Nolan - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres’ Marcus Foligno embracing lesser role, feels game improving

BUFFALO – Marcus Foligno said Ted Nolan could’ve easily demoted him to the fourth line without an explanation. But a straightforward, face-to-face chat accompanied the struggling young winger’s move.

“Marcus is a big, powerful forward,” the Sabres’ interim coach said Tuesday following practice inside the First Niagara Center. “I told him he was just big, he wasn’t powerful. He wasn’t hitting anybody. He wasn’t using his size to his advantage.”

So in slashing his minutes, ... Read the full article

Sabres could send Mikhail Grigorenko to play with Russians or to junior

BUFFALO – The Sabres are “discussing all possibilities” to find 19-year-old prospect Mikhail Grigorenko playing time, interim coach Ted Nolan said Tuesday.

That means the Sabres could loan the center, a healthy scratch the last two games, to Russia for the world junior championship later this month if he’s invited. He could also get sent back to the junior Quebec Remparts.

“We’re not 100 percent sure what we’re going to do,” Nolan said following practice ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Brian Flynn on how he avoided first NHL penalty: ‘I’m not that physical’

BUFFALO – The streak ended 4:57 into the third period of the Sabres’ 1-0 overtime loss Saturday.

In his 53^rd NHL game, forward Brian Flynn was whistled for hooking New Jersey’s Steve Bernier, his first NHL penalty.

How did Flynn, who takes a regular shift, avoid getting penalized until his second NHL season?

“I don’t know, probably because I’m not that physical,” Flynn said this afternoon inside the First Niagara Center. “That’s how most ... Read the full article

Sabres trying to find playing time for Mikhail Grigorenko

BUFFALO – The Sabres are “discussing all possibilities” to find 19-year-old prospect Mikhail Grigorenko playing time, interim coach Ted Nolan said.

“We’re not 100 percent sure what we’re going to do,” Nolan said this afternoon following ... Read the full article

Sabres goalie Jhonas Enroth wants to play more, worries losses are hurting Olympic chances

BUFFALO – Right now, Jhonas Enroth’s frustration extends beyond losing games with the Sabres. The backup goalie is also losing ground in his battle to earn a spot on Sweden’s Olympic roster for the upcoming Sochi Games.

“Personally, other Swedish goalies are winning right now,” Enroth said Monday following practice inside the First Niagara Center. “It’s all stressing me out actually a little bit, not too much. Obviously, you think about the Olympics and you ... Read the full article

Marcus Foligno wanted to showcase sportsmanship in fight

BUFFALO – Marcus Foligno wanted to make sure Ryan Carter was OK. So the Sabres winger stopped punching after landing a big knockout blow to his opponent’s face Saturday in New Jersey.

“I’d say it’s just a little caution,” Foligno, who stayed with Carter for a few moments following the fight, said Monday inside the First Niagara Center. “You hit a guy that hard, I felt it, too. You just caught him in the right ... Read the full article

Sabres ‘fine tune’ with double practice; Cody McCormick ready to return

BUFFALO – Before they could even begin practicing this morning, Ted Nolan wanted the Sabres to “fine tune” a little bit, “revisit things they used to do,” the interim coach said.

So for about 45 minutes on the First Niagara Center ice, Dawn Braid, the Sabres’ skating coach, put most of team through a series of non-traditional drills.

“Some of the things they used to do when they’re younger they don’t quite do it as ... Read the full article

Report: Patrick Kaleta has torn ACL, done for season; Sabres planned recall

BUFFALO – Agitating winger Patrick Kaleta, who was trying to develop a calmer style in the minors following a series of NHL suspensions, tore his right ACL Friday and is done for the season, according to the Buffalo News.

Here’s the kicker, though: Kaleta was going to be recalled from Rochester on Monday, interim Sabres coach Ted Nolan told reporters today in New Jersey.

“We were going to bring him up after the ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Luke Adam on first goal this season: ‘It’s a release’

BUFFALO – Winger Luke Adam believes he should’ve scored “a couple more” goals in the Sabres’ 3-2 overtime triumph Friday against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

“But I won’t complain with one,” Adam said after scoring his first goal in his fourth NHL game this season.

Adam, who had three or four strong scoring chances near the net Wednesday, finally converted against the Leafs, burying Zemgus Girgensons’ big rebound in the right circle 18:50 into the ... Read the full article

Sabres beat Leafs in overtime, send legions of Toronto fans home unhappy

BUFFALO – It wasn’t a normal postgame NHL salute. Then again, the Sabres’ exciting 3-2 overtime triumph against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Friday wasn’t a normal game.

Leafs fans, who normally comprise at least half the raucous crowd when Toronto visits the First Niagara Center, outnumbered Sabres fans perhaps three to one in the capacity crowd of 19,070.

They ruled the building, chanting loudly all night.

So when the Sabres skated to center ice ... Read the full article