WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
Offseason Edition
John Scott (right) fights George Parros during the second period Sunday. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
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
T.J. Brennan will replace Andrej Sekera. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
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
Mike Weber (center) tried to keep James van Riemsdyk out of Ryan Miller’s crease Tuesday. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The cycle repeats each year. Inevitably, Mike Weber begins the season as the Sabres’ seventh or eighth defenseman, a spare part.
Weber sat the first eight games and 20 of the opening 22 contests as a healthy scratch in 2010-11. The 25-year-old watched the first 10 games last season.
The Pittsburgh native couldn’t break the trend this year, sitting five times before Sabres coach Lindy Ruff dressed him for Tuesday’s 4-3 overtime loss ... Read the full article
Mikhail Grigorenko celebrates his first NHL goal Tuesday. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Fifteen minutes after allowing the overtime winner in the Sabres’ shocking 4-3 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs, Ryan Miller sat stewing in his stall inside the dressing room, staring straight ahead. The goalie still had his pads on. He barely moved.
Down the hallway, winning Leafs goalie James Reimer was riding an exercise bike sporting a wide grin.
His 29 saves had just bested the former Vezina Trophy winner Tuesday before 18,801 ... Read the full article
Tim Gleason and Steve Ott fight during the first period Friday. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Lindy Ruff spent four games patiently waiting for his anemic, one-line offense to jumpstart itself. The Sabres coach mostly left his combinations intact, believing they’d eventually shake out of their funks.
But following Friday’s 3-1 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes before 18,824 fans inside the First Niagara Center, Ruff finally had enough.
The top trio of Cody Hodgson, Jason Pominville and Thomas Vanek will remain intact. With another goal from Vanek on Friday, ... Read the full article
Ryan Miller lost a shutout with 1:42 left in the game Monday. ©2013. Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – In his 462-game career, Sabres goalie Ryan Miller has 28 shutouts. That’s one every 16.5 games, or an average of four per full season.
But how many more shutouts could Miller have?
When the Maple Leafs’ Nazem Kadri scored with 1:42 left in the Sabres’ 2-1 win Monday in Toronto, it was the seventh time had Miller lost a shutout with three minutes or less left in the game, according to a local ... Read the full article
Nathan Gerbe practiced with Mikhail Grigorenko and Steve Ott on Wednesday. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – While Nathan Gerbe still had to be cleared to play Wednesday, it appears the feisty Sabres winger could make his season debut tonight in Carolina after undergoing offseason spine surgery.
Gerbe skated on the wing Wednesday beside 18-year-old rookie Mikhail Grigorenko and Steve Ott, his first action on a regular line this year.
“We’ll see where he’s at (today),” Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said following practice inside the First Niagara Center.
Gerbe underwent ... Read the full article
Ryan Miller dazzled Monday while making 34 saves. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
TORONTO – Remember this one. The Buffalo Sabres’ gritty 2-1 triumph over the Maple Leafs on Monday could be their blueprint for success in this lockout-shortened season.
Against a team fresh off a big opening-night win and playing its first home tilt, the Sabres showcased unyielding muscle, capitalized on their few chances early and received splendid goaltending from Ryan Miller before a capacity crowd of 19,475 fans inside the Air Canada Centre.
“We came in ... Read the full article
Steve Ott and the Sabres enjoyed a nice opening-day win Sunday. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
TORONTO – The Air Canada Centre, once the Buffalo Sabres’ favorite visiting rink, is now a house of horrors.
After winning eight in a row at the ACC, the Sabres have lost five straight games here dating back to March 12, 2011. They haven’t won here Nov. 6, 2010, a 3-2 shootout triumph in which backup goalie Jhonas Enroth earned his first NHL victory.
The Sabres’ 4-3 loss here in their last visit March 30 ... Read the full article
Thomas Vanek tucks the tying goal past Philadelphia goalie Ilya Bryzgalov on Sunday. ©2013, Dan Hicking, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – It was as if nine months hadn’t passed. One game into a new season, the Sabres kept exorcising their old demons, picking up where they left off last winter and spring during an exciting 5-2 triumph over the Philadelphia Flyers on Sunday inside a noisy First Niagara Center.
Thomas Vanek enjoyed an opening day that will forever live in Sabres lore, recording two goals and a career-high five points to start the lockout-shortened ... Read the full article
