals,” Hackett said this afternoon after participating in the Sabres’ optional skate ... Read the full article

Ron Rolston upset with Sabres’ poor effort in shutout loss to Senators

BUFFALO – Don’t let the close score, the Sabres’ bevy of prime scoring chances or Ryan Miller’s brilliant goaltending performance overshadow a pretty wretched effort.

“We didn’t play a very good hockey game at the end of the day,” a visibly agitated Ron Rolston said Friday following the Sabres’ exciting 1-0 loss to the Ottawa Senators in the home opener inside the First Niagara Center.

The coach acknowledged the obvious, saying Miller, whose scintillating 45-save ... Read the full article

Report: Sabres recall goalie Matt Hackett

BUFFALO – Why do the Sabres, who play the Penguins tonight in Pittsburgh, need another goalie?

Matt Hackett left the Blue Cross War Memorial on Friday with his equipment following Rochester’s ugly 8-1 loss to Grand Rapids and has been recalled, the Democrat and Chronicle’s Kevin Oklobzija reported.

Goalie Ryan Miller dazzled during the Sabres’ 1-0 loss to the Ottawa Senators on Friday and spoke with reporters following his 45-save effort. Backup Jhonas ... Read the full article

Rookie Johan Larsson ready for Sabres debut

BUFFALO – Johan Larsson isn’t just another prospect. Having been acquired in April’s huge Jason Pominville trade with Minnesota, the 21-year-old center’s one of the Sabres’ most hyped youngsters.

Not many players get traded for a captain and franchise cornerstone.

“They really wanted me, I think,” Larsson, who will make his Sabres debut in tonight’s home opener, said this morning inside the First Niagara Center. “I’m just going like they told me, go out and ... Read the full article