The Sabres recalled Matt Ellis last month. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres want veteran Matt Ellis to keep mentoring in NHL

BUFFALO – Matt Ellis considers himself a realist. At 33 years old, the center understands the Sabres have younger and more talented players they need to examine.

That’s why the veteran of 330 NHL games spent four months this season mentoring the organization’s AHL prospects in Rochester.

“To be perfectly honest, I enjoyed the role that I played in Rochester,” Ellis said Monday inside the First Niagara Center.

The role was fulfilling. Ellis felt proud ... Read the full article

Dallas’ Jordie Benn (24) hits the Sabres’ Tyler Ennis in the face Saturday. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

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

Zemgus Girgensons left Latvia in 2009 to play junior hockey in Vermont. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres All-Star Zemgus Girgensons left lasting mark with ‘family’ in Vermont

BUFFALO – Five years later, the Christmas cards Jim Hall sends out each year feature photos of his three children and someone so close he calls him another family member, Sabres center Zemgus Girgensons.

“Z’s been on our Christmas card we send out ever since he’s lived with us,” said Hall, Girgensons’ billet during the 2009-10 season.

Before he became an NHL All-Star and a household name in Buffalo, Girgensons spent his first year ... Read the full article

Philadelphia’s R.J. Umberger deflects the puck past Sabres goalie Michal Neuvirth on Saturday. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

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 10th 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’s Sabres have lost nine straight games. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

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 29th 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

Ted Nolan knows the Sabres are too soft. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

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 29th 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

Matt Moulson (26) couldn’t score on his breakaway Tuesday. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

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

Cody McCormick had a blood clot. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres notes: Cody McCormick out of hospital

BUFFALO – Sabres forward Cody McCormick was released from the hospital Monday after being treated for a blood clot in his calf muscle, coach Ted Nolan said.

“Cross our fingers everything continues to go well,” Nolan said following an 80-minute practice inside the First Niagara Center. “No timeframe on his return whatsoever. Our No. 1 concern is making sure he’s OK.”

With McCormick sidelined, the Sabres recalled centers Zac Dalpe and Phil Varone from ... Read the full article

Zemgus Girgensons has played only 109 NHL games. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres’ Zemgus Girgensons leading vote-getter, elected to NHL All-Star Game

With lots of help from the rabid fans in his native Latvia and Buffalo, 20-year-old Sabres center Zemgus Girgensons earned an NHL-high 1,574,896 votes and has been elected to the All-Star Game Jan. 25 in Columbus, the league announced tonight.

Girgensons is just 109 games into his career.

The other five players voted in are all Chicago Blackhawks stars: forwards Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews, defensemen Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook and goalie Corey Crawford.... Read the full article

Nick Deslauriers started Saturday’s rally. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres roar back from late 3-goal deficit, beat Isles in shootout

BUFFALO – Give ‘em a nickname. The “Cardiac Sabres” sounds appropriate. Or perhaps the “Comeback Kids” is a little better? These days, no lead is safe inside the First Niagara Center, the site of a several stirring, late-game comebacks by the Sabres in recent weeks.

The Sabres roared back again Saturday, scoring three goals on four shots during a wild five minutes to erase a 3-0 deficit against the upstart New York Islanders.

“It just ... Read the full article