Nolan - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Injury to Sabres goalie Jhonas Enroth forces Nathan Lieuwen to make NHL debut in loss to Canadiens

BUFFALO – Fresh off two weekend appearances with Rochester, goalie Nathan Lieuwen learned early Sunday he had earned his first recall to the Sabres.

Newcomer Michal Neuvirth was injured, so the 22-year-old would be backing up Jhonas Enroth inside the First Niagara Center.

“I was shocked. I was nervous. Everything,” a smiling Lieuwen said after stopping all 10 shots he faced in his NHL debut, a 2-0 loss to the Montreal Canadiens. “I couldn’t stop ... Read the full article

Former Sabres star Thomas Vanek has jitters returning to Buffalo; Michal Neuvirth a ‘little banged up’

BUFFALO – Former Sabres star Thomas Vanek couldn’t quite explain what he felt walking into the First Niagara Center for the first time as an opponent this afternoon.

“It was actually a different feeling, for sure,” said Vanek, now a member of the Montreal Canadiens. “It’s just I can’t explain it. I felt pretty good all day. As soon as I walked in here I started to get a little of the jitter.”

Vanek, an ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Cory Conacher endured long road to reach NHL dream

BUFFALO – There was no straight path to the NHL for Cory Conacher. About 10 years ago, after the AAA Burlington Cougars cut him, the diminutive Sabres winger figured his hockey career was over.

“You always run into a certain coach that just doesn’t like your physical stature,” Conacher recalled Friday, “and that’s kind of I think what happened.”

But the 5-foot-8 Conacher had a chip on his shoulder that would help buoy him ... Read the full article

Sabres recall rookie Rasmus Ristolainen from Amerks

BUFFALO – With defenseman Alexander Sulzer out, the Sabres today recalled rookie Rasmus Ristolainen from Rochester.

The 19-year-old should play tonight in New York against the Islanders, his first NHL game since Nov. 15.

Ristolainen, the eighth overall pick in June, compiled one goal and four penalty minutes in 19 games after making the Sabres out of training camp. He played one game under interim coach Ted Nolan before the Sabres sent him to the ... Read the full article

Top line earning big minutes, providing Sabres’ only offense

BUFFALO – It was just about Ted Nolan’s only option for another goal. So the interim Sabres coach kept utilizing his top line throughout Tuesday’s disappointing 4-1 loss to Nashville.

Scorching winger Drew Stafford, who scored the Sabres’ lone goal on the power play, skated a season-high 23 minutes. Slick center Tyler Ennis played a team-high 24:17. Winger Cory Conacher skated a season-high 19:47.

“There was only one line basically going,” Nolan said ... Read the full article

Reeling Sabres fall to Predators, clearly miss departed veterans

BUFFALO – Three straight losses. Two total goals. One team searching for confidence.

The rebuilding Sabres have become a mess again without the veterans they traded before the NHL’s trade deadline.

“We have what we have,” interim Sabres coach Ted Nolan said. “We got to work through it. We got to get better.”

In Tuesday’s boring 4-1 loss inside the First Niagara Center, they generated little against the Nashville Predators, sprinkling only 24 shots on ... Read the full article

Former Sabres broadcaster Pete Weber back in booth after suffering heart attack

BUFFALO – Just 33 days after suffering a heart attack, veteran play-by-play man Pete Weber is calling games again. Incredibly, the Nashville Predators’ 4-1 win Tuesday inside the First Niagara Center was the former Sabres broadcaster’s seventh contest back.

Sitting in his booth about two hours before faceoff, the affable Weber, a popular Buffalo sports voice in the 1980s and 1990s, recalled the scary day.

“Right people, right time and right location,” said Weber, whose ... Read the full article

Sabres newcomer Chris Stewart likely done for season

BUFFALO – In his second appearance Thursday, winger Chris Stewart wowed interim coach Ted Nolan, adding some much-needed size and grit to the Sabres.

But Stewart collided with Tampa Bay goalie Anders Lindback late in the Sabres’ 3-1 win, injuring his right ankle.

The 26-year-old’s season is likely over, Nolan said.

“Stewart doesn’t look good right now,” he said this morning inside the First Niagara Center. “There’s only five weeks left in the year. I ... Read the full article

Sabres ready to see what new roster and youngsters can do

BUFFALO – About 15 Sabres gathered at a Tampa Bay restaurant Wednesday and nervously watched TSN’s coverage of the NHL trade deadline, unsure what their futures held.

“It was definitely a little stressful, a little anxiety involved,” said Sabres winger Drew Stafford, one veteran rumored to be on the block.

Stomachs churned and filled with butterflies staring at the screen. Everything can change in an instant.

“You’re watching and you’re seeing these guys on ... Read the full article

Sabres and Ted Nolan working out new contract

BUFFALO – Ted Nolan should be returning to the Sabres next season.

The interim coach said Monday his representative is handling a new contract with Sabres general manager Tim Murray.

“I guess he and Tim will be talking soon if (they haven’t) talked already,” Nolan said inside the First Niagara Center after the Sabres prepared for tonight’s game against the Nashville Predators. “It’s formalities and getting things ironed out and doing all the legal stuff. ... Read the full article