Foligno - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres’ Linus Omark to return against Oilers; Drew Stafford healed

BUFFALO – Linus Omark smiled today when a reporter asked him if he was looking forward to facing Edmonton, his old team.

“I would be lying if I said no,” the winger said inside the First Niagara Center after the Sabres prepared for the Oilers, Monday’s opponent. “Of course, it’s going to be a fun game. I know a lot of guys on the team.”

Omark, a healthy scratch the last three games, will return ... Read the full article

Phil Varone, family emotional over NHL debut; Sabres fall to Hurricanes

BUFFALO – The voice on the other end of the phone was excited. For a moment, Tony Varone thought his son, Sabres center Phil Varone, had been in a car accident.

“I said, ‘Is everything OK?’” the elder Varone recalled a day later inside the First Niagara Center.

Phil Varone, who nearly shunned the Sabres to play hockey for the University of New Brunswick in 2011, was calling with good news, though.

“He ... Read the full article

Sabres rookie Phil Varone set for NHL debut, emotional over first recall

BUFFALO – Phil Varone had no clue why Chadd Cassidy pulled him off the ice Wednesday. The center thought perhaps he had been traded or the Rochester coach just wanted to discuss this weekend’s games.

Nope. Cassidy informed the 23-year-old the Sabres had recalled him.

“When he told me the news, it brought some tears to my eyes,” Varone said this morning inside the First Niagara Center. “I called my parents right away. It’s ... Read the full article

Corey Tropp happy with Blue Jackets, wanted to keep playing with Sabres

BUFFALO – Corey Tropp figured he could’ve stayed in the Sabres’ immediate plans. The rebuilding club kept several youngsters on the roster after the new regime jettisoned a few prospects.

The Sabres wanted to keep Tropp, but they figured the 24-year-old winger was better off playing regularly in Rochester. So they waived him prior to claiming winger Matt D’Agostini on Nov. 27.

Tropp, who played 34 NHL games two years ago, was claimed by ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Linus Omark to be scratched again tonight versus Blue Jackets

BUFFALO – The Sabres will only make one lineup change tonight against the Columbus Blue Jackets, inserting Marcus Foligno for injured winger Matt D’Agostini.

That means winger Linus Omark, a healthy scratch for the first time in Wednesday’s 4-3 shootout loss in Toronto, will sit again. The slick Swede has one assist in nine games since being acquired from Edmonton.

What can Omark do to get back in?

“Not much else he ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Matt D’Agostini out ‘for a while’

BUFFALO – Sabres winger Matt D’Agostini, who left Wednesday’s 4-3 shootout loss in Toronto early, is “still out for a while,” Ted Nolan said.

“I’m too not sure exactly how long,” the interim coach said this afternoon inside the First Niagara Center. “But it’s not going to be long, long term. But it’s going to be at least a week or so, I believe.”

Reinforcements could be coming soon, however.

Three injured Sabres – forwards ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Tyler Myers a difference-maker in return from suspension against Leafs

TORONTO – Defenseman Tyler Myers’ absence was glaring during the waning minutes of Tuesday’s 4-3 home loss to Philadelphia. The Buffalo Sabres sorely needed a sturdy presence to calm the game down as the Flyers scored three times.

Myers, who returned from a three-game suspension in Wednesday’s 4-3 shootout loss to the Maple Leafs, had been showcasing a steady, aggressive game prior to his ban.

“I think a lot of that is just bringing a ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Drew Stafford and John Scott back in tonight against Leafs; Tyler Myers back from suspension

TORONTO – As promised following Tuesday’s 4-3 home loss to Philadelphia, interim Buffalo Sabres coach Ted Nolan will make lineup moves for tonight’s game against the Maple Leafs inside the Air Canada Centre.

Winger Drew Stafford (upper body) will return from a four-game absence. Tough guy John Scott will play after being a healthy scratch Tuesday.

Nolan said Marcus Foligno was banged up against the Flyers and will sit. The winger’s day-to-day. Winger Linus ... Read the full article

Sabres to use same lineup against Capitals; Kevin Porter ‘a little sore’

BUFFALO – The Sabres will field the same lineup today against the Washington Capitals, meaning defenseman Alexander Sulzer will sit again.

“To make a change just to make a change doesn’t seem right,” interim Sabres coach Ted Nolan said this afternoon inside the First Niagara Center. “Defense weren’t on problem last game.”

The Sabres lost a 4-3 shootout Friday in Toronto.

Goalie Ryan Miller will likely start again, Nolan said. The Sabres will “pretty much” ... Read the full article

Sabres newcomer Linus Omark could be down to final NHL chance

TORONTO – The highlights have millions of views on Youtube.com. In one clip, Linus Omark does a spin-o-rama before a shootout-winning goal. In another, the slick Buffalo Sabres winger slows down and flips the puck over the goalie, almost comically.

But Omark’s flashy skill set hasn’t translated into NHL success yet. The 26-year-old had only eight goals and 30 points in 67 games entering Friday’s 4-3 shootout loss to the Maple Leafs inside the Air ... Read the full article