Hodgson - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres recall Johan Larsson and Brayden McNabb from Amerks

The Buffalo Sabres have recalled forward Johan Larsson and defenseman Brayden McNabb from the Rochester Americans.

Injuries to center Ville Leino (lower body) and defenseman Henrik Tallinder (upper body) briefly left the Sabres with no extra players on their road trip. They play Thursday in Minnesota against the Wild.

Larsson has one assist and 18 penalty minutes in 18 NHL games this season. The Sabres sent the 22-year-old to the Amerks following a one-game recall ... Read the full article

Ted Nolan wants to give Linus Omark ‘benefit of the doubt’ after weak Sabres debut

TORONTO – Ted Nolan wasn’t too impressed with Linus Omark’s Buffalo Sabres debut in Saturday’s 4-1 loss in Boston.

But the interim coach doesn’t want to judge the flashy winger from one game.

“We’ll give him the benefit of the doubt the first time, jet lagged and getting to a new team and having the flu,” Nolan said this afternoon inside the Air Canada Centre after the Sabres prepared for tonight’s game against the Maple ... Read the full article

Sabres fondly recall world junior championship memories

TORONTO – Five years ago, Buffalo Sabres center Tyler Ennis figured he had a good chance to earn a coveted spot on Team Canada’s world junior championship squad.

The 24-year-old was one of his country’s most electrifying junior talents, a first-round draft pick in the midst of a dynamic 43-goal, 85-point season with the Medicine Hat Tigers. He felt he had enjoyed a strong training camp.

But, Ennis said, “Anything can happen.” Canada always has ... Read the full article

Flu bug forces the Sabres to play short-handed, utilize tough guy John Scott

BUFFALO – Good thing the NHL’s three-day Christmas break begins today. A flu bug ravaging through the Sabres forced them to dress only 16 skaters for Monday’s 2-1 overtime win against the Phoenix Coyotes inside the First Niagara Center.

The Sabres scratched forwards Marcus Foligno, Ville Leino and Linus Omark and defenseman Alexander Sulzer, all of whom played Saturday.

With just 10 forwards available, interim coach Ted Nolan switched tough guy John Scott, a winger ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Brian Flynn embracing checking role, showcasing offense

BUFFALO – Brian Flynn, the undersized scorer, still wasn’t ready for NCAA hockey. So following two years of prep school, the Sabres center spent a season playing junior in New Hampshire.

“I scored a lot. But then you realize it’s not all about scoring,” Flynn said Friday inside the First Niagara Center after the Sabres prepared for tonight’s game in Boston against the Bruins. “I weighed probably 160 pounds. Trying to go to college (at) ... Read the full article

Linus Omark to meet Sabres in Boston; Cody Hodgson possibly out weeks

BUFFALO – Newly acquired winger Linus Omark will meet the Sabres later today in Boston and play Saturday against the Bruins, interim coach Ted Nolan said.

“He’ll take a spot in the lineup,” Nolan said after the Sabres’ brief practice this morning inside the First Niagara Center. “I’m not 100 percent sure exactly where we’ll put him yet. But he’ll play tomorrow night.”

The Sabres dealt a conditional sixth-round draft pick to Edmonton on Thursday ... Read the full article

Sabres score 4 goals again, beat Bruins for second straight regulation win

BUFFALO – Break ‘em up. Not only have the Sabres won consecutive games in regulation for the first time all season, they’ve scored eight goals while wowing crowds again inside a lively First Niagara Center.

The Sabres had eight goals in their previous seven games before starting this mini-streak.

Thursday’s 4-2 triumph versus the Boston Bruins might’ve been the best of their nine victories this trying season.

Against the class of the Eastern Conference, Drew ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Ted Nolan says Mark Pysyk’s stay with Amerks will be short

BUFFALO – Mark Pysyk’s assignment to Rochester won’t last long, interim Sabres coach Ted Nolan said. The rookie defenseman will be back after the Americans participate in the upcoming Spengler Cup tournament in Switzerland.

Nolan said the steady Pysyk, one of the Sabres’ few bright spots this season, is capable of playing in the NHL right now.

“But is he at the mature level we think he can be? Not yet,” Nolan said Tuesday ... Read the full article

Ted Nolan says Mark Pysyk will be back with Sabres soon

Nolan said the solid Pysyk, one of the Sabres’ few bright spots this season, is capable of playing in the NHL right now.

“But is he at the mature level we think he can be? Not yet,” Nolan said this ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Cody McCormick sidelined 4-6 weeks after blocking shot; Ted Nolan says roster move coming

BUFFALO – Sabres forward Cody McCormick suffered an upper body injury blocking a shot in Saturday’s 2-1 overtime loss to Calgary and will miss four to six weeks, interim coach Ted Nolan said Monday.

“One thing about doing what Cody does, unfortunately, sometimes that’s going to happen,” Nolan said after the Sabres prepared for tonight’s game against the Winnipeg Jets inside the First Niagara Center. “He’s fearless. He puts himself in front of shots that ... Read the full article