Nolan - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Ted Nolan wants Sabres’ Ville Leino to ‘get dirty’ for goals

BUFFALO – In 431 minutes and 21 seconds of ice time in 29 games this season, Sabres center Ville Leino has only 22 shots on goal.

The Finn recorded his first shot in his seventh game. He has one shot in his last five appearances.

Not surprisingly, Leino, who’s always possessed a pass-first mentality, has zero goals this season.

I asked interim Sabres coach Ted Nolan this morning if he’s told Leino to shoot more.... Read the full article

Sabres’ Linus Omark to be scratched again tonight versus Blue Jackets

BUFFALO – The Sabres will only make one lineup change tonight against the Columbus Blue Jackets, inserting Marcus Foligno for injured winger Matt D’Agostini.

That means winger Linus Omark, a healthy scratch for the first time in Wednesday’s 4-3 shootout loss in Toronto, will sit again. The slick Swede has one assist in nine games since being acquired from Edmonton.

What can Omark do to get back in?

“Not much else he ... Read the full article

Sabres captain Steve Ott wants to remain in Buffalo, believes rebuilding team not far away from contending

BUFFALO – The hospitality Steve Ott and his family have experienced from the community has been incredible, the captain said. Win or lose, the locals still love their Sabres.

Of course, the Sabres have done a lot of losing during Ott’s first year here.

The warm welcome and the struggles have left Ott imagining the Sabres’ resurgence. Right now, they’re rebuilding, still the NHL’s worst team.

But the 31-year-old, an unrestricted free agent following the ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Matt D’Agostini out ‘for a while’

BUFFALO – Sabres winger Matt D’Agostini, who left Wednesday’s 4-3 shootout loss in Toronto early, is “still out for a while,” Ted Nolan said.

“I’m too not sure exactly how long,” the interim coach said this afternoon inside the First Niagara Center. “But it’s not going to be long, long term. But it’s going to be at least a week or so, I believe.”

Reinforcements could be coming soon, however.

Three injured Sabres – forwards ... Read the full article

Sabres rally to tie Leafs, earn tough road point in shootout loss

TORONTO – For two straight nights, the Buffalo Sabres stopped playing those drab, low-scoring affairs. Their anemic offense looked first-rate, scoring three goals in consecutive games for only the fourth time this season.

Still, it only translated to a single point they earned in Wednesday’s 4-3 shootout loss to the Maple Leafs before 19,372 fans inside the Air Canada Centre.

To interim coach Ted Nolan, the Sabres fought for a tough road point.

“Third game ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Tyler Myers a difference-maker in return from suspension against Leafs

TORONTO – Defenseman Tyler Myers’ absence was glaring during the waning minutes of Tuesday’s 4-3 home loss to Philadelphia. The Buffalo Sabres sorely needed a sturdy presence to calm the game down as the Flyers scored three times.

Myers, who returned from a three-game suspension in Wednesday’s 4-3 shootout loss to the Maple Leafs, had been showcasing a steady, aggressive game prior to his ban.

“I think a lot of that is just bringing a ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Drew Stafford and John Scott back in tonight against Leafs; Tyler Myers back from suspension

TORONTO – As promised following Tuesday’s 4-3 home loss to Philadelphia, interim Buffalo Sabres coach Ted Nolan will make lineup moves for tonight’s game against the Maple Leafs inside the Air Canada Centre.

Winger Drew Stafford (upper body) will return from a four-game absence. Tough guy John Scott will play after being a healthy scratch Tuesday.

Nolan said Marcus Foligno was banged up against the Flyers and will sit. The winger’s day-to-day. Winger Linus ... Read the full article

Best Sabres photos of 2013: Ted Nolan back behind the bench

Over the next few days, ace photographer Dan Hickling will be sharing and talking about some of his favorite shots from 2013.

Take it away, Dan …

Teddy Two? Whoda thunk it? Hardly anybody in Sabreland, not 16 years after stepping away from a one-year contract extension hardly befitting an NHL Coach of the Year. Yet, there he was, back behind the Buffalo bench once again on Nov. 15 after the seismic shift in Sabres ... Read the full article

Sabres blow late lead in front of goalie Jhonas Enroth, fall to Flyers

BUFFALO – The dressing room door swung open and sitting in the first stall, his pads and much of his equipment still attached to his sweat-drenched body, was Sabres goalie Jhonas Enroth, the hard-luck loser again, staring straight ahead.

Finally, it appeared the Sabres might win a game for the backup, who earned his only victory this season Oct. 25.

The Sabres took an early 2-1 third-period lead against the Philadelphia Flyers on ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Pat LaFontaine believes Mikhail Grigorenko can thrive in junior

BUFFALO – The old school part of hockey, Pat LaFontaine said, is earning your keep. There has to be a standard. Players must perform consistently once they crack the NHL.

LaFontaine, a Hockey Hall of Famer, skated on the fourth line as a teenage NHL phenom. Legendary New York Islanders coach Al Arbour wouldn’t let him take a defensive-zone faceoff for years.

Former general manager Darcy Regier gave 19-year-old Sabres prospect Mikhail Grigorenko a roster ... Read the full article