Zac Rinaldo had one prior NHL suspension. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

NHL suspends Flyers’ Zac Rinaldo 4 games for elbowing Sabres’ Chad Ruhwedel in head

BUFFALO – The NHL tonight suspended Philadelphia Flyers agitator Zac Rinaldo four games for elbowing Sabres defenseman Chad Ruhwedel in the head late in Sunday’s 5-2 loss to the Flyers.

Ruhwedel suffered a concussion and is out indefinitely.

In suspending Rinaldo for the second time in his 165-game career, NHL disciplinarian Brendan Shanahan said the winger took a poor angle of approach and didn’t make full-body contact with Ruhwedel, who had just shot the puck.... Read the full article

Goalie Nathan Lieuwen has a history of concussions. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Injuries still ravaging Sabres; Goalie Nathan Lieuwen out with concussion

BUFFALO – There is some good news. The Sabres could have three injured players back Tuesday against Detroit. Of course, 13 players – yes, a stunning 13 – are hurt right now.

Incredibly, the Sabres suffered three more injuries in the third period of Sunday’s 5-2 loss in Philadelphia.

– Goalie Nathan Lieuwen, who has a disturbing history of concussions, suffered another one, coach Ted Nolan said. Philadelphia’s Jay Rosehill possibly hit the rookie ... Read the full article

Chad Ruhwedel left Sunday’s loss. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres’ Chad Ruhwedel out with concussion after elbow to head

Sabres defenseman Chad Ruhwedel suffered a concussion when Flyers agitator Zac Rinaldo elbowed him in the head 4:29 into the third period Sunday, Buffalo coach Ted Nolan said.

“Those are tough hits that we have to get rid of,” Nolan told reporters in Philadelphia following the Sabres’ 5-2 loss. “Those are not only dangerous hits, but it’s a putting a fellow player in jeopardy of his career.”

He added: “It’s just a dirty hit, and ... Read the full article

Marcus Foligno will miss tonight’s game. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres’ Marcus Foligno, Chris Stewart could return Tuesday

Surprise, surpise.

Three days after suffering what appeared to be a season-ending right leg injury, Sabres winger Marcus Foligno skated with his teammates this morning in Philadelphia and could play Tuesday.

“I was very shocked and quite surprised that he was able to walk around yesterday, and all of a sudden, to see him on the ice today … it’s very encouraging news,” coach Ted Nolan told reporters this afternoon in Philadelphia after the ... Read the full article

Marcus Foligno (82) battles Tampa Bay’s Sami Salo. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres’ Marcus Foligno likely done for season

Buffalo Sabres winger Marcus Foligno will likely miss the final six games of the season after his right leg buckled early in Thursday’s 2-1 loss to the St. Louis Blues.

The injury 1:58 into the game looked gruesome – Foligno got tangled with St. Louis’ Roman Polak, causing his leg to bend awkwardly as he fell – but Sabres coach Ted Nolan said it wasn’t as bad as it appeared.

“But he’s going to be ... Read the full article

Jake McCabe signed a three-year contract Wednesday. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres rookie Jake McCabe ready for NHL debut

Buffalo Sabres rookie Jake McCabe knows he’ll feel more nerves tonight during his NHL debut tonight in St. Louis against the Blues.

“Even out in the pregame skate, I’m sure my heart rate was getting up there, for sure,” the defenseman told reporters this afternoon in St. Louis. “This is a whole new level.”

The 20-year-old, the 44th overall pick in 2012, played three NCAA seasons before signing a three-year, entry level contract ... Read the full article

Ryan Miller has played 14 games with St. Louis. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Blues goalie Ryan Miller won’t play against old Sabres teammates

Sorry, Buffalo fans. Thirty-four days after the blockbuster trade between the Sabres and Blues, star goalie Ryan Miller has earned a well-deserved break tonight against his old club in St. Louis.

Backup Brian Elliott will replace Miller.

Of course, the Blues also have former captain Steve Ott, another key piece of the deal. Expect the agitating winger, who didn’t practice Wednesday, to have some fun and try to get under the Sabres’ skin.... Read the full article

Ville Leino fires his shootout-clinching goal past New Jersey goalie Cory Schneider on Tuesday. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Unlikely heroics from Ville Leino and Nathan Lieuwen lift Sabres to shootout win against Devils

BUFFALO – Nine rounds into Tuesday’s shootout, Sabres coach Ted Nolan turned to John Scott on the bench.

“Watch the crowd go crazy on this one,” Nolan told the winger after sending out Ville Leino, the fans’ No. 1 whipping boy, with a chance to win the game.

Sure enough, instead of booing Leino, who has zero goals in 53 games this season, the capacity crowd of 19,070 fans inside the First Niagara Center ... Read the full article

Cody Hodgson had played center his entire career. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres’ Cody Hodgson happy with move to wing

BUFFALO – Ted Nolan doesn’t want to project his lineup too far into the future. But the Sabres coach said he must evaluate his top six forwards these last two weeks so they receive enough ice time next season.

If Tyler Ennis and Zemgus Girgensons are his top centers, where does that leave Cody Hodgson?

For the time being, on the left wing, a position Hodgson had played once in his career before ... Read the full article

Nathan Lieuwen will make his third start tonight. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres goalie Nathan Lieuwen to start tonight; Nick Deslauriers out up front

BUFFALO – To Ted Nolan, Nathan Lieuwen has the technical aspect of goaltending down. The Sabres coach just wants the 22-year-old rookie, who will start tonight against the New Jersey Devils, to be a little bit more aggressive in net.

“The one thing we always say with forwards, we want to see how competitive you are. And same thing with goaltenders,” Nolan said this morning inside the First Niagara Center. “You have to come out. ... Read the full article