WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
Offseason Edition
BUFFALO – At the 11:43 mark of the second period Friday, slick Pittsburgh Penguins superstar Sidney Crosby zoomed into the Sabres zone, slowed down at the top of the right circle and dished perfectly across the ice to a streaking James Neal, who beat goalie Ryan Miller to make it 3-2 on the power play.
Fresh off five straight convincing wins, the Sabres looked unstoppable, like they might run the table and roar into the ... Read the full article
BUFFALO – Cody Hodgson said he loves exploring cities. On the road, where he’s on pace to play an NHL-record 48 games this season, the 22-year-old Sabres center tries to see all the sights.
Hodgson just visited Times Square last week prior to his first game in New York. The Toronto native rates Dallas – sorry, Sabres fans – and Nashville among his favorite cities.
One day recently, Hodgson hopped in his rental car and ... Read the full article
Superstar Sidney Crosby hasn’t played in Buffalo since Dec. 11, 2010. ©2012, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Give it a shot. Try drawing up a better late-season NHL matchup. The Sabres’ tilt against the powerhouse Pittsburgh Penguins tonight could make for a wildly entertaining three hours inside the First Niagara Center.
This one promises to be action-packed and fun, folks.
The scorching Sabres, having climbed into eighth place Tuesday, are roaring toward another unlikely playoff appearance. They’ve won five straight games and seven of the last nine, piling up goals ... Read the full article
Drew Stafford has six goals and 14 points in the last eight games. ©2012, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The thinking went like this: Drew Stafford, fresh off a breakout offensive campaign, was a cinch for another big season. After all, the Sabres winger tallied 31 times in only 62 games last year.
Perhaps he could hit 40 goals. The 26-year-old had arrived as an NHL star, right?
One epic slump later, Stafford’s finally that lethal scoring threat again. It just took four months and an awful stretch of six goals in ... Read the full article
Alex Ovechkin’s Capitals have 84 points. ©2012, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – In reality, it’s a single game for the Sabres, one of 82 regular-season contests. Tonight’s anticipated eight-versus-nine tilt in Washington is potentially worth two points for them, just like any other game.
If the Sabres win, break their tie with the Capitals (84 points) and move into eighth place, they could quickly lose the Eastern Conference’s final playoff spot again. Don’t forget, they stayed there less than a day after grabbing it Saturday.... Read the full article
Marcus Foligno already has five goals and seven points just six games into his career. ©2012, Micheline Veluvolu, Rochester Americans
BUFFALO – NHL success can be fleeting, especially for 20-year-olds thrown headfirst into a ferocious postseason race. Today’s hero can quickly become overwhelmed the next day.
With five goals and seven points just six games into his career, winger Marcus Foligno’s already enjoying one of the greatest rookie stretches in the Sabres’ 41-year history.
Only Phil Housley (nine points, 1982-83) and Ray Sheppard (seven, 1987-88) have tallied seven or more points in their first six ... Read the full article
Tyler Ennis has three goals and six points in three games back at center. ©2012, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Oh, Tyler Ennis enjoys playing center. Skating there allows the slick Sabres speedster to hold the puck and utilize his creativity more effectively. He can easily move east-west. If Ennis needs to change directions and go north-south, he can simply “turn the jets on,” he said.
“It gives me kind of free reign to use the ice,” Ennis said earlier this week inside the First Niagara Center.
It’s certainly showing. With three goals ... Read the full article
BUFFALO – The famous “Foligno Leap” reappeared for its highly anticipated single showing just 99 seconds into the Sabres’ shocking 5-4 shootout loss Wednesday to the Colorado Avalanche, when rookie Marcus Foligno drove hard to the net and connected on Tyler Ennis’ pass.
The 20-year-old winger then jumped into the air, fulfilling a promise he had made to honor his father, Sabres legend Mike Foligno, who celebrated in the same fashion during his long career.... Read the full article
BUFFALO – Sixteen days and eight games later, rookie Cody Hodgson, a centerpiece of the NHL trade deadline’s most-talked about transaction, is pointless and skating with Brad Boyes and Corey Tropp on what could be considered the Sabres’ fourth line.
Meanwhile, defenseman Alexander Sulzer, a throw-in to the deal with Vancouver, just played a tick under 24 minutes, a season high.
The German, a spare part a week ago, has possibly cemented a spot for ... Read the full article
BUFFALO – Just two months ago, allowing the tying goal with 3.5 seconds left in regulation likely would’ve cooked the Sabres, defenseman Tyler Myers said.
“I would say it would be very tough for our group,” said Myers, whose goal 2:01 into overtime Monday clinched a 3-2 win over the Montreal Canadiens, the surging Sabres’ ninth triumph in 12 tries.
Back in January, the Sabres had morphed into a disjointed, ugly mess. They wilted under ... Read the full article
