Boston Bruins - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Ted Nolan on Linus Omark’s Sabres debut: ‘He has to be better’

Interim coach Ted Nolan wasn’t too impressed with winger Linus Omark’s Sabres debut in Saturday’s 4-1 loss to the Bruins.

“Eh, he has to be better,” Nolan told reporters in Boston.

Omark’s hooking penalty 9:07 into the game led to Reilly Smith’s power-play goal. The 26-year-old also set up Matt Ellis in front nicely early and nearly potted Ellis’ rebound in front late in the game.

“We’ll give him a checkmark for just getting here ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Brian Flynn embracing checking role, showcasing offense

BUFFALO – Brian Flynn, the undersized scorer, still wasn’t ready for NCAA hockey. So following two years of prep school, the Sabres center spent a season playing junior in New Hampshire.

“I scored a lot. But then you realize it’s not all about scoring,” Flynn said Friday inside the First Niagara Center after the Sabres prepared for tonight’s game in Boston against the Bruins. “I weighed probably 160 pounds. Trying to go to college (at) ... Read the full article

Sabres score 4 goals again, beat Bruins for second straight regulation win

BUFFALO – Break ‘em up. Not only have the Sabres won consecutive games in regulation for the first time all season, they’ve scored eight goals while wowing crowds again inside a lively First Niagara Center.

The Sabres had eight goals in their previous seven games before starting this mini-streak.

Thursday’s 4-2 triumph versus the Boston Bruins might’ve been the best of their nine victories this trying season.

Against the class of the Eastern Conference, Drew ... Read the full article

Bruins’ Brad Marchand on Sabres’ Ted Nolan: ‘I don’t think I’d be here today if he didn’t coach me that year’

BUFFALO – Ted Nolan only coached Boston Bruins pest Brad Marchand one season, 88 total games in 2005-06. Still, the year under the interim Sabres coach changed his career.

Marchand was 17 years old, heading into his draft season, when Nolan took over the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League’s Moncton Wildcats.

“He really helped me understand more about the pro life, how the pros have to play the game and what you have to do ... Read the full article

Sabres tough guy John Scott on Bruins’ Shawn Thornton: ‘An honorable guy’

BUFFALO – Sabres tough guy John Scott said he had the same reaction as everyone else after watching Boston enforcer Shawn Thornton slew-foot and attack Pittsburgh’s Brooks Orpik on Saturday.

“It was just kind of not like Shawn Thornton, who’s an honorable guy, good guy,” Scott said this morning after the Sabres prepared for the Bruins inside the First Niagara Center. “I think he probably just got caught up in the moment. I was actually ... Read the full article

Ted Nolan considering using Sabres tough guy John Scott at defense

BUFFALO – John Scott, defenseman? Believe it. The Sabres tough guy could be moving from the wing back to his natural position.

Scott will be a game-time decision tonight against the Boston Bruins, interim Sabres coach Ted Nolan said.

Update: Scott is scratched tonight.

“We’ve been working with him the last couple days,” Nolan said this morning inside the First Niagara Center. “We’ll see. Everybody played well last (game). It depends on the mood ... Read the full article

Fourth line giving Sabres strong minutes, creating energy and offense

BUFFALO – Today’s NHL is too fast-paced to play two or three lines consistently, interim Sabres coach Ted Nolan said. A balanced attack is needed.

“You need that fourth line to eat up some minutes for you,” Nolan said Wednesday after the Sabres prepared for tonight’s tilt against the Boston Bruins inside the First Niagara Center.

In the best performance by the Sabres’ fourth line in a long time, the hardworking combination of Kevin Porter... Read the full article

Sabres’ John Scott apologizes for head hit, defends reputation and role

BUFFALO – Sabres tough guy John Scott acknowledges that, yes, almost six minutes into the third period Wednesday, his powerful blindside headshot that concussed winger Loui Eriksson, while not intentional, was illegal.

“It happened pretty fast,” an apologetic Scott said Thursday inside the First Niagara Center after the reeling 1-9-1 Sabres prepared for tonight’s tilt in Florida against the Panthers. “I just thought I was completing a check. But, obviously, I hit his head. It ... Read the full article

Sabres’ John Scott emotional about head hit, says he belongs in NHL

BUFFALO – Sabres tough guy John Scott acknowledges that, yes, 5:49 into the third period Wednesday, his powerful hit to Loui Eriksson’s head, while not intentional, was illegal.

“It happened pretty fast,” an apologetic Scott said after practicing this morning inside the First Niagara Center. “I just thought I was completing a check. But, obviously, I hit his head. It wasn’t exactly what I was aiming for. I didn’t want to do that. It’s ... Read the full article

Woeful Sabres fall to Bruins, lose John Scott to likely suspension

BUFFALO – Finally, the hapless Sabres began showcasing some progress Wednesday. Slow starters all season, they played a sturdy first period against the mighty Boston Bruins.

Hey, take it where you can find it, right?

Even after falling behind 2-0 just 40 seconds into the second period, they battled back, slicing the Bruins’ lead to 3-2 after 18-year-rookie Nikita Zadorov scored his first NHL goal, a nifty one at that, late in the period.

Maybe ... Read the full article