WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
December Edition
Robin Lehner has played 16 games. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Sabres goalie Robin Lehner, sidelined with a sore hip for Thursday’s 4-3 win against the New York Rangers, will start Saturday afternoon’s game against the Boston Bruins, coach Dan Bylsma said.
The Sabres returned goalie Linus Ullmark to the Rochester Americans earlier today.
Lehner was hurt early in Tuesday’s 5-4 win in Ottawa. Backup Anders Nilsson subbed for him Thursday.
In other news, defenseman Josh Gorges is questionable for the Bruins after blocking ... Read the full article
Evander hasn’t scored this season. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
OTTAWA – Five years ago, Buffalo Sabres winger Evander Kane enjoyed the best start of his eight-year career, scoring 18 times in his first 36 games for the Winnipeg Jets, a torrid 41-goal pace over a full season.
Then, in the midst of his career year, Kane suddenly endured an 11-game goal drought.
“Maybe I could’ve scored 40 if I didn’t have that slump,” Kane said to Tuesday prior to recording an assist in the ... Read the full article
Josh Gorges (4) battles with Pittsburgh’s Scott Wilson on Feb. 21. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – About 20 times tonight, Sabres defenseman Josh Gorges will jump over the boards to take on arguably the toughest task in hockey, trying to stop Pittsburgh Penguins superstar Sidney Crosby.
Gorges will probably spend around 20 minutes defending Crosby and his linemates, a stiff challenge the 12-year veteran embraces.
To Gorges, the dynamic Crosby is the NHL’s best player, someone to measure yourself against.
“He just does things no one else can do,” ... Read the full article
Taylor Fedun is a productive AHL defenseman. ©2016, Micheline Veluvolu, Rochester Americans
BUFFALO – Had Taylor Fedun been healthy enough to participate in training camp, then perhaps the Sabres would’ve recalled the high-scoring defenseman earlier this season.
But Fedun, who made his Sabres debut Thursday, fractured his foot in April playing with the Utica Comets, the Vancouver Canucks’ AHL affiliate. The Princeton product didn’t begin skating again until the day before training camp started, Sabres coach Dan Bylsma said.
So while Fedun, 28, participated in meetings with ... Read the full article
Dan Bylsma will coach his 500th NHL game tonight. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – When did we see this type of stretch from the Sabres – lots of dull, tight games they inevitably lose – before?
About three weeks ago, shortly after the season started, when they dropped four straight contests. After a brief turnaround, the Sabres are experiencing a similarly dreadful run entering tonight’s tilt against the Tampa Bay Lightning, the start of a four-game home stand at KeyBank Center.
Having lost five straight games (0-3-2), ... Read the full article
Justin Falk spent part of last season in Columbus. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Down one day, up the next. Repeat for six months. For the last three seasons, Sabres newcomer Justin Falk has served as a depth defenseman for three organizations, constantly shuttling between the NHL and AHL.
“Over the last two or three years I’ve hopped back and forth quite a bit,” Falk, 28, said after the Sabres recalled him this morning. “Just another day for me to go about my business. It’s just a ... Read the full article
Jhonas Enroth signed a one-year contract with Toronto in August. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – This city, Jhonas Enroth said, will always “have a soft spot in my heart.” The Swede grew up with the Sabres, often performing like the team’s goalie of the future during his 118-game run here.
But almost two years after his last appearance with the Sabres, “the feeling is starting to cool down a little bit,” Enroth said Thursday prior to the Sabres’ 2-1 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The Leafs are ... 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
Rasmus Ristolainen (55) tries to keep the puck away from Montreal’s Phillip Danault on Thursday. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Technically, the Sabres’ defense pairs are numbered.
Rasmus Ristolainen and his partner, Josh Gorges or Dmitry Kulikov, form the top tandem. Zach Bogosian and Jake McCabe are No. 2. Cody Franson and Casey Nelson skated as the third opening night.
On paper, the defense (average age: 27) has the makings of a solid group. Still, the Sabres don’t have an elite pair. Sure, Ristolainen is the undisputed No. 1. But on a ... Read the full article
Rasmus Ristolainen is the Sabres’ top defenseman. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Rasmus Ristolainen said he trusted a new contract would be finished. Still, the Sabres defenseman wasn’t sure if his deal would be completed before tonight’s season opener.
“Thursday was coming pretty quick,” said Ristolainen, who signed a six-year, $32.4 million contract Tuesday, ending a brief holdout.
The Finn, 21, practiced Wednesday beside new partner Dmitry Kulikov as the Sabres prepared for the Montreal Canadiens inside KeyBank Center.
Ristolainen briefly left the Sabres earlier ... Read the full article