Gorges - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres notes: Early-season concussions scared Jets’ Drew Stafford

BUFFALO – Drew Stafford’s season started ominously. In a Winnipeg Jets preseason game, the former Sabres winger suffered two injuries from one hit.

At first, Stafford thought the thump from Ottawa’s Michael Blunden had only hurt his shoulder.

“I also didn’t realize it at the time – I felt like I was OK – but I had some concussion symptoms early on then, because I hit my head and my shoulder into the boards,” Stafford ... Read the full article

Sabres goalie Robin Lehner to start against Jets

BUFFALO – After sitting out two straight games, Sabre goalie Robin Lehner will make his 27th start of the season this afternoon against the Winnipeg Jets.

Backup Anders Nilsson played the last two contests.

The Sabres will make one other lineup change, inserting defenseman Justin Falk, a healthy scratch for Thursday’s 4-3 overtime loss in Chicago, for Taylor Fedun, coach Dan Bylsma said.

Update: Defenseman Josh Gorges, who’s been battling a hip problem, ... Read the full article

Sabres recall Taylor Fedun from Amerks

BUFFALO – With defenseman Josh Gorges battling a hip pointer, the Sabres recalled Taylor Fedun from the Rochester Americans this afternoon.

The Sabres start a two-game road trip tonight against the New York Rangers.

Fedun, 28, compiled four assists during an eight-game NHL stint earlier this season. In 20 AHL appearances this season, the Princeton product has four goals and points, tops among Amerks defensemen. His .85 points a game ranks ninth among AHL defensemen.... Read the full article

Sabres’ Johan Larsson out indefinitely after surgery for dislocated elbow, wrist

BUFFALO – Sabres center Johan Larsson has undergone surgery for his dislocated elbow and wrist is out indefinitely, coach Dan Bylsma said.

Larsson, who was injured when Adam McQuaid hit him early in Saturday afternoon’s 3-1 loss to the Bruins, flew back from Boston today.

Update: According to The Buffalo News, Larsson told Gotland Newspapers in his homeland of Sweden through a text message his season is over.

The Swede’s absence leaves the Sabres woefully ... Read the full article

Sabres’ woes frustrating Jack Eichel: ‘We all need to get a lot better’

BUFFALO – Sabres center Jack Eichel walked back into the dressing room Sunday looking sullen. His hood was pulled tightly over his head and the normally affable youngster didn’t smile.

A day after his reeling team’s sixth loss in seven games, an embarrassing 3-1 setback that made Eichel lose his cool, the second-year star was still ticked off.

“As a whole team, everyone needs to look in the mirror and we all need to get ... Read the full article

Jack Eichel on reeling Sabres: ‘Everyone needs to look in the mirror’

BUFFALO – A day after the reeling Sabres’ sixth loss in seven games, an embarrassing 3-1 setback in Boston that made Jack Eichel lose his cool, the second-year center was still ticked off.

“As a whole team, everyone needs to look in the mirror and we all need to get a lot better,” Eichel said this afternoon following practice inside KeyBank Center.

Saturday afternoon’s loss to the Bruins felt more like a 6-0 defeat than ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Johan Larsson out weeks with dislocated wrist

Buffalo Sabres center Johan Larsson suffered a dislocated left wrist in this afternoon’s 3-1 loss to the Bruins and will be sidelined “weeks,” coach Dan Bylsma told reporters in Boston.

Larsson’s left arm bore the brunt of the impact after Adam McQuaid hit him in the corner early in the first period.

Later in Buffalo’s sixth loss in seven games, defenseman Josh Gorges left with a hip pointer, Bylsma said.

The Sabres, who just seemed ... Read the full article

Stunned Sabres blow early lead, lose critical game to Bruins

BUFFALO – Ten minutes after Thursday’s demoralizing 4-2 loss to the Boston Bruins, the anger and shock that accompanies blowing a two-goal lead hadn’t worn off. As some stunned Sabres spoke quietly, cursing from a restricted area behind the dressing room occasionally erupted.

It was that kind of loss for the Sabres, a team already fighting for its playoff life.

The Sabres, slow starters all season, pounced on the Bruins, playing perhaps their best hockey ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Kings’ Jordan Nolan speaks up about Standing Rock

BUFFALO – As a two-time Stanley Cup winner with the Los Angeles Kings, Jordan Nolan’s hockey fame has brought him some influence in the First Nations community.

“We’re in a position where a lot of young Native men look up to us,” Nolan said Tuesday prior to the Sabres’ 6-3 win against the Kings inside KeyBank Center. “We’re role models, so I think we have to take that pretty seriously.”

So Nolan, 27, and teammate ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Zach Bogosian nearing return; Goalie Robin Lehner to start

BUFFALO – It was just an innocent play. Early in the Sabres’ 2-1 loss to Minnesota on Nov. 1, defenseman Zach Bogosian said he pinched down in the offensive zone.

“I just caught a rut and my knee just kind of went in,” Bogosian said this morning inside KeyBank Center. “It was kind of a freak thing. … Sometimes the ice will get you. Unfortunately, my knee kind of went the wrong way.”

Bogosian, who ... Read the full article