Florida Panthers - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Former Sabres star Brian Campbell enjoying Panthers’ revival

BUFFALO – Don’t tell 35-year-old former Sabres All-Star Brian Campbell he’s the oldest member of the Florida Panthers.

“No, no, no, no,” Campbell said Friday prior to the Panthers’ 2-0 win against the Sabres inside the First Niagara Center. “I’m not even top two. I’m third. I might even be later.”

Campbell then turned to Panthers goalie Roberto Luongo.

“Louie, what month were you born in?” he asked.

Luongo replied he was born in April.... Read the full article

Sabres’ Rasmus Ristolainen ready to play; Michal Neuvirth to start

BUFFALO – As injuries recently weakened his defense corps, Sabres coach Ted Nolan spread out the wealth a bit, breaking up Rasmus Ristolainen, 20, and Nikita Zadorov, 19, arguably his best tandem.

“Our defense corps was a little bit in disarray for a while, and those two were probably our two shining lights,” Nolan said this morning inside the First Niagara Center.

The struggling Sabres desperately need another strong defense pair, so with Ristolainen ... Read the full article

Sabres need to clean up defensively, help goalie Jhonas Enroth

BUFFALO – Jhonas Enroth, the quiet, mild-mannered Sabres goalie, finally lost his cool Wednesday.

Following Tampa Bay’s final goal late in Sabres’ 5-1 loss, the diminutive Swede angrily whacked the left post with his stick like he was chopping down a tree. When the final horn ended the Sabres’ sixth loss in seven games, Enroth heaved his stick and skated off.

Minutes later, he was visibly upset in the dressing room.

In the ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Josh Gorges among NHL’s best shot blockers

BUFFALO – Almost five years ago, Sabres defenseman Josh Gorges sold out while killing a penalty with Montreal. Against better judgment, Gorges dropped down to the ice and laid flat in front of a lethal one-timer from Washington’s Mike Green.

The puck hit Gorges in the back of the head, knocking him out cold.

“Scared the hell out of me,” Gorges recalled Saturday prior to the Sabres’ 4-3 overtime win against the Florida Panthers inside ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Mike Weber sidelined after knee surgery; Nikita Zadorov won’t join Russia

BUFFALO – Sabres defenseman Mike Weber underwent minor surgery on his left knee Friday and will be sidelined until just after Christmas, coach Ted Nolan said.

“It’s nothing major, but it’s kind of like a maintenance cleanup for an area he was battling for about three weeks or so,” Nolan said this morning inside the First Niagara Center. “He could probably go the rest of the year with it, but we thought it was best ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Matt Moulson finally scoring again

BUFFALO – Matt Moulson can’t figure out what exactly caused his awful, career-worst start. Maybe the five-year, $25 million contract the Sabres awarded the high-scoring winger in free agency played in his head. Perhaps the expectations that accompany scoring 30 goals three straight years weighed on him.

Whatever the case, Moulson was downright terrible earlier this season. At one point during his 14-game goal drought, his wife, Alicia, gave him a little pep talk.

“I ... Read the full article

Sabres start sluggishly again, get blanked by Panthers

BUFFALO – Fresh off their first win this season, against the winless Florida Panthers, the hapless Sabres imploded again early Friday, allowing a team with three goals all season to dominate them.

The Panthers outshot the Sabres 16-3 during a wretched first period. The Sabres finally put their first even-strength shot on goalie Roberto Luongo at about the 16-minute mark.

The Sabres, thanks to Jhonas Enroth’s strong goaltending, escaped the opening 20 minutes tied. ... Read the full article

Sabres speedster Torrey Mitchell showcasing simple style

BUFFALO – Despite having some of the best wheels on the Sabres, speedy winger Torrey Mitchell showcases a simple, straightforward style as a third- or fourth-liner.

The 29-year-old is a no-frills checker.

“I try not to do too much,” Mitchell said Friday prior to the Sabres’ 1-0 loss to the Florida Panthers inside the First Niagara Center.

Mitchell, of course, was talking about knowing his limitations. While the Quebec native moves quickly, he’s not a ... Read the full article

Flashback: Randy Moller’s wild Panthers goal calls

With play-by-play man Randy Moller and the Florida Panthers in town, I thought I’d flashback to one of my favorite stories of the last five years, Moller talking about his, shall we say unique, style of calling a goal. This story ran April 1, 2010. Give it a read. I’ve posted plenty of audio below.

BUFFALO – One minute, 51 seconds into the Sabres’ 6-2 win Wednesday, Florida Panthers winger Jeff Taffe grabbed a pass ... Read the full article

Sabres assistant coach Bryan Trottier enjoying new NHL life

BUFFALO – Two men who had spent their entire lives in hockey never met until a chance encounter almost 19 years ago outside Memorial Auditorium.

It was 1995-96, Ted Nolan’s first year as Sabres coach. Hall of Famer Bryan Trottier, an assistant coach with the Pittsburgh Penguins, was walking outside the Aud in a snowstorm when Nolan spotted him.

Nolan pulled over and offered a lift.

“We had a five-minute chat,” Trottier, one of ... Read the full article