Neuvirth - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres goalie Michal Neuvirth shines in shootout loss to Predators

BUFFALO – If the Sabres tab Michal Neuvirth as their No. 1 goalie and re-sign the 26-year-old Czech in the coming months, remember his 37-save performance in Sunday’s 2-1 shootout loss to the Nashville Predators.

In his fifth straight start, Neuvirth dazzled again, keeping the Sabres in a contest in which they only five mustered five shots through 30 minutes and 17 in 65 minutes.

Neuvirth helped the NHL’s worst team nearly upset the league-leading ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Nikita Zadorov to sit out tonight’s game for ‘team reasons’

BUFFALO – Sabres defenseman Nikita Zadorov will be scratched for tonight’s game against the Nashville Predators for “team reasons,” coach Ted Nolan said this morning.

The 19-year-old Zadorov, whose maturity has been a problem all season, was suspended last month after his flight back to Buffalo following the NHL All-Star break was oversold.

“It’s just part of the growing process,” Nolan said inside the First Niagara Center. “We’ll just have to deal with him. ... Read the full article

Sabres can’t exploit rookie goalie, lose to Rangers

BUFFALO – It was a gift the Sabres couldn’t exploit. Instead of starting backup goalie Cam Talbot, the New York Rangers used little-known rookie Mackenzie Skapski on Friday.

Who?

Skapski, 20, has been dressing for games as superstar goalie Henrik Lundqvist recovers from a neck injury. The 2013 sixth-round pick spent most of his first professional season playing in the AHL before getting recalled earlier this month. He even made one start in the ECHL.... Read the full article

Sabres’ Andre Benoit playing big minutes again

BUFFALO – In his first two NHL seasons, Sabres defenseman Andre Benoit enjoyed a regular role on strong playoff teams.

Benoit, 31, first earned notice two years ago as a late-bloomer in Ottawa. Last season in Colorado, he played more than 20 minutes a night, compiling 28 points.

This season, well, hasn’t been easy for Benoit, who made only his 39^th appearance in Friday’s 3-1 loss to the New York Rangers inside the First ... Read the full article

Josh Gorges’ season could be over; Sabres plan to ride Michal Neuvirth

BUFFALO – Sabres defenseman Josh Gorges’ season could be over.

Gorges will decide his future in the next day or two, Sabres coach Ted Nolan said. The veteran is “getting the final information” on the lower-body injury that has sidelined him three games, Nolan said. But the team is planning on playing without Gorges.

“We’ll see next little bit here,” Nolan said this afternoon inside the First Niagara Center.

In other news, the Sabres will ... Read the full article

Zach Bogosian impresses in debut, Sabres fall to Flyers

BUFFALO – There was no easing Zach Bogosian into the lineup or letting him get acclimated to the Sabres’ systems. Coach Ted Nolan threw the aggressive defenseman headfirst into the fray, skating his newest addition a game-high 24 minutes, 49 seconds in Sunday’s 2-1 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers.

Bogosian responded, recording 11 hits, the Sabres’ highest total this season.

“That’s the way I like to play,” Bogosian said. “I felt good to get out ... Read the full article

Sabres goalie Anders Lindback excited for fresh opportunity in Buffalo

BUFFALO – For the time being, goalie Anders Lindback will likely take a backseat to Michal Neuvirth. With Jhonas Enroth gone, the Sabres plan to evaluate Neuvirth to see if he’s worth re-signing.

But an opportunity could materialize for the 26-year-old Lindback, part of Wednesday’s Enroth trade with the Dallas Stars, if Neuvirth plays well and gets dished or he falters. The Sabres need goalies badly.

Sabres general manager Tim Murray loves big ... Read the full article

Former Sabres goalie Jhonas Enroth could fit well with Stars

BUFFALO – The market for goalies this season is small. Most teams are set in net. Tim Murray had two soon-to-be free agents with starting experience on his roster, yet the Sabres general manager only received one call from an interested club.

“There’s very few that need a goalie right now,” Murray said Wednesday inside the First Niagara Center after trading goalie Jhonas Enroth to the Dallas Stars for 6-foot-6 goalie Anders Lindback and a ... Read the full article

Sabres have franchise-low 10 shots, fall to Isles

BUFFALO – Even by Sabres standards, it was ugly. Almost 32 minutes into Sunday’s 3-2 loss, the New York Islanders led by three goals. The Sabres, meanwhile, had five shots total and zero in the second period to that point.

Then, like so many other times this season, they got going. After Sabres coach Ted Nolan called a timeout, Marcus Foligno buried Nikita Zadorov’s rebound.

Just like that, the Sabres had two shots in about ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Cody Hodgson to sit against Isles

BUFFALO – Struggling Sabres winger Cody Hodgson, who has two goals and eight points in 51 games this season, will be a healthy scratch again this afternoon against the New York Islanders.

Sabres coach Ted Nolan seems to have run out of ways to reach Hodgson, who was scratched Jan. 30 in Vancouver against the Canucks, his former team. This will be the third time he has sat.

“I don’t believe anybody’s a lost cause,” ... Read the full article