WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
Offseason Edition
The Sabres ranked first overall in late November. ©2019, Hickling Images
BUFFALO – The Sabres fired Phil Housley this afternoon, less than a day after the team completed a disappointing season in which it fell from first overall in late November to sixth in the Atlantic Division.
Even as the Sabres stumbled and lost their grip on a playoff spot early in the winter, it seemed like Housley would return for a third season unless the team totally imploded down the stretch.
Well, the Sabres fell ... Read the full article
Phil Housley lasted two seasons with the Sabres. ©2019, Hickling Images
BUFFALO – The Sabres fired Phil Housley this afternoon, less than a day after the team completed a disappointing season in which it fell from first overall in late November to sixth in the Atlantic Division.
Even as the Sabres stumbled and lost their grip on a playoff spot early in the winter, it seemed like Housley would return for a third season unless the team totally imploded down the stretch.
Well, the Sabres fell ... Read the full article
Jason Pominville scored his 16th goal this season Thursday. ©2019, Janet Schultz
BUFFALO – The crowd kept roaring. For more than a minute late in Thursday’s 5-2 win, the fans saluted one of their favorites, winger Jason Pominville, after he capped off an emotional day by scoring perhaps his last goal for the Sabres.
The noise wouldn’t stop after Pominville, 36, was announced as the scorer, so after receiving a signal from his teammates, one of the greatest players in franchise history skated to center ice ... Read the full article
Jason Pominville has played 10 seasons with the Sabres. ©2019, Hickling Images
BUFFALO – All season long, Jason Pominville has insisted he hasn’t thought much about his future. But this morning, as he drove to KeyBank Center, the Sabres winger couldn’t help but wonder what it holds.
It dawned on him after 10 seasons with the Sabres, tonight’s game against the Ottawa Senators could be his final appearance here wearing Blue and Gold.
The thought of his Sabres career ending caused Pominville, 36, to break down.... Read the full article
Kyle Okposo has scored twice in the last four games. ©2019, Hickling Images
BUFFALO – Late in the winter, in the midst of perhaps his worst season ever, Sabres winger Kyle Okposo and coach Phil Housley had what the veteran called a “good conversation” about his play.
Okposo, of course, didn’t want to share details of his chat with Housley, someone he has known since he was a teenager.
But during their talk, Okposo said Housley, who wasn’t made available to the media Wednesday, “challenged me.”
“I just ... Read the full article
Jeff Skinner (53) waits for a faceoff against Nashville’s Austin Watson on Tuesday. ©2019, Janet Schultz
BUFFALO – A seething Phil Housley said it over and over – four times in three minutes, to be exact – following Tuesday’s 3-2 loss, the Sabres’ eight straight setback.
“It’s frustrating because we got screwed,” the Sabres coach said.
To Housley, the Sabres “got screwed” against the Nashville Predators because 2:40 into the second period, winger Conor Sheary scored on a delayed penalty, appearing to tie the game at 2.
The Predators never gained ... Read the full article
Rasmus Ristolainen missed four games. ©2019, Hickling Images
BUFFALO – Despite being confined to his bed by the flu last week unable to eat or drink, Sabres defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen had no problem getting up for Tuesday’s meaningless late-season game.
“I mentally feel really fresh,” Ristolainen said prior to the Sabres’ 3-2 loss to the Nashville Predators inside KeyBank Center. “It’s kind of fun to play hockey. Just sort of bring some fresh energy to the room and on the ice.”
The reeling ... Read the full article
Marco Scandella blocked a shot Saturday. ©2019, Hickling Images
BUFFALO – Sabres defenseman Marco Scandella’s season is over.
Scandella, out since blocking a shot with his foot Saturday, will miss the final three games, coach Phil Housley said.
The Sabres, however, will have minute-munching defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen back tonight against the Nashville Predators following a four-game absence.
Ristolainen, 24, said he lost “a lot” of weight battling the flu.
“Actually, I felt really, really good today,” Ristolainen said this morning inside KeyBank Center. “A ... Read the full article
Linus Ullmark (35) battles Columbus’ Josh Anderson on Sunday with help from Will Borgen (33). ©2019, Hickling Images
BUFFALO – By the middle of the winter, Linus Ullmark was beginning to steal games from Carter Hutton and supplant him as the Sabres’ starting goalie.
Ullmark, 25, began this season splendidly, compiling a sterling 9-1-3 record in his first 14 outings. He didn’t suffer a regulation loss until Dec. 8.
After Hutton and the Sabres started slumping, Ullmark remained a reliable presence most nights. It looked like he would become the undisputed No. 1 ... Read the full article
Jake McCabe hadn’t played since March 2. ©2019, Hickling Images
BUFFALO – The Sabres’ beleaguered blue line received a much-needed addition Sunday, as Jake McCabe returned after missing 13 games.
Did it help? Well, no. The Columbus Jackets throttled the Sabres 4-0 inside KeyBank Center.
McCabe hadn’t played since suffering an upper-body injury March 2.
Defenseman Marco Scandella, who blocked a shot in Saturday’s ugly 5-1 road loss to the New York Islanders, missed Sunday’s contest. Housley said the Sabres will know more about Scandella’s ... Read the full article
