Nolan - Buffalo Hockey Beat

NHL suspends Sabres’ Tyler Myers three games for head hit on Dainius Zubrus

BUFFALO – The NHL has suspended Sabres defenseman Tyler Myers three games for an illegal check to Dainius Zubrus’ head in Saturday’s 2-1 win against the New Jersey Devils.

At 7:02 into the third period, the 6-foot-8 Myers hit Zubrus, who’s three inches shorter, high along the wall, earning a minor penalty for an illegal hit to the head.

In a video posted on NHL.com explaining the suspension, NHL disciplinarian Brendan Shanahan said Myers ... Read the full article

Mikhail Grigorenko set to rejoin Sabres, but for how long?

BUFFALO – Fresh off a five-goal, eight-point performance in seven games with Russia at the world junior championship, center Mikhail Grigorenko will be rejoining the Sabres soon.

But will the 19-year-old stick in the NHL or go somewhere else?

“He’s coming here for Pat (LaFontaine) and I to discuss,” interim Sabres coach Ted Nolan said following practice today inside the First Niagara Center. “We’ll make that decision when he gets here.”

Nolan, however, acknowledged ... Read the full article

Matt D’Agostini’s first goal with Sabres helps eke out win against Devils

BUFFALO – Ted Nolan wanted 10 percent more from Matt D’Agostini. Prior to the Sabres’ 2-1 win against the New Jersey Devils on Saturday, the interim coach said the struggling winger, who hadn’t scored in 15 games with his new club, was getting opportunities.

“You got to go into those dirty areas,” Nolan said Saturday morning. “I think he had a number of outside shots. But outside shots ain’t getting in. So we got ... Read the full article

Zenon Konopka arrives in Buffalo late, excited to make Sabres debut

BUFFALO – Zenon Konopka’s travel ordeal began Friday night shortly after landing in New York from Minnesota. First, the center’s flight was delayed four hours. Then the airline canceled it.

“The tough part was they said they could get me in Sunday,” Konopka, who was claimed on waivers by the Sabres on Friday, said this morning after skating briefly inside the First Niagara Center. “I said, ‘That’s not going to work.’”

Konopka eventually switched ... Read the full article

Ted Nolan wants Sabres’ youngsters to learn from Zenon Konopka

BUFFALO – Zenon Konopka is joining the Sabres for more than his grittiness and faceoff prowess. In the 33-year-old center, they also possess a hardworking veteran the youngsters on the rebuilding team can learn from.

“Those type of guys are really good role models for the younger players,” interim coach Ted Nolan said Friday shortly after the Sabres plucked Konopka off waivers from the Minnesota Wild. “They last that long because they have that special ... Read the full article

Sabres goalie Ryan Miller knew he had to earn spot on Team USA’s Olympic squad

BUFFALO – Ryan Miller knew what most Olympic observers knew. Despite nearly backstopping Team USA to an unlikely gold medal in the 2010 Vancouver Games, the Sabres goalie wasn’t a lock to represent his country again this year.

The 33-year-old has performed inconsistently at times during recent seasons. The Sabres, meanwhile, have become the NHL’s worst team.

“It’s something that I wanted to work hard for and get myself back in the picture,” said Miller, ... Read the full article

Sabres want gritty Zenon Konopka to be role model for youngsters

BUFFALO – Zenon Konopka isn’t joining the Sabres just for his grittiness and supreme faceoff skills. In the 33-year-old center, a ferocious fighter, the team also possesses a hardworking veteran the youngsters can look up to.

“Those type of guys are really good role models for the younger players,” interim coach Ted Nolan said this afternoon inside the First Niagara Center shortly after the Sabres claimed Konopka on waivers. “They last that long because they ... Read the full article

Report: Sabres claim Zenon Konopka off waivers from Wild

BUFFALO – The Sabres have claimed gritty center Zenon Konopka off waivers from the Minnesota Wild, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune’s Michael Russo.

The 33-year-old, a native of nearby Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont., is a rare mix of grit and skill, fighting regularly and annually ranking among the NHL’s faceoff leaders.

Konopka, 6-feet and 213 pounds, has 12 goals, 29 points, 1,049 penalty minutes and a minus-45 rating in 323 NHL games. He has one goal, ... Read the full article

Drew Stafford could be sidelined ‘little while;’ Sabres have limited options to fill forward void

Winger Drew Stafford suffered an upper body injury early in Thursday’s wretched 4-1 loss to the Wild could be sidelined “a little while,” interim Buffalo Sabres coach Ted Nolan said.

“I’m not 100 percent sure,” Nolan told reporters in Minnesota. “But it’s not a day-to-day thing.”

That means the Sabres, who only had 12 healthy forwards, have to find add another one.

But where do they get one? They already recalled three recently.

Veterans Jamie ... Read the full article

Sabres recall Johan Larsson and Brayden McNabb from Amerks

The Buffalo Sabres have recalled forward Johan Larsson and defenseman Brayden McNabb from the Rochester Americans.

Injuries to center Ville Leino (lower body) and defenseman Henrik Tallinder (upper body) briefly left the Sabres with no extra players on their road trip. They play Thursday in Minnesota against the Wild.

Larsson has one assist and 18 penalty minutes in 18 NHL games this season. The Sabres sent the 22-year-old to the Amerks following a one-game recall ... Read the full article