WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
Thanksgiving Edition
Brandon Sutter (16) and Christian Ehrhoff could battle again Tuesday in Pittsburgh. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The NHL tentatively postponed Friday’s game in Boston between the Bruins and Penguins until this afternoon, meaning the Sabres’ scheduled tilt in Pittsburgh tonight has been pushed back to Tuesday.
The police manhunts following Monday’s Boston Marathon bombings forced the changes.
It will be determined by 8:30 this morning if the game in Boston can be played at 12:30 p.m.
The NHL contacted the Sabres early Friday afternoon about potentially moving the game, ... Read the full article
Marc-Andre Fleury and his Pittsburgh teammates will try to play in Boston on Saturday. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Tonight’s game in Boston between the Bruins and Penguins has been tentatively postponed until Saturday afternoon, meaning the Sabres’ scheduled tilt in Pittsburgh that night has been pushed back to Tuesday.
The police manhunts following Monday’s Boston Marathon bombings forced the postponement.
The NHL will announce by 8:30 a.m. Saturday if the game in Boston can be played at 12:30 p.m.
The Sabres are still scheduled to host the New York Rangers tonight ... Read the full article
Drew Stafford skates this morning. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – If you haven’t noticed, the Sabres received no help Thursday night. The eighth-place New York Rangers, tonight’s opponent, throttled hapless Florida. Ninth-place Winnipeg beat Carolina in overtime.
With 48 points, both clubs lead the 10th-place Sabres by four. A regulation loss tonight eliminates them from postseason contention.
“We just got to win out,” Sabres winger John Scott said this morning inside the First Niagara Center. “We got to do what we ... Read the full article
Steve Ott knows the Sabres need help to make the playoffs. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The Sabres have shattered the widespread belief they would finish a lost season meekly and perhaps contend for a lottery pick instead of making an unlikely run at the Eastern Conference’s final playoff spot.
In dealing captain Jason Pominville and two other respected veterans for draft picks and prospects prior to the April 3 trade deadline, general manager Darcy Regier openly talked about the future and shifting the focus to next season.
The ... Read the full article
Steve Ott knows the Sabres need help to make the playoffs. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
AMHERST – For one night at least, the Sabres will become huge Florida Panthers fans.
“Absolutely,” winger Steve Ott said following the 10th-place Sabres’ short practice inside the Northtown Center. “We need help. With (teams ahead) having games in hand, we definitely need help.”
The NHL’s worst club faces the eighth-place Rangers tonight in New York, a tilt the Sabres desperately need the Blue Shirts to lose in regulation.
“Any opponent that’s playing ... Read the full article
Some key goals from Kevin Porter (12) have helped the Sabres recently. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
It’s still a long shot, Sabres fans. But Wednesday’s dramatic 3-2 shootout win in Boston moved the 10th-place club to within two points of the eighth-place New York Rangers for the Eastern Conference’s final playoff spot.
Conveniently, the Rangers come to Buffalo on Friday for a must-see showdown.
Show of hands … who thought the Sabres would still be in the postseason picture a week after their wretched 5-1 home loss to ... Read the full article
Jhonas Enroth was locked in Tuesday. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – At various points last season, youngsters Jhonas Enroth and Marcus Foligno represented the Sabres’ oh-so-bright future.
Enroth, the rookie goalie that couldn’t lose early on, would someday be the franchise’s regular netminder. Foligno roared into the NHL later in the campaign, instantly becoming a premier power forward.
But they had provided little to the Sabres this lost season prior to their difference-making performances in Tuesday’s 3-1 triumph over the New York Rangers.
Enroth ... Read the full article
Martin Biron has become one of the NHL’s best backup goalies. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – When the 113-day NHL lockout ended and Martin Biron left his East Aurora home for his backup goaltending gig in New York, the 35-year-old’s wife and four children stayed behind.
With a shortened season, a new house and the school year in full swing, the loquacious former Sabre didn’t want to uproot his family.
For now, Biron’s living alone in New York, an arrangement that has worked out “OK.”
“There’s times I’m sitting ... Read the full article
Brad Richards has played twice since Patrick Kaleta hit him. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Don’t expect huge fireworks tonight in the wake of Patrick Kaleta’s scary hit from behind on Rangers star Brad Richards last Sunday in New York.
Kaleta’s still on the sidelines, only four contests into his five-game ban. The Rangers may want to punish the Sabres’ agitator when they visit the First Niagara Center again April 19.
Besides, the eighth-place Rangers, a big disappointment this season, need to concentrate on winning a game.
Richards, ... Read the full article
Jhonas Enroth was on the ice this morning. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – A sinus infection will relegate franchise goalie Ryan Miller to backup duty tonight behind Jhonas Enroth against the New York Rangers.
Miller occasionally skips morning skates, so when he wasn’t on the ice today inside the First Niagara Center, it hardly seemed like a big deal.
But interim Sabres coach Ron Rolston said following the skate Enroth would start for the second time in three games. The 24-year-old only received three nods in ... Read the full article