Hasek - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Ex-goalie Dominik Hasek, Sabres coach Ted Nolan talk for first time since 1997

BUFFALO – They hadn’t spoken in almost 17 years, since Ted Nolan’s first run as coach ended amid speculation Dominik Hasek, his star goalie, had just quit on the Sabres during the playoffs.

The two, who reportedly feuded, never crossed paths again until Friday.

After Nolan was essentially fired following the 1996-97 season, Hasek kept tending perhaps the best goal in NHL history, piling up awards while winning two Stanley Cups. Nolan, meanwhile, had trouble ... Read the full article

Sabres legend Dominik Hasek and Ted Nolan enjoy first chat in 17 years

BUFFALO – Dominik Hasek and Ted Nolan hadn’t spoken in almost 17 years, since Nolan’s first run as coach ended amid speculation his star goalie had quit on the Sabres during the playoffs.

Hasek’s back in town to enter the team’s Hall of Fame Saturday. He said earlier today he wanted to see Nolan.

“I never really ran into him anywhere,” Nolan said this afternoon following practice inside the First Niagara Center. “He came ... Read the full article

Sabres legend Dominik Hasek happy in retirement, set for Hall of Fame honor and jersey retirement

BUFFALO – Dominik Hasek swears he’s retired from hockey. The legendary Sabres goalie hasn’t played professionally since his one-year stint in the Russian KHL ended in February 2011.

His goalie equipment, Hasek said, hasn’t left the bag since then. These days, the 49-year-old plays once or twice a week as a defenseman in a rec league back in his native Czech Republic.

“You wake up and you enjoy your life different ways,” Hasek, whose No. ... Read the full article

Sabres coach Ted Nolan glad trade deadline has passed

BUFFALO – It wasn’t a normal NHL trade deadline for the rebuilding Sabres. No one was off limits.

“If you look at the majority of the teams, they got one guy maybe they’re thinking about moving,” interim Sabres coach Ted Nolan told reporters today in Tampa Bay, a day after the deadline. “We had almost half our team in the trade mill. We didn’t really know until yesterday.

“There was a lot of anxious moments. ... Read the full article

Reflective Miller aware 500th game could be last with Sabres, not angry at fans

BUFFALO – On the eve of what could be his 500^th and final appearance with the Sabres, goalie Ryan Miller wouldn’t speculate about his future.

Instead, the 32-year-old mostly delved into a past that has made him one of the franchise’s all-time greats.

At times, Miller’s six-minute chat with the media Thursday sounded more like a goodbye than a reflection of his first 499 games.

He called Buffalo his “second home.” He smiled and ... Read the full article

Sabres say playoffs still within sight after rallying to down Senators

BUFFALO – On Friday morning, hours before their 4-2 victory over the Ottawa Senators, new assistant captain Steve Ott promised the Sabres would keep fighting for that unlikely playoff berth until the bitter end.

Two days after management jettisoned captain Jason Pominville at the trade deadline with the message the Sabres’ plans have shifted to the future, players emphatically say they’re still focused on the present.

They want to win now.

Ten games ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Adam thrilled to be back in NHL after long wait

PITTSBURGH – One day this winter, Luke Adam finally had enough. The 22-year-old cleared his head and stopped wondering about his future with the Buffalo Sabres.

In just a few months last season, Adam suffered a stunning decline, morphing from a first-line NHL scoring threat into a forgotten AHL player repeatedly bypassed for recalls.

But fretting wasn’t helping Adam’s career.

“That’s what got me in trouble,” Adam said Tuesday prior to the Sabres’ 4-1 win ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Ron Rolston believes Steve Ott’s embellishment penalty wrong

PITTSBURGH – At the 12:01 mark of the first period in the Buffalo Sabres’ 2-0 loss to Boston on Sunday, hulking Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara cross-checked Steve Ott, sending the agitator flying into the boards.

Ott hit his head and skated off to the dressing room before returning. But in addition to Chara’s minor penalty, Ott received an unsportsmanlike conduct embellishment penalty.

Did interim Sabres coach Ron Rolston agree?

“No, unless you want to launch ... Read the full article

Bruins send Sabres to fourth straight loss

BUFFALO – In coach Ron Rolston’s mind, the Sabres’ 2-0 loss to the Boston Bruins on Sunday “was probably one of our best games” since he took over the struggling club on an interim basis 40 days ago.

Never mind the Sabres’ fourth straight loss (0-2-2) dropped them to 13^th place in the Eastern Conference, three points behind the eighth-place New York Rangers. Forget that Anton Khudobin, a relatively unknown backup goalie, only made ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Vanek out again; Rolston mum on starting goalie

BUFFALO – Slick winger Thomas Vanek (muscle strain) will miss his third straight game tonight when the Sabres host the Boston Bruins. Naturally, with their fierce Northeast Division rival in town, tough guy John Scott will dress.

But what about the rest of the lineup?

Backup Jhonas Enroth, who stopped 35 shots in Saturday’s 4-3 shootout loss to Washington, has played four strong games under Rolston after struggling more than a year. The Swede deserved ... Read the full article