Chris Stewart will play his first home game tonight. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres’ Chris Stewart pushed hard to return this season

BUFFALO – Originally, the right ankle injury Chris Stewart suffered March 6 was supposed to shelve the Sabres winger the rest of the season.

But Stewart said he “really turned the corner” a couple of weeks ago. At that point, the 26-year-old decided he would push to return this season.

Tonight, Stewart, who arrived from St. Louis on Feb. 28, will play his third game with the Sabres.

Why come back with just ... Read the full article

Christian Ehrhoff was wearing a special ear guard this morning. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres’ Christian Ehrhoff OK after gruesome ear injury

BUFFALO – Forget about “Hoff,” Sabres defenseman Christian Ehrhoff has a new nickname.

“‘Earhoff,’ it’s the most common one, I think,” Ehrhoff, who needed 40 stitches to repair a cut on his right ear Sunday, said this morning inside the First Niagara Center.

As Ehrhoff spoke, a teammate shouted the nickname.

“I guess when you have a situation like that, the jokers, they always come out pretty quick,” Ehrhoff said.

He can smile now. But ... Read the full article

Ted Nolan wants head hits out of the game. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres upset about Zac Rinaldo’s suspension, plan to be ‘vocal on this one’

BUFFALO – About three games ago, Sabres general manager Tim Murray told coach Ted Nolan to tell him everything that was happening.

“Because we’re going to complain about it,” Murray said.

The Sabres are clearly angry Flyers agitator Zac Rinaldo only received a four-game suspension for elbowing defenseman Chad Ruhwedel in the head late in Sunday’s 5-2 loss in Philadelphia.

Ruhwedel is home recovering from a concussion. Rinaldo, meanwhile, can play again next week.

Nolan ... Read the full article

Andrey Makarov will play behind Matt Hackett tonight. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres recall Andrey Makarov, Mark Pysyk from Amerks

BUFFALO – With goalie Nathan Lieuwen sidelined by a concussion, the Sabres recalled rookie Andrey Makarov from Rochester this morning.

The team also summoned defenseman Mark Pysyk to replace the concussed Chad Ruhwedel and sent winger Luke Adam back to the Americans.

The 20-year-old Makarov has never played in the NHL and only recently earned a promotion to the Amerks.

Still, Makarov has played well in the AHL, going 3-3 with a 2.70 goals-against ... Read the full article

Marcus Foligno skates Monday. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Injury-plagued Sabres could get 3 players back against Red Wings

BUFFALO – There is some good news for the reeling, injury-ravaged Sabres. They could have three players back tonight against the Detroit Red Wings. Of course, 13 – yes, a stunning 13 – are hurt right now.

Incredibly, the NHL’s worst team lost three more players in the third period of Sunday’s disastrous 5-2 loss in Philadelphia.

Goalie Nathan Lieuwen, who has a disturbing history of concussions, suffered another one, coach Ted ... Read the full article

Luke Adam has one goal in 10 NHL games this season. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres recall Luke Adam from Amerks on emergency basis

With winger Marcus Foligno out for the season, the Buffalo Sabres today recalled Luke Adam from the Rochester Americans on an emergency basis.

The Sabres play tonight in Detroit against the Red Wings.

This is Adam’s third recall this season. The 23-year-old has one goal and one point in 10 NHL games.

Adam has 27 goals and 47 points in 63 AHL games.

The injury-ravaged Sabres are down 10 players.

Update: In a paper move ... Read the full article

Ryan Miller (30) battles his brother, Detroit’s Drew Miller, Sunday. The Sabres debuted their new third jerseys. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres grab early lead against tired Red Wings, falter again late

BUFFALO – The reeling Detroit Red Wings limped into a town Sunday a beaten up and tired bunch ripe to be exploited. They left galvanized by only their second win in 10 games, a tight 3-1 triumph against the rested Sabres in a dull, low-chance affair.

Playing without three regulars, including star Pavel Datsyuk, the Wings fell behind early before scoring the go-ahead goal 11:43 into the third period inside the First Niagara Center.

So ... Read the full article

Mark Pysyk returned Sunday after a one-game absence. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres shuffle lineup before loss to Red Wings

BUFFALO – The Sabres switched their lineup for Sunday’s 3-1 loss to the Detroit Red Wings, sitting three players interim coach Ted Nolan dressed last game.

Defenseman Mark Pysyk, a surprise scratch for Thursday’s 4-1 loss in Philadelphia, returned. Nolan sat the rookie, one of the Sabres’ few bright spots this season, so he could evaluate other players.

“We only have a limited amount of time to see everybody, and I mentioned to him ... Read the full article

Mark Pysyk sat Thursday. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres’ Mark Pysyk back in against Red Wings

BUFFALO – The Sabres are changing up their lineup for this afternoon’s tilt against the Detroit Red Wings, sitting three players interim coach Ted Nolan dressed last game.

Defenseman Mark Pysyk, a surprise scratch for Thursday’s 4-1 loss in Philadelphia, will return. Nolan sat the rookie, one of the Sabres’ few bright spots this season, so he could evaluate other players.

“We only have a limited amount of time to see everybody, and I mentioned ... Read the full article

Tyler Myers, who said he likes where his “game’s going,” was smiling Saturday. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres’ Tyler Myers confident he’s finally regaining old form

BUFFALO – Tyler Myers needed some advice. Just four games into the season, the struggling Sabres defenseman had already compiled a wretched minus-7 rating. He was starting to lose ice time.

For all the preseason hubbub over his productive summer, the 23-year-old hadn’t showcased any improvements in his wobbly game.

So following his minus-3 performance in the Sabres’ 4-1 loss to Columbus on Oct. 10, Myers reached out to Jim Corsi, the goalie coach... Read the full article