Miller - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres shake off poor second period, roar back and down Bruins with 3 late goals

BUFFALO – It could’ve been about 8-1 after 40 minutes against the Boston Bruins on Friday. Instead, goalie Ryan Miller held his teammates in the contest, stopping 16 of 17 shots as the Sabres kept imploding in their own zone during the second period.

Miller, who’s been hung out to dry all season, gave the reeling Sabres the extra life they sorely needed as the capacity crowd of 19,070 fans booed them off the ice.... Read the full article

Sabres possess slew of underachievers in disappointing season

BUFFALO – On the surface, it sounds like a dynamic early-season combination. Goalie Ryan Miller locked in, on top of his game. Twenty-two goals and 49 points from the Sabres’ top line, highlighted by 11 scores and 23 points from superstar Thomas Vanek.

Well, it’s added up to a 5-7-1 record, 11 points and a last-place Northeast Division standing entering tonight’s tilt in Ottawa against the Senators.

The defense, the Sabres’ supposed strength, is ... Read the full article

Sabres give goalie Miller little help, fall to Bruins late

BUFFALO – A night after his dynamic effort stole a victory for his teammates in New York, the Sabres demanded an encore performance from goalie Ryan Miller.

Thirteen games into the season, the Sabres are a gigantic mess defensively, allowing 40 shots some nights and loads of scoring chances.

Miller can only do so much, but he dazzled again Sunday in the Sabres’ 3-1 loss to the scorching Boston Bruins, stopping 36 shots before 18,869 ... Read the full article

Buoyed by Vanek, Sabres rally late, stun Canadiens in shootout

BUFFALO – As the final seconds ticked away Thursday toward the Sabres’ fourth straight loss, thousands of disgusted fans left the First Niagara Center. The remnants of the crowd of 18,866 booed their struggling team mercilessly.

During one of the final whistles, The Who’s “Won’t Get Fooled Again” blared loudly from the speakers, including the never-more-appropriate verse, “Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.”

Were the Sabres trying to create a good atmosphere ... Read the full article

Last-place Sabres trying to dig out of early-season hole

BUFFALO – Everything’s becoming ugly very quickly for the reeling Sabres, whose season is already on the brink of collapsing after losing three straight contests and seven of the last eight.

Three wins and seven points through 10 games have them mired in last place in the Northeast Division and 14^th in the Eastern Conference following Tuesday’s 4-3 defeat in Ottawa, a game they nearly roared back and tied.

Incredibly, depending how some other ... Read the full article

Reeling Sabres searching for answers on ‘off day’

BUFFALO – The stumblebum Sabres have lost three straight contests and seven of eight. Tens tilts into the 48-game schedule, they have only three wins and seven points. They’re last in the Northeast Division and 14^th in the Eastern Conference after falling 4-3 on Tuesday in Ottawa following a late rally.

After missing the playoffs last season and starting this campaign so wretchedly, should the Sabres be concerned changes are coming among the player ranks ... Read the full article

Sabres goalie Jhonas Enroth has lots riding on second start

Fifteen months ago today, Jhonas Enroth, who will make his second start of the season tonight in Ottawa, was stealing the Buffalo Sabres’ starting goalie job from Ryan Miller.

On that night at Scotiabank Place in Ottawa, the young backup received a surprise nod, keeping the former Vezina Trophy on the bench a second straight game.

Enroth sparkled again, making 25 saves in a 3-2 shootout win over the Senators.

The rookie’s dynamic play had ... Read the full article

Sabres blow lead to Panthers, waste Vanek’s 3-point effort

BUFFALO – Sabres star Thomas Vanek dazzled again Sunday, scoring another goal and three more points. That’s a whopping eight goals and 19 points through two weeks for the slick Austrian.

But arguably the greatest individual start in the franchise’s 42-year history is being wasted.

The Sabres have dropped six of seven games (1-5-1) after blowing a 3-1 second-period lead and falling to the hapless Florida Panthers 4-3 on Sunday afternoon before 18,831 fans inside ... Read the full article

T.J. Brennan replaces Andrej Sekera on Sabres’ banged-up blue line

BUFFALO – A bruised foot sidelined Sabres defenseman Andrej Sekera for Sunday afternoon’s 4-3 loss to the Florida Panthers. Rookie T.J. Brennan replaced him, making his second appearance this season.

Sekera blocked Alexei Emelin’s shot shortly into his first shift Saturday, went to the dressing room and returned for several shifts before leaving the Sabres’ 6-1 loss in Montreal again after the first period.

Ruff hopes it’s a short-term injury.

“He took a pretty hard ... Read the full article

Injured Andrej Sekera out, T.J. Brennan in for Sabres

BUFFALO – Sabres defenseman Andrej Sekera will miss this afternoon’s tilt against the Florida Panthers after bruising his foot Saturday, coach Lindy Ruff said. Rookie T.J. Brennan will replace him.

Sekera blocked Alexei Emelin’s shot shortly into his first shift, went to the dressing room and returned for several shifts before leaving the Sabres’ 6-1 loss in Montreal again after the first period.

Ruff hopes it’s a short-term injury.

“He took a pretty hard shot,” ... Read the full article