WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
Offseason Edition
Rasmus Ristolainen missed four games. ©2019, Hickling Images
BUFFALO – Despite being confined to his bed by the flu last week unable to eat or drink, Sabres defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen had no problem getting up for Tuesday’s meaningless late-season game.
“I mentally feel really fresh,” Ristolainen said prior to the Sabres’ 3-2 loss to the Nashville Predators inside KeyBank Center. “It’s kind of fun to play hockey. Just sort of bring some fresh energy to the room and on the ice.”
The reeling ... Read the full article
Marco Scandella blocked a shot Saturday. ©2019, Hickling Images
BUFFALO – Sabres defenseman Marco Scandella’s season is over.
Scandella, out since blocking a shot with his foot Saturday, will miss the final three games, coach Phil Housley said.
The Sabres, however, will have minute-munching defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen back tonight against the Nashville Predators following a four-game absence.
Ristolainen, 24, said he lost “a lot” of weight battling the flu.
“Actually, I felt really, really good today,” Ristolainen said this morning inside KeyBank Center. “A ... Read the full article
Sam Reinhart (23) battles in front of Detroit goalie Jimmy Howard on Thursday. ©2019, Hickling Images
BUFFALO – Rookie Victor Olofsson heard Jack Eichel calling for the puck, so he quickly spun around along the right boards and adroitly fed the Sabres captain as a zoomed down the slot.
A second later, an uncovered Eichel beat Detroit Red Wings goalie Jimmy Howard, tying the game 15:42 into the third period Thursday.
“I was just trying to get it in there in the middle,” Olofsson said following his NHL debut, a 5-4 ... Read the full article
Victor Olofsson was a seventh-round pick in 2014. ©2019, Hickling Images
BUFFALO – By late October, as Sabres prospect Victor Olofsson closed a stellar month in which he scored five goals and 15 points, a recall to the NHL felt inevitable.
But instead of summoning Olofsson, 23, from the Rochester Americans right away, the Sabres left the slick Swedish winger in the AHL for almost six months.
The 5-foot-11, 181-pound Olofsson, meanwhile, kept scoring and acclimating to North American hockey, cementing his spot among the Sabres’ ... Read the full article
Victor Olofsson has enjoyed a terrific season. ©2019, Micheline Veluvolu, Rochester Americans
BUFFALO – Rasmus Dahlin has never seen a shot as lethal as the one Sabres newcomer Victor Olofsson possesses.
“He’s probably got the best shot I’ve ever seen in my whole life,” the defenseman said of Olofsson, who will make his NHL debut tonight against the Detroit Red Wings. “It’s unbelievable.”
Dahlin, of course, knows Olofsson well. The rookies spent last season together starring at home in Sweden for Frolunda HC. Their time as teammates ... Read the full article
Will Borgen could make his NHL debut tonight. ©2019, Hickling Images
The Buffalo Sabres recalled Will Borgen from the Rochester Americans this morning, meaning a defenseman was possibly injured in Monday’s 3-1 road loss to the New Jersey Devils.
The Sabres play another road contest tonight against the Ottawa Senators. Coach Phil Housley will have an update later in the day.
Borgen could make his NHL debut.... Read the full article
Lawrence Pilut (24) and Jeff Skinner look on Saturday afternoon. ©2018, Hickling Images
BUFFALO – Every once in a while a prospect like Sabres defenseman Lawrence Pilut comes along. After a short apprenticeship in the AHL – maybe just a few months or less – he arrives in the NHL and stays for good.
For as much as the Sabres and other teams stress development and paying dues, some guys are just ready for the big leagues right away.
Pilut, 22, is just four games into his career. ... Read the full article
Rasmus Ristolaine (55) battles Arizona’s Jordan Martinook on March 22. ©2018, Hickling Images
BUFFALO – Seven Sabres, including center Jack Eichel and defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen, sat out today’s practice with “minor ailments” and will miss Friday’s preseason finale, coach Phil Housley said.
Housley said the players are all day-to-day. Center Johan Larsson, winger Conor Sheary and defensemen Zach Bogosian, Brandon Hickey and Marco Scandella also missed the session inside HarborCenter.... Read the full article
The Sabres stretch earlier today inside Clinton Arena. ©2018, Olean Times Herald
CLINTON – When center Casey Mittelstadt told some of his teammates skating this morning inside tiny Clinton Arena this felt like high school, he said they starting making fun of him.
But Mittelstadt, 19, is less than two years removed from playing high school hockey. Memories of skating in old rinks like the 65-year-old barn where the Sabres will face the Columbus Blue Jackets in tonight are fresh.... Read the full article
Sean Malone looked impressive early in training camp. ©2018, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Sabres winger Conor Sheary, a newcomer expected to skate on a top line, is week-to-week after suffering an upper-body injury during Friday’s practice.
“In the first day (of training camp), he took a hit the wrong way, and we’re just making sure we’re on top of that,” said Sabres coach Phil Housley, who is dealing with three notable injuries just five days into camp.
Center Sean Malone will miss six weeks after ... Read the full article
