Miller - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Five ‘Sabres Classics’ from 2005-06 season to air next week on MSG

Five more “Sabres Classics” – this time regular-season games from 2005-06, one of the most memorable campaigns in franchise history – will be rebroadcast on MSG next week.

That season, of course, the Sabres morphed into a powerhouse after the NHL lockout ended, roaring to the Eastern Conference final. Co-captains Daniel Briere and Chris Drury led what was arguably the league’s deepest and most exciting lineup.

The games are being aired because the COVID-19 pandemic ... Read the full article

Expect Sabres to evaluate over final month; Jonas Johansson to start in goal

BUFFALO – Face it, the Sabres are playing for pride. Their four-game losing streak has kicked them out of the playoff chase.

So expect them to evaluate and even experiment a bit over the final 16 games, starting tonight against the Pittsburgh Penguins at KeyBank Center.

That means rookie goalie Jonas Johansson will start tonight, his second nod in three games.

Under normal circumstances, goalie Carter Hutton would likely face the Penguins. The veteran has ... Read the full article

Colin Miller finally adjusting to Sabres, earning more playing time

BUFFALO – For the first time in three months, Sabres defenseman Colin Miller has developed some rhythm, playing eight straight games.

In mid-November, the Sabres started scratching their biggest offseason acquisition, and he sat out 16 of the next 32 games, never playing more than four straight contests.

Following two terrific seasons with the Vegas Golden Knights, Miller has adjusted to the Sabres’ system slowly.

But Miller, 27, has been performing better since the NHL ... Read the full article

Sabres stick with Jonas Johansson, nearly roar back against Ducks

BUFFALO – After the Anaheim Ducks scored their third goal early Sunday afternoon, Sabres coach Ralph Krueger said he considered yanking goalie Jonas Johansson.

Could you blame him?

Johansson, 24, struggled mightily for the opening 12 minutes of his second NHL start, allowing three goals on four shots after stopping the first two he faced.

The Swede looked a bit off and uncomfortable in the crease. He knew the hook might be coming.

“It ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Ryan Miller’s win in Buffalo special to goalie, Ducks

BUFFALO – On Thursday, the Sabres will celebrate “2000s Night,” bringing back Daniel Briere, Brian Campbell and some other key figures from their wildly successful 2005-06 and 2006-07 teams that reached the Eastern Conference final.

Ryan Miller, the star goalie those seasons, can’t make it. As the only active NHL player left from those popular clubs, he will be in Anaheim for the Ducks’ game against the Calgary Flames.

“I’m actually going to ... Read the full article

Sabres recall goalie Andrew Hammond with Carter Hutton unavailable

BUFFALO – Center Marcus Johansson (sick) and goalie Carter Hutton (family circumstances) will not play this afternoon, the Sabres have announced.

Sabres coach Ralph Krueger said rookie goalie Jonas Johansson will start this afternoon against the Anaheim Ducks at KeyBank Center.

To replace Hutton, the Sabres have recalled goalie Andrew Hammond from the Rochester Americans. Krueger said the Sabres will dress seven defensemen and 11 forwards.... Read the full article

Colin Miller struggling to adjust, earn playing time with Sabres

BUFFALO – In Vegas, Colin Miller spent two seasons as one of the Golden Knights’ top defensemen, eating up minutes and piling up points.

But Miller, who will return tonight against his old team after sitting out two straight games, hasn’t secured a regular spot with the Sabres. Their biggest offseason acquisition – they traded Vegas two draft picks – has been a healthy scratch 14 times.

When Miller has played, he has often ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Sam Reinhart’s presence in circle boosting power play

BUFFALO – Long before he developed into a terrific net-front presence in the NHL, Sabres winger Sam Reinhart operated from the circle on the power play.

“It’s a pretty normal spot,” Reinhart said after scoring a power-play goal from the left circle in Saturday afternoon’s 6-3 loss to the Vancouver Canucks inside KeyBank Center.

After moving back there earlier this month, Reinhart has looked comfortable, scoring on two one-timers.

Those goals, believe it or not, ... Read the full article

Sabres goalie Carter Hutton to start against Canucks

BUFFALO – Sabres goalie Carter Hutton, who hasn’t won a game since Oct. 22 and has backed up Linus Ullmark the last eight contests, will start this afternoon against the Vancouver Canucks, coach Ralph Krueger said.

Hutton, 34, has struggled since starting the season 6-0-0, compiling a wretched 0-6-4 record with a ghastly 4.19 goals-against average and an .867 save percentage in his last 10 games.

He made his last appearance Dec. 19, making ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Conor Sheary finally starting to showcase more offense

BUFFALO – In his five-year NHL career, Sabres winger Conor Sheary said he had never experienced being a healthy scratch until last month.

“That was something different for me,” said Sheary, who sat out three times over a six-game stretch.

But in his first half season as Sabres coach, Ralph Krueger has established he’s willing to scratch anyone.

Krueger benched forward Evan Rodrigues on opening night and has kept sitting him out for months. In ... Read the full article