Ellis - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Ted Nolan on Linus Omark’s Sabres debut: ‘He has to be better’

Interim coach Ted Nolan wasn’t too impressed with winger Linus Omark’s Sabres debut in Saturday’s 4-1 loss to the Bruins.

“Eh, he has to be better,” Nolan told reporters in Boston.

Omark’s hooking penalty 9:07 into the game led to Reilly Smith’s power-play goal. The 26-year-old also set up Matt Ellis in front nicely early and nearly potted Ellis’ rebound in front late in the game.

“We’ll give him a checkmark for just getting here ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Brian Flynn embracing checking role, showcasing offense

BUFFALO – Brian Flynn, the undersized scorer, still wasn’t ready for NCAA hockey. So following two years of prep school, the Sabres center spent a season playing junior in New Hampshire.

“I scored a lot. But then you realize it’s not all about scoring,” Flynn said Friday inside the First Niagara Center after the Sabres prepared for tonight’s game in Boston against the Bruins. “I weighed probably 160 pounds. Trying to go to college (at) ... Read the full article

Fourth line giving Sabres strong minutes, creating energy and offense

BUFFALO – Today’s NHL is too fast-paced to play two or three lines consistently, interim Sabres coach Ted Nolan said. A balanced attack is needed.

“You need that fourth line to eat up some minutes for you,” Nolan said Wednesday after the Sabres prepared for tonight’s tilt against the Boston Bruins inside the First Niagara Center.

In the best performance by the Sabres’ fourth line in a long time, the hardworking combination of Kevin Porter... Read the full article

Sabres shake off awful second period, roar back and beat Jets

BUFFALO – Just a few weeks ago, if they had fallen behind after frittering away a strong start, the Sabres would’ve been cooked. Heck, they might’ve gotten run out of their own building.

But the bottom-feeding Sabres have slowly been improving under interim coach Ted Nolan. Their game is cleaner. Their efforts are much better. They’re finally responding to adversity.

Tuesday’s exciting 4-2 victory against the Winnipeg Jets, the Sabres’ first triumph this season when ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Ted Nolan says Mark Pysyk’s stay with Amerks will be short

BUFFALO – Mark Pysyk’s assignment to Rochester won’t last long, interim Sabres coach Ted Nolan said. The rookie defenseman will be back after the Americans participate in the upcoming Spengler Cup tournament in Switzerland.

Nolan said the steady Pysyk, one of the Sabres’ few bright spots this season, is capable of playing in the NHL right now.

“But is he at the mature level we think he can be? Not yet,” Nolan said Tuesday ... Read the full article

Ted Nolan says Mark Pysyk will be back with Sabres soon

Nolan said the solid Pysyk, one of the Sabres’ few bright spots this season, is capable of playing in the NHL right now.

“But is he at the mature level we think he can be? Not yet,” Nolan said this ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Cody McCormick out 4-6 weeks after blocking shot

BUFFALO – Sabres forward Cody McCormick suffered an upper body injury blocking a shot in Saturday’s 2-1 overtime loss to Calgary and will miss four to six weeks, interim coach Ted Nolan said this afternoon.

“One thing about doing what Cody does, unfortunately, sometimes that’s going to happen,” Nolan said inside the First Niagara Center. “He’s fearless. He puts himself in front of shots that are coming 90 mph. Sometimes they hit you in the ... Read the full article

Matt Ellis on special recall to Sabres: ‘It couldn’t have happened any better’

BUFFALO – Moments after Matt Ellis scored the shootout winner in Friday’s wild Rochester outdoor game, Americans coach Chadd Cassidy found his captain at center ice in the midst of the celebration.

Cassidy had a special message for Ellis, who also had a goal and an assist in the “Frozen Frontier” game, an exciting 5-4 triumph played in 18-degree temperatures.

“(He) said, ‘The only thing that made tonight better is me getting to ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Cody Hodgson to take pregame warm-up

BUFFALO – Sabres center Cody Hodgson (lower body) will this take this afternoon’s pregame warm-up and decide if he can play against the Calgary Flames.

“He’s getting real close,” interim Sabres coach Ted Nolan said this afternoon inside the First Niagara Center.

Update: Hodgson is out again. Luke Adam is a healthy scratch up front.

If Hodgson misses his second game, Matt Ellis will play. The Sabres recalled the 32-year-old after he scored the ... Read the full article

Matt Ellis scores Amerks’ shootout winner in ‘Frozen Frontier,’ earns recall to Sabres

ROCHESTER – From a skill perspective, Chadd Cassidy had better options six rounds into Friday’s wild shootout. But the Americans coach wanted Matt Ellis, his trusted captain, to try to win the “Frozen Frontier,” an outdoor game played in 18-degree temperatures.

“With the game on the line, I want it on his tape because good things happen to good people,” Cassidy said. “There’s nobody that’s worked harder for the opportunities that he’s gotten than ... Read the full article