Detroit Red Wings - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Warm welcome helps Sabres rookie Casey Mittelstadt

BUFFALO – Right away, center Casey Mittelstadt’s new teammates reached out and welcomed the slick prospect to the Sabres.

So shortly after Mittelstadt signed his entry-level contract Tuesday, center Jack Eichel took him to lunch. Hours later, winger Sam Reinhart had dinner with Mittelstadt, his new linemate.

Mittelstadt, 19, will make his NHL debut tonight against the Detroit Red Wings inside KeyBank Center. In a miserable season widely regarded as the franchise’s worst ever, ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Casey Nelson earning regular duty on blue line

BUFFALO – Earlier this season, if you had asked Casey Nelson if he could play 20 minutes a night in the NHL, often against the opposition’s top line, the Sabres defenseman would’ve given you a straightforward answer.

“I’d say there’s no chance, there’s no way,” Nelson said Wednesday inside KeyBank Center.

But in tonight’s tilt in Detroit, Nelson, 25, will likely play big minutes on the second defense pair, meaning he’ll face some of the ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Scott Wilson has winning background

BUFFALO – On paper, the Sabres acquired a third- or fourth-line forward with 13 goals and 32 points in 123 career NHL games. But in Scott Wilson, they have a player who developed in a winning culture and raised the Stanley Cup six months ago.

For a team currently dead last in the NHL, that means something.

Shortly after the Sabres waived Matt Moulson on Monday, general manager Jason Botterill sent the Detroit Red ... Read the full article

Sabres acquire Scott Wilson from Red Wings for pick

BUFFALO – The Sabres weren’t done making moves after waiving Matt Moulson earlier today. The NHL’s worst team also acquired forward Scott Wilson from the Detroit Red Wings for a 2019 fifth-round pick.

Sabres general manager Jason Botterill knows Wilson from their days together with the Pittsburgh Penguins, where Wilson won a Stanley Cup last season.

The Penguins traded Wilson, 25, to the Red Wings on Oct. 21. The 5-foot-11, 183-pound Wilson has zero points ... Read the full article

Sabres look to Kyle Criscuolo for spark

BUFFALO – Center Kyle Criscuolo left a pretty good gig to join the Sabres.

The undrafted Harvard product enjoyed a terrific rookie season in 2016-17, scoring 17 goals in the AHL and winning a Calder Cup with the Grand Rapids Griffins.

Leaving the Detroit Red Wings organization to sign a two-year, two-way contract with the Sabres on July 1 “was really tough,” he said.... Read the full article

Sabres, goalie Robin Lehner shut out Red Wings for first home win

BUFFALO – For once, Robin Lehner enjoyed a pretty quiet night. In fact, of the 32 saves the Sabres goalie made in Tuesday’s 1-0 win against the Detroit Red Wings, only a few would be considered difficult.

“When we needed a save, Robin delivered it for us,” coach Phil Housley said following the Sabres’ second straight win and first victory at home this season.

For almost three weeks, as the Sabres stumbled out of the ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Jordan Nolan beat odds to reach 300 NHL games

BUFFALO – Almost six years later, Sabres winger Jordan Nolan remembers nearly every detail of his first day in the NHL, from the early-morning knock on his door informing him the Los Angeles Kings needed him in Long Island, to his linemates that night.

However, one important part of Nolan’s NHL debut Feb. 11, 2012 has escaped his mind.

“I don’t remember if we won or lost, to tell you the truth,” Nolan said Tuesday ... Read the full article

Memories of NHL debut fresh as Sabres’ Jordan Nolan hits 300 games

However, one important part of Nolan’s NHL debut Feb. 11, 2012 has escaped his mind.

“I don’t remember if we won or lost, to tell you the truth,” Nolan said this ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Benoit Pouliot moving around

BUFFALO – When the Sabres signed Benoit Pouliot to a one-year contract July 1, it was expected they would utilize the veteran as a utility winger all over the lineup.

Sure enough, nine games into the season, Pouliot has already skated on a slew of lines.

In Saturday’s 5-4 come-from-behind overtime win in Boston, Pouliot mostly played at left wing with center Ryan O’Reilly and Jason Pominville, a top scoring trio. Pouliot scored his ... Read the full article

Goalies Robin Lehner, Chad Johnson playing ‘great’ despite Sabres’ struggles

BUFFALO – Through nine games, the Sabres have allowed a whopping 35 goals, the NHL’s second-highest number.

In this defensive era, a figure even approaching three goals a game usually means a team is struggling. The Sabres, who roared back Saturday in Boston to stun the Bruins 5-4 in overtime, have allowed 3.89 an outing.

No wonder they’re 2-5-2 and winless at home in three tries entering tonight’s tilt against the Detroit Red Wings at ... Read the full article