New York Rangers - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres’ Nick Deslauriers showcasing toughness, fighting skills

BUFFALO – Off the ice, rookie Nick Deslauriers usually has a smile etched on his face. The affable Sabres winger can often be found joking and laughing with his teammates in the dressing room.

“He’s always got something to say, always joking around with the boys,” defenseman Mike Weber said Saturday prior to the Sabres’ 2-0 loss to the New York Rangers inside the First Niagara Center.

But on the ice, the 6-foot-1, 209-pound Deslauriers ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Patrick Kaleta feeling great after surgery to remove bone chip

BUFFALO – These days, oft-injured Sabres winger Patrick Kaleta feels “like a new man” after undergoing surgery last month to remove a bone chip from his knee.

The chip – Kaleta said it’s like having a rock in your shoe – hampered the 28-year-old all season, he said this morning. He couldn’t straighten his knee or bend it all the way. Still, he kept playing with it and planned to get it cleaned out after ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Matt Moulson won’t make excuses for low offensive output

BUFFALO – There’s a common theory why Sabres winger Matt Moulson has struggled offensively for the last two seasons. The three-time 30-goal scorer needs an elite center feeding him the puck regularly to be productive. Without one, the 31-year-old’s pretty average.

To wit: Moulson averaged 32 goals and 57 points on the left wing beside New York Islanders superstar John Tavares over three full seasons. Moulson scored 15 goals and 44 points in 47 games ... Read the full article

Sabres to face Rangers backup goalie Mackenzie Skapski again

BUFFALO – With star goalie Henrik Lundqvist sidelined by a neck injury, the New York Rangers have been riding backup Cam Talbot for six weeks, starting him 17 of the last 18 games.

Talbot’s one breather came Feb. 20 in Buffalo, when unknown rookie Mackenzie Skapski subbed. After allowing a goal 14 seconds into his NHL debut, the 20-year-old settled down, stopping 24 shots in the Rangers’ 3-1 win against the Sabres.

Skapski is ... 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

Sabres believe postponement of Rangers game good thing

BUFFALO – It was business as usual early Thursday inside the First Niagara Center. Following a day off, the Sabres practiced in anticipation of playing the New York Rangers tonight. Only snowed-in winger Patrick Kaleta, who’s stuck in Hamburg, was missing. Coach Ted Nolan discussed his lineup.

But miles away, Winter Storm Knife was battering Buffalo’s Southtowns again, pouring more snow on an area already devastated by one of the biggest storms in this ... Read the full article

Friday’s Sabres game against Rangers postponed

BUFFALO – With Winter Storm Knife still decimating much of the area surrounding Buffalo, the NHL announced this afternoon it has postponed Friday’s Sabres-New York Rangers game at the First Niagara Center.

The NHL used the phrase “continuing weather-related difficulties” in the press release.

A makeup date will be announced later.

After taking Wednesday off, the Sabres practiced again today. They operated like the game would be played as scheduled.

Update: According to Sabres spokesman ... Read the full article

Tough guy John Scott happy with larger role, wants to return to Sabres

BUFFALO – John Scott understands you can’t always change your reputation in a few months. The Sabres tough guy believes anti-fighting fans might always consider him a goon.

“I guess the people who have that in their mind they don’t really look at me as a hockey player ever,” Scott said Wednesday inside the First Niagara Center. “So it doesn’t really matter what I do. But I like to think I changed peoples’ minds out ... Read the full article