Housley - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Memories of NHL debut fresh as Sabres’ Jordan Nolan hits 300 games

BUFFALO – Almost six years later, Sabres winger Jordan Nolan remembers nearly every detail of his first day in the NHL, from the early-morning knock on his door informing him the Los Angeles Kings needed him in Long Island, to his linemates that night.

However, one important part of Nolan’s NHL debut Feb. 11, 2012 has escaped his mind.

“I don’t remember if we won or lost, to tell you the truth,” Nolan said this ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Benoit Pouliot moving around

BUFFALO – When the Sabres signed Benoit Pouliot to a one-year contract July 1, it was expected they would utilize the veteran as a utility winger all over the lineup.

Sure enough, nine games into the season, Pouliot has already skated on a slew of lines.

In Saturday’s 5-4 come-from-behind overtime win in Boston, Pouliot mostly played at left wing with center Ryan O’Reilly and Jason Pominville, a top scoring trio. Pouliot scored his ... Read the full article

Goalies Robin Lehner, Chad Johnson playing ‘great’ despite Sabres’ struggles

BUFFALO – Through nine games, the Sabres have allowed a whopping 35 goals, the NHL’s second-highest number.

In this defensive era, a figure even approaching three goals a game usually means a team is struggling. The Sabres, who roared back Saturday in Boston to stun the Bruins 5-4 in overtime, have allowed 3.89 an outing.

No wonder they’re 2-5-2 and winless at home in three tries entering tonight’s tilt against the Detroit Red Wings at ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Kyle Okposo responds to benching

BUFFALO – A day after getting benched, Sabres winger Kyle Okposo was noticeably better in Saturday’s 5-4 come-from-behind overtime win in Boston.

Okposo looked engaged and more like the veteran who usually averages more than 20 goals and 50 points a season.

After the Sabres roared back from three goals against the Bruins, Okposo nearly won it in the final minutes, hitting the crossbar from the slot.... Read the full article

Short-handed goal dooms Sabres again in loss to Canucks

BUFFALO – By now, you figured the Sabres’ disturbing early-season penchant for allowing short-handed goals would’ve been corrected.

Four in the first three games? Yikes! That can’t continue, right?

Well, eight contests into what looks like another lost season, the reeling Sabres haven’t bucked the trend. A short-handed goal – incredibly, the Sabres have already allowed a whopping six – swung the momentum again in Friday’s 4-2 loss to the Vancouver Canucks before 18,050 fans ... Read the full article

Season with Sabres ignited goalie Anders Nilsson’s NHL career

BUFFALO – Goalie Anders Nilsson figured after a breakout season in which he emerged as one of the NHL’s top backups, the Sabres would be interested in re-signing him.

In his first start-to-finish NHL campaign, Nilsson performed strongly, going 10-10-4 with a 2.67 goals-against average and a sparkling .923 save percentage.

Nilsson, 27, morphed into a terrific option for the Sabres, pushing starter Robin Lehner while showcasing consistency throughout his 26 appearances.... Read the full article

Injuries force Sabres to recall Taylor Fedun; Chad Johnson to start

BUFFALO – The Sabres’ rash of injuries forced them to recall Taylor Fedun this morning. Will the defenseman play tonight against the Vancouver Canucks?

“I was the odd man out in practice today, so I assume I will not be,” Fedun said this morning after skating inside KeyBank Center.

The 1-4-2 Sabres are so banged up, they summoned Fedun from the Rochester Americans just so they have an extra player tonight.... Read the full article

Sabres’ Ryan O’Reilly starting to produce

BUFFALO – Ryan O’Reilly’s ability to adapt to an evolving game has helped the talented center morph from an unheralded second-round pick into an NHL All-Star and the Sabres’ most versatile player.

“Every year you got to reinvent your game,” O’Reilly said Thursday. “What worked last year at certain times isn’t going to work this year at certain times. It’s finding a new way and finding different things. It’s on myself.”... Read the full article

Sabres return from road trip banged up

BUFFALO – Up top in the press box, with a view of the entire ice surface, hockey can look pretty simple.

“It’s obviously a lot easier watching games than it is being on the ice,” said Sabres winger Seth Griffith, a healthy scratch the last two games. “You see stuff that you wouldn’t normally see necessarily on the ice.”

Thanks to a glut of injuries, Griffith, the team’s biggest surprise during training camp, should ... Read the full article

Sabres prospect Justin Bailey trying to evolve with Amerks

ROCHESTER – Even with a 6-foot-3, 210-pound frame, hitting can be difficult for Buffalo Sabres prospect Justin Bailey, a slick goal scorer trying develop more tools.

“It’s not as easy as people think, even as I think,” Bailey said Friday following the Rochester Americans’ 2-0 loss to the Utica Comets. “Hitting’s difficult to do.”

Bailey, 22, said he has learned thumping opponents – “Making sure that you’re not killing a guy from behind,” he ... Read the full article