WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
Calder Cup Playoffs Edition
Zemgus Girgensons (28) and Tampa Bay’s Ryan Callahan battle in front of Robin Lehner on Thursday. ©2016, Janet Schultz, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Early in the second period of Thursday’s dreary 4-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning, goalie Ben Bishop gifted the Sabres’ anemic offense a chance it sorely needed to tie the game.
Stationed behind his net, Bishop blindly threw the puck up the middle of the ice to a waiting Kyle Okposo. The Sabres’ leading scorer then quickly let a low wrist shot loose toward the open net.
“That one was on the ... Read the full article
Kyle Okposo is one of the few Sabres producing. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – With a slew of established, high-priced forwards and two talented youngsters poised to break out following terrific rookie seasons, the days of the Sabres owning one of the NHL’s worst offenses appeared to be over.
But 15 games into another tough season, the Sabres have scored only 29 goals, a paltry 1.93 a contest, the league’s worst figure entering tonight’s road tilt against the St. Louis Blues.
The Sabres have scored two or ... Read the full article
Anders Nilsson makes one of his 41 saves Friday. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The Sabres have lost a lot of games in the past three-plus seasons – 176, to be exact – so they’ve experienced about every kind of defeat imaginable.
So, yes, an overtime penalty shot has victimized them.
But a high-scoring forward scored that goal on the road. How about a defenseman with 37 goals in 11 seasons doing that on your home ice?
That happened in Friday’s 2-1 loss to the New Jersey ... Read the full article
Evander Kane misssed 11 games. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Sabres defenseman Cody Franson isn’t concerned. Neither is coach Dan Bylsma.
Thirteen games into the season, the Sabres are the only team without a goal from a defenseman.
“I could care less if I score one goal in a season,” Franson said Wednesday prior to the Sabres’ 2-1 shootout loss to the Ottawa Senators. “For me, assists, getting pucks there for other guys to score are just as important as how many goals ... Read the full article
Evander Kane was injured Oct. 13. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – For the next little bit, Evander Kane will likely have to endure some pain on the ice. The Sabres winger, out since breaking four ribs Oct. 13, hasn’t quite healed 100 percent.
“I don’t think anything is really healed kind of right when I get back, but it’s healed enough to where I can play and come back,” said Kane, who will return tonight against the Ottawa Senators. “I’m sure there’ll be ... Read the full article
Kyle Okposo has gotten off to a hot start. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Kyle Okposo’s quick acclimation and productive start have been welcomed by the Sabres, whose previous high-priced free agents quickly turned into disasters.
Remember Christian Ehrhoff? How about Ville Leino? Both lasted three seasons before the Sabres exercised buyouts. Both are out of the NHL, now cautionary tales for the dangers of free agency.
The rest of Ehrhoff’s 10-year, $40 million contact is being paid through 2027-28. The remainder of Leino’s six-year, ... Read the full article
William Carrier should make his NHL debut Saturday. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – If William Carrier had stayed healthy late last season, the Sabres prospect likely would’ve earned his first trip to the NHL. But Carrier, an often overlooked winger, broke his hand in March.
When this season started, the Sabres passed on him twice to recall Justin Bailey and Nick Baptiste. Carrier, meanwhile, kept impressing in the AHL, compiling three goals and four points in seven games.
The Sabres decided Carrier, 21, deserved a chance, ... Read the full article
Robin Lehner was off the ice four days. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Sabres goalie Robin Lehner, sidelined two games by a “stomach bug,” said he will likely start Sunday afternoon’s road contest against the Winnipeg Jets.
“I’m ready,” Lehner said today after practicing inside KeyBank Center.
Lehner said he won’t play Saturday afternoon. Sabres coach Dan Bylsma, meanwhile, wouldn’t divulge his starter for the Florida Panthers.
“We’ll see on our goaltender,” Bylsma said.
Goalies Anders Nilsson, Lehner’s sub, and Linus Ullmark also practiced ... Read the full article
Sam Reinhart thrived as a winger last season. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – It was only a matter of time before Sam Reinhart switched positions.
With center Jack Eichel injured, Sabres coach Dan Bylsma loaded up his top line early, keeping Reinhart at right wing, this time beside Ryan O’Reilly and Kyle Okposo.
Reinhart, however, produced only two assists in four games. The 1-2-1 Sabres, meanwhile, have just 11 goals as a team, six of them in one outing.
They clearly miss the talented ... Read the full article
Rasmus Ristolainen (55) tries to keep the puck away from Montreal’s Phillip Danault on Thursday. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Technically, the Sabres’ defense pairs are numbered.
Rasmus Ristolainen and his partner, Josh Gorges or Dmitry Kulikov, form the top tandem. Zach Bogosian and Jake McCabe are No. 2. Cody Franson and Casey Nelson skated as the third opening night.
On paper, the defense (average age: 27) has the makings of a solid group. Still, the Sabres don’t have an elite pair. Sure, Ristolainen is the undisputed No. 1. But on a ... Read the full article
