WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
October Edition
The Sabres have used their current logo since 2010-11. ©2017, Hickling Images, Olean Times Herald
The Buffalo Sabres are one of 12 NHL teams that will make changes to their uniform next season, according to sportslogos.net.
Don’t, however, expect a big overhaul. The changes could be as small as a few tweaks. The Sabres will keep their primary logo.
The changes will come with the NHL’s switch from Reebok to Adidas as their jersey manufacturer in 2017-18.
The Sabres have worn their current blue home jersey with the charging ... Read the full article
Justin Bailey played eight NHL games last season. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
With rookie winger Hudson Fasching battling a groin injury, the Buffalo Sabres recalled Justin Bailey from the Rochester Americans this morning.
The Sabres play a road game against the Minnesota Wild tonight.
Bailey, 21, has three goals and four points in seven AHL games this season. The Williamsville native played eight games as a rookie with the Sabres last season, compiling zero points. He had 20 goals and 45 points in 70 games with the ... Read the full article
Tyler Ennis (63) battles Minnesota’s Zac Dalpe on Thursday. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Just six games in, it already feels like past seasons. The Sabres are going nowhere fast again. Thursday’s embarrassing 4-0 loss to the Minnesota Wild, their fourth straight defeat and fifth overall, proved that.
Few expected the Sabres would be this bad again, but two weeks into another trying year, they still rank among the NHL’s bottom-feeders.
Clearly, the Sabres carried Tuesday’s brutal 4-3 shootout loss in Philadelphia, a game in which ... Read the full article
Jason Pominville’s role has changed in recent seasons. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Minnesota Wild winger Jason Pominville thought for a moment, scanned his mind for some names. The former Sabres captain came up with two.
“Uh, like, Foligno, Ennis,” Pominville said this morning inside KeyBank Center. “Umm, that might be it.”
That’s it. Only two players from Pominville’s long tenure here, which ended April 3, 2013, are still with the Sabres: wingers Tyler Ennis and Marcus Foligno.
“There’s not a lot of guys ... Read the full article
Kyle Okposo is excited for his home debut. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – It’s simple, really. If the Sabres have any hope of making the playoffs, they must become a strong home team, something they haven’t been in years.
The Sabres, who host the Minnesota Wild tonight at KeyBank Center, are 0-1 at home this season. They went 16-19-6 last season, when only two teams earned fewer home wins.
“It’s something we didn’t do last year and something we talked about doing this year, making this ... Read the full article
Josh Gorges said the Sabres got too fancy Tuesday. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – To locate the Sabres’ current standing, look in a familiar place. Find the Atlantic Division and scan down, all the way to the bottom. There, in eighth place, you’ll spot the 1-2-2 club.
The Sabres are one of four NHL teams with just a single win and four points. Only one team, the Arizona Coyotes, has fewer points.
Yes, it’s early. The Sabres have 77 games left, starting with tonight’s home tilt against ... Read the full article
Alexander Nylander has looked good so far in training camp. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Some quick updates this morning from KeyBank Center, where the Sabres prepared for tonight’s preseason opener against the Minnesota Wild before flying to Penn State University:
– The Sabres will use a mix of veterans, youngsters and AHL players for the tilt at Pegula Ice Arena.
Eighth overall pick Alexander Nylander, whose early training camp play has impressed coach Dan Bylsma, will debut on the left wing beside center Cal O’Reilly and ... Read the full article
Anders Nilsson will likely be the Sabres’ backup goalie this season. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Two years ago, frustrated by his limited opportunities, Sabres newcomer Anders Nilsson bolted North America for a gig tending goal for Ak Bars Kazan, a Russian team in the KHL.
The decision, of course, made Nilsson’s NHL future iffy. But after 23 appearances with the New York Islanders, the Swede said he felt “ready for the next step.” He wanted to develop at a high level, something a fourth straight season in the ... Read the full article
Jack Eichel (15) fends off Minnesota’s Marco Scandella on Saturday afternoon. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Finally, thanks to rookie Jack Eichel’s score, it appeared the Sabres’ first shootout goal in months would help them eke out a win after blowing a late lead against the Minnesota Wild.
Eichel, just 66 games into his career, already has a commanding on-ice presence. His exploits create excitement and momentum, and his first NHL shootout goal in four tries had the capacity crowd of 19,070 fans inside the First Niagara Center buzzing ... Read the full article
Thomas Vanek has 18 goals this season. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The upcoming World Cup of Hockey will be a much different international experience for veteran Thomas Vanek, a two-time 40-goal scorer with the Sabres.
Instead of hoping Austria can simply win a game to stay in the ‘A’ pool, the Minnesota Wild winger has a roster spot on Team Europe, a collection of top talent from seven countries.
“For me, it’s cool because actually I can go into one of those tournaments ... Read the full article