McNabb - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Zenon Konopka thrilled to be with Sabres following long travel day

BUFFALO – Zenon Konopka’s travel ordeal began Friday night shortly after his flight from Minnesota landed in New York. First, the center’s short flight here was delayed four hours. Then the airline canceled it.

“The tough part was they said they could get me in Sunday,” Konopka, a waiver acquisition, said Saturday prior to his Sabres a debut, a 2-1 win against the New Jersey Devils inside the First Niagara Center. “I said, ‘That’s not ... Read the full article

Zenon Konopka arrives in Buffalo late, excited to make Sabres debut

BUFFALO – Zenon Konopka’s travel ordeal began Friday night shortly after landing in New York from Minnesota. First, the center’s flight was delayed four hours. Then the airline canceled it.

“The tough part was they said they could get me in Sunday,” Konopka, who was claimed on waivers by the Sabres on Friday, said this morning after skating briefly inside the First Niagara Center. “I said, ‘That’s not going to work.’”

Konopka eventually switched ... Read the full article

Sabres recall Johan Larsson and Brayden McNabb from Amerks

The Buffalo Sabres have recalled forward Johan Larsson and defenseman Brayden McNabb from the Rochester Americans.

Injuries to center Ville Leino (lower body) and defenseman Henrik Tallinder (upper body) briefly left the Sabres with no extra players on their road trip. They play Thursday in Minnesota against the Wild.

Larsson has one assist and 18 penalty minutes in 18 NHL games this season. The Sabres sent the 22-year-old to the Amerks following a one-game recall ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Ted Nolan says Mark Pysyk’s stay with Amerks will be short

BUFFALO – Mark Pysyk’s assignment to Rochester won’t last long, interim Sabres coach Ted Nolan said. The rookie defenseman will be back after the Americans participate in the upcoming Spengler Cup tournament in Switzerland.

Nolan said the steady Pysyk, one of the Sabres’ few bright spots this season, is capable of playing in the NHL right now.

“But is he at the mature level we think he can be? Not yet,” Nolan said Tuesday ... Read the full article

Ted Nolan says Mark Pysyk will be back with Sabres soon

Nolan said the solid Pysyk, one of the Sabres’ few bright spots this season, is capable of playing in the NHL right now.

“But is he at the mature level we think he can be? Not yet,” Nolan said this ... Read the full article

Sabres assign 3, recall 2 from Amerks, including rookie Mark Pysyk

BUFFALO – The Sabres changed up their roster this morning, sending three players to Rochester and recalling two.

Gone, most surprisingly, is rookie Mark Pysyk, who had played 31 games and was arguably the steadiest defenseman at times. The Sabres also assigned rookie defenseman Brayden McNabb and winger Luke Adam to the Americans.

Veteran forward Kevin Porter and rookie defenseman Chad Ruhwedel have been recalled.

The Sabres host the Winnipeg Jets tonight inside the ... Read the full article

Ted Nolan still evaluating Sabres’ defense corps

BUFFALO – Ted Nolan wants healthy competition between his defensemen. So with seven or eight at his disposal, the interim Sabres coach plans to keep tinkering until he finds the six he can play regularly.

Nolan hasn’t stopped evaluating a month into his tenure. That’s one reason Mark Pysyk, one of the NHL’s better rookie defenders, was scratched Saturday.

“Sometimes you like to take them out whenever they play a great game versus a ... Read the full article

Matt Ellis on special recall to Sabres: ‘It couldn’t have happened any better’

BUFFALO – Moments after Matt Ellis scored the shootout winner in Friday’s wild Rochester outdoor game, Americans coach Chadd Cassidy found his captain at center ice in the midst of the celebration.

Cassidy had a special message for Ellis, who also had a goal and an assist in the “Frozen Frontier” game, an exciting 5-4 triumph played in 18-degree temperatures.

“(He) said, ‘The only thing that made tonight better is me getting to ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Cody Hodgson to take pregame warm-up

BUFFALO – Sabres center Cody Hodgson (lower body) will this take this afternoon’s pregame warm-up and decide if he can play against the Calgary Flames.

“He’s getting real close,” interim Sabres coach Ted Nolan said this afternoon inside the First Niagara Center.

Update: Hodgson is out again. Luke Adam is a healthy scratch up front.

If Hodgson misses his second game, Matt Ellis will play. The Sabres recalled the 32-year-old after he scored the ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Cody Hodgson out tonight against Senators

Buffalo Sabres leading scorer Cody Hodgson (lower body) will miss tonight’s game in Ottawa against the Senators, according to multiple reports.

Center Ville Leino, a healthy scratch last game, will return.

Hodgson has been the Sabres’ best offensive threat this season, compiling eight goals and 18 points in 31 games. Center Tyler Ennis, the No. 2 scorer, has six goals and 12 points.

The Sabres have only 49 goals this year.

Hodgson, the ... Read the full article