WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
Calder Cup Playoffs Edition
oalie Anders Nilsson makes a save through traffic during second period Saturday afternoon. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Early in the Sabres’ 3-0 victory Saturday afternoon, as Dan Bylsma watched Anders Nilsson gobble up puck after puck, the coach had an ill-timed thought about his goalie’s strong performance against the Florida Panthers.
“I don’t like it when I have thoughts like this,” Bylsma said after the Sabres’ first home win ended their four-game losing streak. “He just looked so solid, so confident in net you thought it was going to be ... Read the full article
Evander Kane was hurt Thursday. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The injury-plagued Sabres, already down four top players just one game into the season, will be without winger Evander Kane for “weeks” after he broke three ribs crashing hard into the end boards Thursday, coach Dan Bylsma said.
Kane slid on his back following contact from Alexei Emelin late in the second period of the Sabres’ 4-1 loss to Montreal, his left side taking most of the impact. He was transported to the ... Read the full article
Evander Kane zooms in on a first-period breakaway. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – If Thursday’s dispirited 4-1 opening-night loss to the Montreal Canadiens turns out to be a harbinger for the 2016-17 season, well, the Sabres could be in for a long six months.
In addition to an ugly setback to their Atlantic Division rival, first-line winger Evander Kane was taken to the hospital after he slid on his back and crashed his left side hard into the end boards following contact from Alexei Emelin late ... Read the full article
Jack Eichel will miss “weeks.” ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The scary high ankle sprain center Jack Eichel suffered when his left leg buckled Wednesday is “moderate,” coach Dan Bylsma said this morning.
Still, Bylsma said Eichel, 19, will be sidelined “more weeks than days at this point.” He didn’t give a firmer timeline.
Clearly, Eichel’s injury late in the final practice before tonight’s season opener against the Montreal Canadiens shocked the team. The young star, a popular teammate, is supposed to have ... Read the full article
Brendan Guhle has impressed again this preseason. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Sabres prospect Brendan Guhle tries not to think about it. The defenseman doesn’t ask any questions, either.
He’s happy as long as he’s in Buffalo.
“It’s definitely a little nerve-racking, I’d say,” Guhle said Thursday inside KeyBank Center.
Six days before opening night, Guhle, 19, is still battling to make the Sabres out of training camp as a junior-age player, a rarity.
Thanks to injuries to defensemen Zach Bogosian (groin) and Dmitry Kulikov ... Read the full article
Marcus Foligno enjoyed a career-best stretch late last season. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Almost halfway into last season, frustration began overwhelming Sabres winger Marcus Foligno. Maddening inconsistency, not goals or a powerful game, had become his trademark five years into his enigmatic career.
For a week or so, the 6-foot-3, 225-pound Foligno, would play an authoritative game and score, teasing he had arrived. Then he might disappear for a month or more.
So the affable Foligno, who always seems to be laughing or smiling, ... Read the full article
Zemgus Girgensons has moved back to center. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Instead of dwelling on a season in which his offensive production plummeted and he struggled to find a role on the revamped Sabres, center Zemgus Girgensons said he’s “going all positive.”
“I’m not looking back,” Girgensons said Saturday following practice inside KeyBank Center. “It doesn’t matter what it was last year. It’s a brand new year, you start from all zeros. That’s how I look at it. I feel confident in myself and ... Read the full article
William Nylander (left) interviews his brother, Alexander, before the NHL Draft in June. ©2016, Margaret Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Growing up, Sabres prospect Alexander Nylander and his brother, William, a Toronto Maple Leafs youngster, were ultra-competitive in whatever game or sport they played.
So, despite being very close, the Nylanders would occasionally get a little emotional.
“We fought a lot, there was a lot when we were playing knee hockey, shinny,” Alexander Nylander said this morning inside KeyBank Center. “We always came clean after it and were best buddies again.”
Don’t expect ... Read the full article
Alexander Nylander has looked good so far in training camp. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Some quick updates this morning from KeyBank Center, where the Sabres prepared for tonight’s preseason opener against the Minnesota Wild before flying to Penn State University:
– The Sabres will use a mix of veterans, youngsters and AHL players for the tilt at Pegula Ice Arena.
Eighth overall pick Alexander Nylander, whose early training camp play has impressed coach Dan Bylsma, will debut on the left wing beside center Cal O’Reilly and ... Read the full article
Marcus Foligno (82) muscles past Montreal’s Victor Bartley on March 16. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The Sabres re-signed another restricted free agent today, inking winger Marcus Foligno to a one-year contract worth a reported $2.25 million.
While Foligno, 24, was coming off a season in which he set career highs across the board, he earned the same salary last year.
Very quietly, the Sabres are creeping toward the salary cap for the first time in years. Generalfanager.com projects the team at $9,687,978 under the $73 million cap.
The ... Read the full article
