Ennis - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Former Sabres prospect Alex Biega living NHL dream with Canucks

BUFFALO – Alex Biega had finally cracked an NHL roster. For 10 days in December, the defenseman earned a fatter paycheck and practiced with the Vancouver Canucks.

But, oddly enough, the 26-year-old former Sabres prospect never played. He got tantalizingly close to game action once, dressing for the pregame warm-up.

“It wasn’t frustrating, but I guess I was antsy just to get in,” Biega said by phone Wednesday after the Canucks landed in Buffalo. “I ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Zemgus Girgensons might be finished for year

Zemgus Girgensons’ season could be in jeopardy.

The Buffalo Sabres’ top center left halfway through Tuesday’s 4-2 win against the Blue Jackets after blocking James Wisniewski’s shot with his right ankle. Girgensons stayed down on the ice before being helped off.

“We’re concerned, for sure,” Nolan told reporters in Columbus. “We’ll cross our fingers and hope things work out.”

Meanwhile, winger Tyler Ennis, whose 15 goals are tied with Girgensons for the team lead, didn’t ... Read the full article

Sabres goalie Michal Neuvirth shines in shootout loss to Predators

BUFFALO – If the Sabres tab Michal Neuvirth as their No. 1 goalie and re-sign the 26-year-old Czech in the coming months, remember his 37-save performance in Sunday’s 2-1 shootout loss to the Nashville Predators.

In his fifth straight start, Neuvirth dazzled again, keeping the Sabres in a contest in which they only five mustered five shots through 30 minutes and 17 in 65 minutes.

Neuvirth helped the NHL’s worst team nearly upset the league-leading ... Read the full article

Zach Bogosian happy to join Sabres: ‘I heard Buffalo, it was a good feeling’

BUFFALO – The mood on the ice inside HarborCenter belied the Sabres’ sorry state. Players laughed and had fun throughout Saturday’s up-tempo practice, the end of another trying week for the rebuilding club.

For some, the session, the first with new Sabres defenseman Zach Bogosian, was therapeutic.

“We got a good group of guys,” Sabres coach Ted Nolan said. “They give us what they have every day. They’re trying to keep their spirits up as ... Read the full article

Sabres hold on for tight victory over Stars

BUFFALO – The Sabres often possess an uncanny ability to weather a fierce storm. Sure, opponents have pummeled them regularly this season. But they can also take a beating and come out on top.

The Dallas Stars dominated early in the Sabres’ 3-2 win Saturday, pumping shot after shot on goalie Jhonas Enroth. Just 18 seconds in, they left Tyler Seguin open, gifting a prime scoring chance to the superstar. Enroth stymied Seguin, one of ... Read the full article

Sabres start strongly, fall to Flyers late

BUFFALO – If you’re a glass-is-half-full type, the Sabres did some good things in Saturday’s 4-3 defeat to a weak Philadelphia Flyers team, their 10^th consecutive regulation loss.

For the first time in weeks, the Sabres started strongly and showcased a better effort early, taking the lead and dictating much of the play. When the Flyers went up 2-1, they tied it late in the second period. They even scored three goals for the ... Read the full article

Ted Nolan knows reeling Sabres must improve: ‘There’s prices to pay’

BUFFALO – The Sabres have lost a franchise-record nine consecutive games and 31 of 45 overall this trying season. They rank 29^th in a 30-team league and dead last or close to the bottom in every major statistical category. They just lost 7-0 to a reeling Minnesota Wild team, their worst home defeat since 1977.

Of course, the Sabres, who host the Philadelphia Flyers tonight, were supposed to lose this season. But was ... Read the full article

Sabres coach Ted Nolan on future: ‘I’ve never feared my position in the NHL’

BUFFALO – The Sabres have lost a franchise-record nine consecutive games and 31 of 45 this season. They rank 29^th overall and dead last or close to the bottom in every major statistical category. They just lost 7-0 to a reeling Minnesota Wild team, their worst home defeat since 1977.

Of course, the Sabres were supposed to lose this season. But was the rebuilding club supposed to lose so badly this often? Opponents ... Read the full article

Sabres hit rock bottom in ugly loss to Wild

BUFFALO – At this point, with the Sabres’ franchise-long losing streak at nine games and counting, it’s fair to wonder if the hapless team will win another game this season.

Seriously.

The Sabres are awful, a disaster by any standard.

In a season full of ugly, ugly defeats, the Sabres hit rock bottom in Thursday’s disastrous 7-0 loss to the reeling Minnesota Wild before 18,963 fans inside the First Niagara Center.

“I’m speechless,” Sabres coach ... Read the full article

Anemic Sabres offense on pace to set another mark for futility

BUFFALO – The joke all season has been the Sabres have one first line and three fourth lines. Right now, even that’s a stretch. No one can score.

The Sabres have only scored nine goals during their eight-game losing streak. They have 76 goals all season entering tonight’s game against the Minnesota Wild, a stunning 1.7 a game.

At that anemic pace, the Sabres would score 141 goals in 82 games, nine fewer than they ... Read the full article