Marcus Foligno believes the Sabres play opponents tough. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres want to keep building identity

BUFFALO – Right away, five months ago, the Sabres passed the eye test. Following two wretched seasons, the rebuilt club immediately looked like, well, a real team again.

While this campaign has still been rough – they rank seventh in the Atlantic Division and 26th overall – the Sabres believe they’ve started creating a strong identity they can carry into the future.

The new-look team (27-33-9) has morphed back into a competitive outfit in ... Read the full article

Jack Eichel (15) upended by the New York Rangers’ Ryan McDonagh on Tuesday. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres’ furious comeback against Rangers falls short

BUFFALO – Robin Lehner spoke calmly and passionately. Of course, the goalie said, he wanted to stay in the Sabres’ 4-2 loss to the New York Rangers instead of getting yanked.

Despite allowing three goals in barely 26 minutes of action Tuesday, the fiery Lehner believes he was playing well enough “to keep fighting to the end and be a part of a turnaround.”

“I’m a competitor,” Lehner said. “I want to stay in there ... Read the full article

Sam Reinhart (23) piled up more goals than assists earlier this season. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres’ Sam Reinhart developing into playmaker

BUFFALO – Early on, Sam Reinhart’s slick playmaking abilities took a backseat as the Sabres rookie developed into a strong net-front presence.

By late February, Reinhart, who regularly parks himself at the crease, owned an odd and lopsided stat line: 18 goals and nine assists.

Now, Reinhart, 20, has started showcasing his dynamic passing skills – anticipation and vision that compliment his soft hands – and upped his assists total by running off five ... Read the full article

Cal O’Reilly has been playing strong minutes. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Cal O’Reilly producing for Sabres

BUFFALO – Don’t think of Cal O’Reilly as a late-season recall the Sabres simply added to fill out the roster for a few weeks.

If O’Reilly keeps producing like he has recently – one goal and three points in four games – the versatile forward could perhaps earn a regular role as a third- or fourth-liner next season.

“I always view the roster as about 32 people,” coach Dan Bylsma said today after the Sabres ... Read the full article

Sam Reinhart scored the shootout winner Monday. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Top talent rallies Sabres past Leafs

TORONTO – Call it whatever you want – a tank, a deep rebuild – the Maple Leafs gutted their roster recently, leaving coach Mike Babcock a team filled with unknown neophytes to mold into NHL talent.

The Buffalo Sabres, meanwhile, have already endured what the Leafs are just beginning: a total overhaul. The Sabres are, theoretically, two years ahead of Toronto.

At this stage, they should exploit a reeling club dressing six rookies. The Sabres ... Read the full article

Evander Kane loves to shoot the puck. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres’ Evander Kane possesses shoot-first mentality

TORONTO – By now, 56 games into Evander Kane’s Buffalo Sabres tenure, most observers know what will happen when the former 30-goal scorer zooms down the wing.

Instead of cutting to the net and skating to the so-called “dirty area,” Kane often just shoots the puck.

Modern NHL goalies – so large, well-trained and armored – usually swallow it up easily.

Kane began Monday’s 4-3 shootout win over the Maple Leafs with the ninth-most shots ... Read the full article

Dan Catenacci has been playing on the fourth line. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres’ Dan Catenacci has chance to stick, excited for Toronto debut

TORONTO – Dan Catenacci’s welcome-to-the NHL-moment came Feb. 9, when during his second game, the Buffalo Sabres rookie spotted Florida Panthers star Jaromir Jagr, a 44-year-old legend.

“I was kind of in awe,” Catenacci, a native of nearby Newmarket, said this afternoon inside the Air Canada Centre.

Before Catenacci’s father, Maurice, ended his European career in the 1990s, he also played against Jagr.

“It’s pretty cool for me and my dad to both play ... Read the full article

Jack Eichel (15) fends off Minnesota’s Marco Scandella on Saturday afternoon. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres blow late lead, lose to Wild in shootout

BUFFALO – Finally, thanks to rookie Jack Eichel’s score, it appeared the Sabres’ first shootout goal in months would help them eke out a win after blowing a late lead against the Minnesota Wild.

Eichel, just 66 games into his career, already has a commanding on-ice presence. His exploits create excitement and momentum, and his first NHL shootout goal in four tries had the capacity crowd of 19,070 fans inside the First Niagara Center buzzing ... Read the full article

Thomas Vanek has 18 goals this season. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Former Sabres star Thomas Vanek excited about World Cup

BUFFALO – The upcoming World Cup of Hockey will be a much different international experience for veteran Thomas Vanek, a two-time 40-goal scorer with the Sabres.

Instead of hoping Austria can simply win a game to stay in the ‘A’ pool, the Minnesota Wild winger has a roster spot on Team Europe, a collection of top talent from seven countries.

“For me, it’s cool because actually I can go into one of those tournaments ... Read the full article

Matt Moulson skates in on Detroit goalie Petr Mrazek earlier this season. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres’ Matt Moulson buying into new work plan

BUFFALO – At this point, five goals and 64 games into Sabres winger Matt Moulson’s miserable season, all the work he’s putting in and the revamped training regimen he has been following is about seeing results next season.

Yes, according to general manager Tim Murray, who ripped Moulson on the radio Thursday, and coach Dan Bylsma, the three-time 30-goal scorer is still in the Sabres’ plans. They talk about the veteran, 32, returning for ... Read the full article