Edmonton Oilers - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres trade Marco Scandella to Canadiens for draft pick

BUFFALO – The Sabres traded defenseman Marco Scandella to the Montreal Canadiens tonight for a fourth-round pick in 2020.

Update: The Sabres have traded the selection they received from Montreal to the Calgary Flames for forward Michael Frolik.

Scandella, a Montreal native, will be an unrestricted free agent following the season.

The Sabres and Canadiens, of course, rarely make trades. Right now, the sixth-place Sabres trail their Atlantic Division rival by one point.... Read the full article

Sabres’ Victor Olofsson named NHL’s Rookie of Month for December

BUFFALO – Sabres winger Victor Olofsson, who led all first-year players with six goals and 14 points in 14 games in December, has earned NHL Rookie of the Month honors for the second time this season, the league announced today.

Olofsson, 24, was also named the top rookie for October.

The Swede quickly morphed into a top Calder Trophy candidate this season, scoring six goals in the first seven games. He also set an ... Read the full article

Sabres place Dalton Smith on waivers

BUFFALO – The Sabres placed winger Dalton Smith on waivers this afternoon, according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman.

Smith, 27, made his NHL debut in Tuesday’s 6-4 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning, skating just one minute, 26 seconds.

The Sabres, who had been pushed around by the Lightning earlier this season, signed Smith to a one-year, two-way contract Monday.

The tough guy had played on an AHL deal with the Rochester Americans the last three ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Evan Rodrigues on trade request: ‘I just want to play hockey’

“I have all the confidence in my ability, I have all the confidence in my defensive ability, I have all the confidence in my speed and my skill to play with everyone in this league.”

– Evan Rodrigues, Sept. 23, 2019

BUFFALO – Barely three months ago, Sabres forward Evan Rodrigues was brimming with confidence.

Fresh off a season in which he set career highs and showcased his versatility by playing 11 of the 12 ... Read the full article

Second-period outburst helps Oilers down Sabres

BUFFALO – Late in the second period Monday, barely two minutes after Zack Kassian’s goal ignited the Edmonton Oilers, Sabres winger Jason Pominville committed a rare defensive-zone gaffe.

Pominville sensed a battle coming along the left boards, so he zeroed in on the puck. As he followed the play, he lost track of his man, allowing Darnell Nurse to slip past him from the point into the left circle.

A second later, the Oilers defenseman ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Casey Nelson returns after three-month absence

BUFFALO – Three months ago Monday, Casey Nelson suffered an upper-body injury in the Sabres’ 4-3 overtime loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The defenseman spent about seven weeks recovering and rehabbing before waiting another six weeks for an opportunity to play NHL games.

Nelson, who dressed for 22 of the Sabres’ first 29 contests, began practicing again in late January and completed a five-game AHL conditioning assignment with the Rochester Americans on Feb. 17.... Read the full article

Sabres’ Jake McCabe likely out for season

BUFFALO – Sabres defenseman Jake McCabe will likely miss the rest of the season after suffering an upper-body injury in the second period of Saturday’s 5-2 road loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The Sabres announced this morning McCabe, 25, will miss five to six weeks. The regular season ends April 6.

“He’s a warrior,” Sabres coach Phil Housley said this morning inside KeyBank Center. “He always puts his body in harm’s way, brings a ... Read the full article

Sabres could turn to goalie Carter Hutton again

BUFFALO – After receiving the weekend off, Sabres goalie Carter Hutton could start tonight’s game against superstar Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers, his fifth nod in the last seven games and 40th appearance overall.

Following a rough six-week stretch in which he often took a backseat to Linus Ullmark, Hutton, 33, has started looking like his old self at times.

Hutton channeled his early-season form in two recent outings, stopping 70 of 73 shots ... Read the full article

Sabres recall early-season regular Matt Tennyson from Amerks

The Buffalo Sabres recalled defenseman Matt Tennyson from the Rochester Americans this morning.

The Sabres lost Nathan Beaulieu 3:11 into Monday’s 2-1 overtime win in Calgary after the defenseman fought Flames forward Curtis Lazar as payback for a hit.

Sabres coach Phil Housley told reporters in Calgary following the game Beaulieu would be reevaluated today.... Read the full article

All-around effort helps Sabres beat Oilers, end losing streak

BUFFALO – By Jack Eichel’s standards, the shot the Sabres center pumped on Edmonton Oilers goalie Laurent Brossoit 43 seconds into the third period of Friday’s 3-1 win was pretty weak.

Eichel possesses a lethal wrist shot, a weapon the Sabres sorely want the slick youngster to utilize more frequently. Of course, plenty of players must develop a shooting mentality.

Following the second period of a victory that ended the Sabres’ seven-game losing streak, coach ... Read the full article