Miller - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres goalie Enroth to start tonight; Rolston insists Miller can play at home again

BUFFALO – Given what transpired in Friday’s ugly 8-4 loss to the New York Rangers – in between two Bronx cheers, Ryan Miller sarcastically saluted the crowd shortly before he was yanked – can the Sabres realistically play the goalie at home again this season?

“Yes,” interim Sabres coach Ron Rolston said this morning. “It is realistic.”

Tonight, however, backup goalie Jhonas Enroth start against the Winnipeg Jets, a meaningless game for the Sabres.

Is ... Read the full article

Sabres rookie Grigorenko set to return to lineup

BUFFALO – Mikhail Grigorenko has been playing real hockey games since August. Counting NHL, junior and Team Russia appearances, the 18-year-old Sabres rookie estimates he has skated in 85 contests this season.

Grigorenko insists he’s in “real good shape,” though. Under normal circumstances, a nine-month season would be trying.

“But I always changed places,” Grigorenko, who’s in his second stint with the Sabres, said Sunday after preparing for tonight’s contest against the Winnipeg Jets in ... Read the full article

Ryan Miller’s Sabres career could be over after Friday’s ugly exit

BUFFALO – Seriously, in the wake of Friday’s debacle, can the Sabres ever play Ryan Miller before the home crowd again? How ugly could it become inside the First Niagara Center?

With only three games left this season, the goalie’s 10-year career here looks finished. The Sabres’ embarrassing 8-4 loss to the New York Rangers sure felt like Miller’s 498^th and final appearance.

The fans’ love-hate relationship with Miller likely reached its breaking ... Read the full article

Sabres vow to play for pride following postseason elimination

BUFFALO – With senior advisor Ken Sawyer watching from the stands, a rarity, the Sabres practiced quietly this morning for the first time since Friday’s ugly 8-4 loss to the New York Rangers eliminated them from playoff contention.

Normally, their shootout drills are filled with cheering and hollering as they close sessions. Today, however, almost no one uttered a word.

Three games remain, starting with Monday’s home tilt against the ninth-place Winnipeg Jets, who ... Read the full article

Shellacking from Rangers eliminates Sabres from playoff contention

BUFFALO – Two goals in 57 seconds. The New York Rangers couldn’t score another before the first period ended Friday, right?

The Sabres would buckle down facing elimination. Besides, the Rangers scored on fluky deflections.

Still, the crowd of 19,003 fans inside the First Niagara Center needed to vent.

So the surly spectators gave goalie Ryan Miller a Bronx cheer after he stopped a dump-in as the final seconds ticked down. Miller then nearly whiffed ... Read the full article

Sabres facing elimination tonight against Rangers

BUFFALO – If you haven’t noticed, the Sabres received no help Thursday night. The eighth-place New York Rangers, tonight’s opponent, throttled hapless Florida. Ninth-place Winnipeg beat Carolina in overtime.

With 48 points, both clubs lead the 10^th-place Sabres by four. A regulation loss tonight eliminates them from postseason contention.

“We just got to win out,” Sabres winger John Scott said this morning inside the First Niagara Center. “We got to do what we ... Read the full article

Sabres want to monitor Grigorenko in NHL with junior season over

BUFFALO – For the time being at least, 18-year-old rookie Mikhail Grigorenko is back with the Sabres following a one-month stint in junior.

The Russian center practiced Tuesday inside the First Niagara Center and traveled with the team to Boston for tonight’s tilt against the Bruins. But Grigorenko will likely be scratched.

Rather than sending Grigorenko to AHL Rochester, where he’s now eligible to play with the Quebec Remparts’ season having ended last week, ... Read the full article

Grigorenko must ‘earn what he gets’ during second stint with Sabres

BUFFALO – For the time being at least, 18-year-old rookie Mikhail Grigorenko is back with the Sabres following a one-month stint in junior.

The Russian center practiced this morning inside the First Niagara Center and will travel with the team to Boston. Grigorenko will likely sit Wednesday’s game against the Bruins, though.

Rather than sending Grigorenko to AHL Rochester, where he’s now eligible to play with the Quebec Remparts’ season having ended last week, the ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Enroth grounds Lightning in second consecutive start

BUFFALO – This two-day stretch hardly mirrored the last time Sabres backup goalie Jhonas Enroth earned consecutive starts for a healthy Ryan Miller.

Back in November 2011, Enroth sported an eight-game winning streak as Miller was beginning a wretched three-month slump. The Swede’s second nod ignited a goaltending controversy.

These days, Miller’s entrenched as the No. 1 goalie. Enroth, meanwhile, recently regained the dynamic form he showcased early during his rookie season.

If the ... Read the full article

Enroth and some luck push Sabres past Flyers

BUFFALO – Sure, the Sabres needed some good fortune to down the Philadelphia Flyers 1-0 on Saturday afternoon. Christian Ehrhoff’s pass off the end boards created the game’s only goal. Daniel Briere hit the crossbar behind Sabres goalie Jhonas Enroth with just a single tick left in the game.

Still, they deserved their 17^th win this season and first in three games. The Sabres, so vile during Thursday’s 5-1 home loss to Montreal, ... Read the full article