WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
Happy Halloween
Nick Baptiste played his first NHL game in Ottawa on Saturday. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
OTTAWA – As a native of nearby Barrhaven, about a 10-minute drive from the Canadian Tire Centre, Buffalo Sabres rookie Nick Baptiste had quite the cheering section for his sixth NHL game.
“There’s going to be a lot of people here tonight – a lot of family, friends, teachers, people in the area,” Baptiste said prior to Saturday’s 2-1 comeback win against the Senators, his first NHL appearance here. “My brother’s whole hockey team is ... Read the full article
Marcus Foligno had four shots last game. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
OTTAWA – It was almost a year ago, around the time, not coincidentally, Marcus Foligno began the most consistent stretch of his career, that the Buffalo Sabres winger finally developed a shoot-first mentality.
By the end of 2015-16, Foligno had pumped a career-high 81 shots on goal. Considering he registered only nine shots in his first 20 games, the number was significant.
These days, Foligno’s consistently shooting the puck. No, he’s not exactly Alex Ovechkin. ... Read the full article
Marcus Foligno has finally developed consitency. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
OTTAWA – There’s no obvious nickname for the trio of Marcus Foligno, Johan Larsson and captain Brian Gionta, the Buffalo Sabres’ most consistent and sturdiest line in years.
The first letters of their names don’t form a witty acronym. They don’t have a common background.
They do, however, share a digit. Foligno wears No. 82, Larsson wears 22 and Gionta wears 12.
“I heard someone call us ‘Deuces’ because we all got 2 ... Read the full article
Sabres goalie Robin Lehner stops Toronto’s Leo Komarov on Thursday. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – With just under 12 minutes left and Toronto clinging to a one-goal lead, the Sabres, as they consistently did throughout Thursday’s 2-1 loss, pumped a string of shots on Maple Leafs goalie Frederik Andersen in close.
After Andersen denied Sam Reinhart, Tyler Ennis backhanded a shot on net, grabbed his own rebound and released a quick wrist shot through traffic from the slot.
When Andersen’s quick left glove hand snared the puck, Ennis, ... Read the full article
Sam Reinhart smiles after scoring Saturday afternoon. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – As the seven-game mark approached, Sabres forward Sam Reinhart figured after all his missed opportunities, his first goal would be fluky.
“The way the year has been going, that’s the way the first one had to go in, because the chances have been there,” Reinhart said after scoring a power-play goal late in Saturday afternoon’s 3-0 win against the Florida Panthers inside KeyBank Center.
Sure enough, 8:48 into the third period, Reinhart tried ... Read the full article
Mark Pysyk was a first-round pick in 2010. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Being back here felt “weird,” Mark Pysyk, clad in Florida Panthers workout gear, said Saturday morning as he took a break from preparing for his first game as a visitor at KeyBank Center.
Pysyk, 24, grew up with the Sabres, developing from a first-round pick in 2010 into an NHL defenseman.
“The last six years I’ve been coming here for … everything,” Pysyk said prior to the Sabres’ 3-0 win against ... Read the full article
Jason Pominville spent eight seasons with the Sabres. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Minnesota Wild winger Jason Pominville thought for a moment, scanned his mind for some names. The former Sabres captain came up with two.
“Uh, like, Foligno, Ennis,” Pominville said Thursday prior to the Wild’s 4-0 win inside KeyBank Center. “Umm, that might be it.”
That’s it. Only two players from Pominville’s long tenure here, which ended April 3, 2013, are still with the Sabres: wingers Tyler Ennis and Marcus Foligno.
“There’s not ... Read the full article
Jason Pominville’s role has changed in recent seasons. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Minnesota Wild winger Jason Pominville thought for a moment, scanned his mind for some names. The former Sabres captain came up with two.
“Uh, like, Foligno, Ennis,” Pominville said this morning inside KeyBank Center. “Umm, that might be it.”
That’s it. Only two players from Pominville’s long tenure here, which ended April 3, 2013, are still with the Sabres: wingers Tyler Ennis and Marcus Foligno.
“There’s not a lot of guys ... Read the full article
Josh Gorges said the Sabres got too fancy Tuesday. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – To locate the Sabres’ current standing, look in a familiar place. Find the Atlantic Division and scan down, all the way to the bottom. There, in eighth place, you’ll spot the 1-2-2 club.
The Sabres are one of four NHL teams with just a single win and four points. Only one team, the Arizona Coyotes, has fewer points.
Yes, it’s early. The Sabres have 77 games left, starting with tonight’s home tilt against ... Read the full article
Evander Kane zooms in on a first-period breakaway. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – If Thursday’s dispirited 4-1 opening-night loss to the Montreal Canadiens turns out to be a harbinger for the 2016-17 season, well, the Sabres could be in for a long six months.
In addition to an ugly setback to their Atlantic Division rival, first-line winger Evander Kane was taken to the hospital after he slid on his back and crashed his left side hard into the end boards following contact from Alexei Emelin late ... Read the full article