Nolan - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres’ Brian Gionta and Josh Gorges downplay first game against Canadiens

BUFFALO – The Sabres won’t face the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday night trying to win for former Habs Brian Gionta and Josh Gorges, who will face their old team for the first time.

“As a team right now, we can’t be thinking about winning it for anybody but ourselves,” Sabres coach Ted Nolan said this afternoon inside the First Niagara Center.

Neither player wants the game treated any differently.

“You’re playing your former team for ... Read the full article

Sabres hang tough against Red Wings for shootout win

BUFFALO – Slowly, Sabres coach Ted Nolan believes, his message is sinking in. Following Sunday’s unlikely 3-2 shootout win against the Detroit Red Wings, he pointed out his Sabres are 2-2-1 in their last five games.

Of course, the Sabres lost those two contests by a combined score of 9-0.

Still, the 3-9-1 Sabres, arguably the NHL’s worst club, measure progress differently than most teams.

Against one of the league’s better teams, the Sabres hung ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Tyson Strachan earning keep on blue line

BUFFALO – Watching nine of the first 10 games as a healthy scratch, waiting 16 days in between appearances, well, that’s nothing new for Sabres defenseman Tyson Strachan.

Welcome to the life of an NHL journeyman.

Strachan, a 30-year-old veteran of 142 games, said he once sat about two and a half months with St. Louis early in his career.

“It’s tough,” said Strachan, who had two assists in Sunday’s 3-2 shootout win against the ... Read the full article

Sabres change lineup, summon Johan Larsson for banged-up Marcus Foligno

BUFFALO – As expected, the reeling Sabres, losers of three straight games, will change their lineup for this afternoon’s tilt against the Detroit Red Wings.

Slick winger Johan Larsson has been summoned from Rochester to replace Marcus Foligno, who got “banged up” in Saturday’s 5-0 loss in Pittsburgh, Sabres coach Ted Nolan said.

In addition, 19-year-old rookie Nikita Zadorov, a healthy scratch 11 times this season, and Andrej Meszaros, a scratch the last two games, ... Read the full article

Sabres showing lack of accountability on and off ice

PITTSBURGH – When the dressing room door opened following Buffalo Sabres’ dispirited 5-0 loss to the Penguins on Saturday, three players – captain Brian Gionta, forward Cody McCormick and goalie Jhonas Enroth – were still at their stalls.

Three.

Nineteen players participated in the Sabres’ 10^th loss in 12 games.

Given the Sabres’ actions on the bench, coach Ted Nolan’s not surprised players bolted from the room. He said they must be accountable.

“It’s ... Read the full article

Penguins’ Christian Ehrhoff happy with fresh start, sorry Sabres struggling

PITTSBURGH – Penguins defenseman Christian Ehrhoff figured since the Buffalo Sabres asked him to submit a no-trade list last season, the rebuilding team would deal him during the summer.

“That was kind of my expectation,” Ehrhoff said Saturday prior to the Penguins’ 5-0 win inside the Consol Energy Center, “but it didn’t end up that way.”

On June 29, the Sabres used their second compliance buyout to eat the final seven seasons of Ehrhoff’s 10-year ... Read the full article

Struggling Chris Stewart trying to spark Sabres

PITTSBURGH – Fifty-one seconds into Thursday’s 3-2 overtime loss, struggling winger Chris Stewart tried to ignite himself and the Buffalo Sabres.

“When you’re not scoring, you got to start doing some other things to make yourselves relevant in the game,” Stewart said this afternoon inside the Consol Energy Center. “Eleven games in and no goals, you got to start doing something else.”

So the 6-foot-2, 231-pound Stewart challenged one of the NHL’s toughest and ... Read the full article

Penguins’ Christian Ehrhoff knew he would leave Sabres

PITTSBURGH – Penguins defenseman Christian Ehrhoff figured since the Buffalo Sabres asked him to submit a no-trade list last season, the rebuilding team would deal him during the summer.

“That was kind of my expectation,” Ehrhoff said this morning inside the Consol Energy Center, “but it didn’t end up that way.”

On June 29, the Sabres used their second compliance buyout to eat the final seven seasons of Ehrhoff’s 10-year contract. The German signed a ... Read the full article

Sabres confident top prospect Sam Reinhart will keep developing in junior

PITTSBURGH – When general manager Tim Murray told Sam Reinhart, his top prospect, the Buffalo Sabres would be sending him back to junior, the 18-year-old handled the difficult news well.

But a few minutes later, the disappointment of leaving the First Niagara Center to begin his long trip back to the Kootenay Ice overwhelmed Reinhart.

“He was emotional,” Murray said Friday. “I guess he was emotional walking out of the rink.”

Murray understands Reinhart’s ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: GM Tim Murray undecided on Nikita Zadorov’s future

PITTSBURGH – With Sam Reinhart sent back to junior Friday, Buffalo Sabres general manager Tim Murray can concentrate on another teenage prospect, defenseman Nikita Zadorov.

“I don’t want to start juggling five balls,” Murray said inside the First Niagara Center.

The Sabres have essentially been stashing Zadorov on their roster until they find a place for him to play. The 19-year-old has played only one of the first 11 games.

Since Zadorov doesn’t have ... Read the full article