Bylsma - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres’ Ryan O’Reilly out against Flames; Goalie Robin Lehner to start

BUFFALO – If the Sabres were participating in the playoffs right now, then, yes, Ryan O’Reilly would be playing. But the center wants to be smart handling his recovery from an oblique injury.

That means O’Reilly, who skated with his teammates this morning, will miss his fifth straight game tonight against the Calgary Flames.

“If it was the playoffs, it would be a different situation,” a sweaty O’Reilly said this morning after leaving the KeyBank ... Read the full article

Taylor Fedun has chance to stick with Sabres

BUFFALO – At the start of a season, a Taylor Fedun-type player – a talented minor leaguer with some limited NHL experience – often has no chance to crack the big club.

“There’s just not that much opportunity when training camp starts, the rosters and the contracts,” coach Dan Bylsma said Sunday after the Sabres prepared for tonight’s home tilt against the Calgary Flames.

Opportunities, of course, inevitably materialize. As the Sabres have recently experienced, ... Read the full article

Sabres goalie Anders Nilsson stars in shootout win over Penguins

BUFFALO – In just five games with the Sabres, goalie Anders Nilsson has already earned the kind of confidence from his coach that often takes years to develop.

Instead of using No. 1 goalie Robin Lehner against the Pittsburgh Penguins, Dan Bylsma tabbed Nilsson, his backup, to play against the defending Stanley Cup champions on Saturday inside KeyBank Center, a tilt the Sabres won 2-1 in a shootout.

The Swede has impressed this season, ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Cal O’Reilly’s hot start with Amerks rewarded

BUFFALO – Some heads turned when the Sabres awarded center Cal O’Reilly, a talented minor leaguer almost four years removed from his last NHL game, a two-year, $1.4 million contract in 2015.

But O’Reilly, the AHL’s leading scorer, has morphed into a valuable asset for the organization, captaining the Rochester Americans and providing depth for the Sabres.

O’Reilly, 30, proved that Saturday just hours after earning a recall, scoring the shootout winner in the ... Read the full article

Sabres goalie Anders Nilsson to start against Penguins

BUFFALO – Toward the end of the morning skate, backup goalie Anders Nilsson, not Robin Lehner, started skating to the Sabres bench.

Would Sabres coach Dan Bylsma really start his backup against the Pittsburgh Penguins over Lehner, his starter who has played 13 of the first 17 games?

After fiddling with his sticks at the bench for a few moments – it almost seemed like Nilsson was teasing everyone trying to see if he ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Ryan O’Reilly still sidelined

BUFFALO – A couple of quick updates from KeyBank Center, where the Sabres practiced this morning after Thursday’s 4-1 loss to Tampa Bay:

– Top center Ryan O’Reilly, out of the last three games with a mid-body injury, didn’t practice today or even skate on his own, coach Dan Bylsma said. O’Reilly is day-to-day but is doubtful for Saturday’s game against Pittsburgh.

– Bylsma said the lower-back injury defenseman Dmitry Kulikov suffered late in ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Taylor Fedun debuts against Lightning

BUFFALO – Had Taylor Fedun been healthy enough to participate in training camp, then perhaps the Sabres would’ve recalled the high-scoring defenseman earlier this season.

But Fedun, who made his Sabres debut Thursday, fractured his foot in April playing with the Utica Comets, the Vancouver Canucks’ AHL affiliate. The Princeton product didn’t begin skating again until the day before training camp started, Sabres coach Dan Bylsma said.

So while Fedun, 28, participated in meetings with ... Read the full article

Sabres recall Taylor Fedun to replace Casey Nelson

BUFFALO – Had Taylor Fedun been healthy enough to participate in training camp, then perhaps the Sabres would’ve recalled the defenseman earlier this season.

But Fedun, who will make his Sabres debut tonight, fractured his foot in April. He didn’t skate again until the day before training camp started, coach Dan Bylsma said.

After finally joining Sabres practices Oct. 1, Fedun said he was still behind a week or two following his assignment Rochester Americans ... Read the full article

Reeling Sabres playing close games

BUFFALO – When did we see this type of stretch from the Sabres – lots of dull, tight games they inevitably lose – before?

About three weeks ago, shortly after the season started, when they dropped four straight contests. After a brief turnaround, the Sabres are experiencing a similarly dreadful run entering tonight’s tilt against the Tampa Bay Lightning, the start of a four-game home stand at KeyBank Center.

Having lost five straight games (0-3-2), ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Ryan O’Reilly questionable for Lightning; Jack Eichel progressing

BUFFALO – Top Sabres center Ryan O’Reilly, out the last two games with a “mid-body” injury, is questionable for Thursday’s home tilt against Tampa Bay, coach Dan Bylsma said.

O’Reilly, who’s day-to-day, skated this morning on his own and is “progressing,” Bylsma said.

The Sabres held a team meeting today instead of practicing following Tuesday’s 4-1 loss in St. Louis, their fifth straight setback (0-3-2).

The 5-7-4 Sabres have six one-goal losses. In some ... Read the full article