Ennis - Buffalo Hockey Beat

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

Sabres’ anemic offense wasting strong goaltending efforts

BUFFALO – In his last three starts, goalie Robin Lehner has been the Sabres’ backbone, stopping 100 of the 105 shots opponents have pumped on him, a gaudy .952 save percentage.

For his efforts, thanks to just a single goal of support, Lehner earned zero wins.

“It’s frustrating to let those (performances) go to waste,” Sabres winger Marcus Foligno said Wednesday.

For the first time since 2010-11, the Sabres could have four players – Jack ... Read the full article

Sabres goalie Chad Johnson could return as backup

BUFFALO – Just days ago, it appeared Sabres goalie Chad Johnson’s days here were numbered.

In fact, after the backup’s strong 24-save performance in Friday’s 3-1 win in San Jose, the joke became the Sabres should’ve left him there because the Sharks needed a new No. 2 goalie badly.

But the Sharks acquired James Reimer from Toronto on Saturday, the same day St. Louis received Anders Nilsson from Edmonton.

In a matter of hours, the ... Read the full article

Sabres open to bringing Jamie McGinn back in summer

BUFFALO – Come July 1, if Jamie McGinn is available in free agency, the Sabres would be interested in re-signing the winger, general manager Tim Murray said today after trading the veteran to the Anaheim Ducks for a conditional third-round pick in 2016.

Murray had talked a bit with McGinn’s camp about an extension. McGinn, his top asset on an expiring contract, meshed quickly in his first season with the Sabres, scoring 13 goals.

“It ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Jamie McGinn could be coveted before trade deadline

BUFFALO – After 12 seasons as the face of the Carolina Hurricanes, Eric Staal waived his no-trade clause to join his brother, Marc, in New York for the Rangers’ Stanley Cup-or-bust run. Former Winnipeg Jets captain Andrew Ladd is back in Chicago, where he won a championship with the Blackhawks in 2010.

Thanks to a few days of heavy action, the crop of notable rental forwards available before the 3 p.m. trade deadline – the ... Read the full article

Trade from Sabres gives Mike Weber special opportunity with Capitals

BUFFALO – At times over a rough two-year stretch, as Mike Weber accumulated the NHL’s worst plus-minus rating, it appeared the ex-Sabres defenseman might never recapture his old form.

The passionate Weber, 28, often became the poster boy for the Sabres’ struggles during their run as the NHL’s laughingstock.

But Weber, not coincidentally, morphed back into his old self on the revamped Sabres this season.

Defensemen, especially reliable depth ones with Weber’s grit and ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Dan Bylsma not rotating defensemen; Zemgus Girgensons ready

BUFFALO – In the last three games, Sabres coach Dan Bylsma has used all eight defensemen on his roster, including Carlo Colaiacovo, who played Friday after sitting 15 straight games and 26 out of 27.

So, is Bylsma finally OK with having two spare defensemen?

“Am I warming to it?” Bylsma asked this afternoon. “No, I’m not warming to it. I don’t think I’ll ever warm to it.”

Why doesn’t he like having eight?... Read the full article

Sabres’ Marcus Foligno feeling better; Zemgus Girgensons questionable for Panthers

BUFFALO – Sabres winger Marcus Foligno, who said a deep-tissue bruise kept him out of Saturday’s 2-1 overtime loss in Boston, practiced today and could play Tuesday against Florida.

“We’ll see how tomorrow is,” Foligno said this afternoon inside the First Niagara Center. “Right now, it’s just a pain tolerance. That’s all I can really say. Nothing really major, but it was just a (lower-body) tweak.”

Foligno, who said he had a jammed into him ... Read the full article

Sabres recall Dan Catenacci from Amerks

BUFFALO – Sabres winger Marcus Foligno suffered a lower-body injury during his last shift in Thursday’s 3-2 shootout loss to the Bruins and will likely miss tonight’s rematch in Boston, coach Dan Bylsma said.

To replace Foligno, the Sabres recalled forward Dan Catenacci from the Rochester Americans on Friday. Catenacci, 22, could make his NHL debut tonight.

Foligno’s day-to-day, Bylsma said Friday following the Sabres’ optional practice inside HarborCenter.

“I don’t anticipate it will be ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Marcus Foligno likely out against Bruins; Update: Dan Catenacci recalled

BUFFALO – Sabres winger Marcus Foligno suffered a lower-body injury during his last shift in Thursday’s 3-2 shootout loss to the Bruins and will likely miss Saturday’s rematch in Boston, coach Dan Bylsma said.

Foligno’s day-to-day, Bylsma said this afternoon following the Sabres’ optional practice inside HarborCenter.

“I don’t anticipate it will be week-to-week,” he said.

The Sabres will recall a forward from the Rochester Americans, Bylsma said. He wouldn’t reveal which one.

Update: The ... Read the full article