WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
October Edition
Rasmus Ristolainen (55) battles Philadelphia’s Wayne Simmonds for the puck earlier this year. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – It was March 14, and Zach Bogosian’s injury had suddenly left the Sabres short-handed. Coach Ted Nolan needed a defenseman to fill the newcomer’s big minutes, so he turned to 20-year-old Rasmus Ristolainen, one of his top prospects.
At times, Ristolainen’s second NHL season had been a rough ride. He had already been playing 20 minutes many nights. Why add more to the youngster’s plate?
Nolan wanted to see how Ristolainen, ... Read the full article
Sam Reinhart should join Rochester soon. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Expect the Sabres’ final two games this season – Friday’s road tilt in Columbus and Saturday’s finale against Pittsburgh – to be slightly more intense than Monday’s 4-3 home win against Carolina, a drab affair.
The Blue Jackets, having won nine straight games recently, are scorching. The Penguins might need the game to make the playoffs.
“Carolina’s out, we’re out,” Sabres coach Ted Nolan said. “When you have two out, it’s tougher. But ... Read the full article
Ted Nolan took over the Sabres early last season. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Six weeks into last season, Sabres winger Tyler Ennis was struggling badly. The Xs and Os of hockey were overwhelming him and sapping the creativity from his instinctive game.
In the past, Ennis said, some coaches “limited me in terms of my creativity and what I’m allowed to do.”
Then coach Ted Nolan took over the Sabres 21 games into 2013-14.
“He’s smart in that he understands what guys can do and ... Read the full article
Sam Reinhart played nine games with the Sabres earlier this season. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The Sabres will give top prospect Sam Reinhart another crack at the pro game this season.
With Reinhart’s junior season and career over, the No. 2 pick was assigned to the AHL Rochester Americans on Wednesday, according to the Kootenay Ice’s website.
The Calgary Hitmen eliminated the Ice on Monday in a seven-game first-round Western Hockey League playoff matchup
Reinhart started the season with the Sabres, registering one assist in nine ... Read the full article
Matt Hackett has played five games this season. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Instead of a regular practice today, the Sabres held a three-on-three scrimmage officiated by assistant coach Tom Coolen, who barked out orders in a full referee outfit in front of a crowd of veterans invited by the team.
Players gleefully challenged his calls.
“We could actually tell what we really feel against one of our own,” Sabres coach Ted Nolan joked inside the First Niagara Center.
Nolan, whose team had Tuesday off, held ... Read the full article
Mikhail Grigorenko celebrates his first-period goal Monday. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Emotionally, the Sabres’ 4-3 victory against the Carolina Hurricanes was a difficult game to play in, coach Ted Nolan said.
The bottom-feeders were skating for pride Monday. They Sabres were trying to stave off clinching 30th place for the second consecutive season.
“When you’re out of the playoffs and you’re trying to lift that emotional level up, it’s quite a challenge,” Nolan said following the Sabres’ third win in the last five ... Read the full article
Marcus Foligno has been playing big minutes. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – For about 24 hours, Marcus Foligno enjoyed the family’s bragging rights. The Sabres winger felt good after scoring twice Friday, his first goals in 24 games.
Then Foligno’s older brother, Nick, a breakout star with the Columbus Blue Jackets, outdid him Saturday, scoring his first NHL hat trick and hitting the prestigious 30-goal, 70-point marks.
“He had to go out and one-up me,” Marcus Foligno joked Monday prior to the Sabres’ 4-3 win ... Read the full article
Matt Moulson will return tonight after missing two games. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – For weeks, even months, the Sabres have gone all-out most nights, refusing to check out of their lost season.
They’re 2-3-1 in their last six games. On Saturday, they lost 3-0 to the New York Islanders, a game closer than the score indicated. On Friday, they fell 4-3 to the Chicago Blackhawks after blowing a late lead.
The Sabres, who host the Carolina Hurricanes tonight, just took two strong playoff teams to the ... Read the full article
Andrey Makarov played well in his NHL debut Saturday. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Finally – or perhaps a more appropriate word would be “mercifully” – the end of the Sabres’ long, trying season is in sight.
Three games are left. A regulation loss tonight at home to the Carolina Hurricanes or later this week will cement 30th place, ending probably the oddest campaign in the franchise’s 45-year history.
Hours after the Sabres’ 3-0 loss to the New York Islanders on Saturday, the 29th-place ... Read the full article
Johan Larsson tips the puck past Chicago goalie Scott Darling on Friday. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – In 47 seconds late Friday, the mood inside the First Niagara Center changed dramatically. The Sabres fans worrying their team would pull its most unlikely upset this trying season felt relieved as mighty Chicago Blackhawks quickly roared back.
When Chicago star Jonathan Toews tied it with 1:43 left, the building, which was filled with red Blackhawks jerseys, erupted.
Some hometown fans who had remained quiet as the Sabres erased an early 2-0 deficit ... Read the full article