Ryan Miller was hurt Friday. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres’ Ryan Miller could play Tuesday; Marcus Foligno set to return

BUFFALO – Ryan Miller wants to act cautiously. The Sabres goalie doesn’t want his mild groin injury dogging him all season.

“Three games into the season I didn’t want to create a bigger issue out of it,” Miller said today after taking some shots on the ice. “(I’m) just trying to get myself to the point where I don’t have to worry about the rest of the year instead of having something that keeps coming ... Read the full article

Jhonas Enroth was arguably the Sabres’ only bright spot Saturday. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Feeble Sabres fall to Penguins, left searching for answers

PITTSBURGH – Three defeats. Two goals. One team going nowhere fast.

For the first time in their 43-year history, the Buffalo Sabres have started a season with three consecutive losses.

In Saturday’s setback, a 4-1 loss to the high-powered Penguins before 18,641 fans inside the Consol Energy Center, the Sabres’ goal drought went on the length of more than two full games before Thomas Vanek scored with 4:54 left in the contest.

“It’s the same ... Read the full article

Drew Stafford scored only six goals last season. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres’ Drew Stafford optimistic and refreshed after ‘nightmare’ season

BUFFALO – When the worst season of Drew Stafford’s career mercifully ended five months ago – he describes the six-goal, 18-point campaign as hitting “rock bottom” – the Sabres winger stopped dwelling on it.

“You got to get over it,” Stafford said Thursday inside the First Niagara Center after the Sabres prepared for tonight’s preseason finale in Carolina. “It was an absolute nightmare. It’s one of those things where you can’t change the past, what’s ... Read the full article

John Scott, shown here after a fight last season, sent a message Sunday in Toronto. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Fight night in Toronto: Sabres and Leafs brawl in exhibition tilt

TORONTO – It was a not-so-subtle message: John Scott, the Buffalo Sabres’ 6-foot-8, 258-pound tough guy, lining up for a faceoff against slick Maple Leafs superstar Phil Kessel, who’s about eight inches shorter and 60 pounds lighter.

A minute earlier, 6-foot-5 Leafs fighter Jamie Devane had knocked Corey Tropp out briefly and bloodied him.

The Sabres didn’t like Devane fighting someone five inches smaller.

So Sabres coach Ron Rolston had Scott on the ice ... Read the full article

Marcus Foligno has three goals in two preseason outings. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Marcus Foligno impressing Sabres again early after forgettable season

BUFFALO – When Marcus Foligno’s dismal, five-goal season ended in April, the 22-year-old could’ve laid the blame on others or taken responsibility, Sabres coach Ron Rolston said.

“Whether they think it’s me or them, ultimately they got to make that change, and I think he took that ownership on that,” Rolston said Saturday prior to the Sabres’ 3-2 exhibition shootout loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs before a capacity crowd of 19,070 fans inside the ... Read the full article

Johan Larsson scored twice in his third preseason game Thursday. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Center prospect Johan Larsson making strong bid to crack Sabres

BUFFALO – Right now, the Sabres’ depth down the middle is, well, a bit thin beyond Cody Hodgson.

Consider this: the five other centers coach Ron Rolston has played in the team’s three exhibition contests – Matt Ellis, Mikhail Grigorenko, Johan Larsson, Cody McCormick and Kevin Porter – have combined for 64 goals and 154 points in 816 NHL games.

That’s it.

So what will the Sabres do?

“We’re going to continue ... Read the full article

Joel Armia saw plenty of action Thursday. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres prospect Joel Armia makes home debut memorable

BUFFALO – This wasn’t a three-minute YouTube package of European highlights or a summer development camp scrimmage. This was slick Sabres prospect Joel Armia finally skating in some NHL action.

The hype surrounding Armia has been building since the Sabres selected the Finnish winger 16th overall in 2011. Yet few fans had seen the 20-year-old, who spent the last three seasons playing at home in SM-liiga, up close prior to Thursday’s exhibition home opener, ... Read the full article

Joel Armia skates this morning. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres prospect Joel Armia set for home debut tonight

BUFFALO – The hype has been building since slick Finnish winger Joel Armia was selected 16th overall in 2011. In the 20-year-old, the Sabres possess a prospect so talented many believe he could crack the NHL right away.

Yet few have seen Armia, who spent the last three seasons playing at home in SM-liiga, up close.

Who exactly is this guy?

Fans will find out tonight, when Armia makes his Buffalo debut in the ... Read the full article

Corey Tropp earned his first regular NHL duty late in 2011-12. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres’ Corey Tropp confident he will regain rookie form after knee injury

BUFFALO – Corey Tropp’s late-season AHL comeback was about more than simply playing games. The gritty 24-year-old Sabres winger returned for some peace of mind after suffering a serious knee injury opening night.

“That’s one of the real reasons why we did try to make the comeback, so you’re not sitting around all summer thinking, ‘How’s it going to hold up in that first exhibition game or intrasquad scrimmage game?’” Tropp said Tuesday morning ... Read the full article

Corey Tropp only played six games last season. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Tonight’s game more than meaningless exhibition for Sabres’ Corey Tropp

BUFFALO – Seventeen months after Corey Tropp played his last NHL game, the 24-year-old Sabres winger will return to the lineup tonight in Columbus.

Yes, it’s just an exhibition contest. But for Tropp, who suffered ligament damage in his right knee playing for Rochester opening night last season, it’s more than a preseason tilt.

Tropp’s back in the NHL.

“I’d be lying to you if I told you when I finished the season two ... Read the full article