Okposo - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres rookie William Carrier skating with top talents

BUFFALO – When William Carrier earns ice time flanking center Ryan O’Reilly and a top winger, the Sabres rookie has a straightforward assignment to help his talented linemates.

“He’s just going, head down, bruising the way for those guys to get pucks and play with that puck,” Sabres coach Dan Bylsma said.

That means goals haven’t been priority for the 6-foot-2, 212-pound Carrier, who has scored just once in his first 17 NHL games.

“That’s ... Read the full article

Sabres change up top lines

BUFFALO – When you rank last in the NHL in goals and are coming off your 12th one-goal outing this season, line changes are expected.

So Sabres coach Dan Bylsma switched the right wingers on his top two lines today, putting Kyle Okposo beside center Jack Eichel and Evander Kane and Sam Reinhart with center Ryan O’Reilly and William Carrier.

“A little shakeup in the line combinations,” Sabres coach Dan Bylsma said inside HarborCenter.

Expect ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Jack Eichel wows in season debut

OTTAWA – The Jack Eichel Show started on the slick center’s third shift of the season, just 6:16 into the Buffalo Sabres’ exciting 5-4 win against the Senators.

Stationed above the left circle on the power play, Eichel showcased some supreme vision and adroit passing, finding Kyle Okposo in front for the opening goal Tuesday.

On his next shift, Eichel, 20, unleashed a wicked power-play one-timer from the left circle off Ryan O’Reilly’s feed, beating ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Evander Kane searching for first goal

OTTAWA – Five years ago, Buffalo Sabres winger Evander Kane enjoyed the best start of his eight-year career, scoring 18 times in his first 36 games for the Winnipeg Jets, a torrid 41-goal pace over a full season.

Then, in the midst of his career year, Kane suddenly endured an 11-game goal drought.

“Maybe I could’ve scored 40 if I didn’t have that slump,” Kane said to Tuesday prior to recording an assist in the ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Jack Eichel ready for season debut

OTTAWA – The 21-game wait is over. Buffalo Sabres center Jack Eichel, sidelined by a high left ankle sprain for almost seven weeks, will make his season debut tonight against the Senators at the Canadian Tire Centre.

Eichel can still feel the injury he sustained late in practice Oct. 12, the eve of the season opener. Still, it doesn’t restrict the second-year star.

“You can notice it at all times, to be honest,” ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Jack Eichel skates, has return date in mind

BUFFALO – A week ago, Sabres center Jack Eichel said he circled a date on his calendar he would like to return from the high left ankle sprain that has sidelined him six weeks.

“But that’s pretty fragile and can change pretty quickly,” Eichel told a throng of reporters after skating with his teammates this morning, his first session since injuring his ankle Oct. 12, the day before the season opener.

Eichel, of course, ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Johan Larsson, aka ‘Grumpy Larry,’ frustrating opponents

BUFFALO – The scouting report on Johan Larsson, the tenacious center Sabres coach Dan Bylsma often charges with shadowing the opposition’s top forwards, is short and straightforward.

“He’s grumpy, miserable, hard guy to play against,” Bylsma said Tuesday after the Sabres prepared for tonight’s tilt against the Detroit Red Wings at KeyBank Center.

Wait, the quiet Larsson, an affable, well-liked teammate known as “Larry,” is grumpy? How often does that word appear in scouting ... Read the full article

Rare goal outburst helps Sabres douse Flames

BUFFALO – For almost 30 minutes Monday, the Sabres’ 4-2 win against the Calgary Flames looked like almost every other home game this trying season.

The Sabres, having scored two or fewer goals in 10 straight games, showed why they have the NHL’s worst offense. The crowd of 17,526 fans inside KeyBank Center, meanwhile, barely made a peep.

To that point, the biggest roar of the night was reserved for Buffalo Bills quarterback Tyrod ... Read the full article

Patrick Kaleta excited for off-ice job with Sabres, not retired yet

BUFFALO – For the last “crazy” little while, Patrick Kaleta said, when fans spot him around town, they greet the former Sabres agitator with the same questions.

“People see me, they say, ‘What are you doing here? Your team is practicing. Your team is playing,’” Kaleta told the Times Herald on Monday.

The affable Kaleta, who played 348 games with the Sabres, said he smiles and tells them he has a new job with ... Read the full article

Sabres goalie Anders Nilsson to start against Penguins

BUFFALO – Toward the end of the morning skate, backup goalie Anders Nilsson, not Robin Lehner, started skating to the Sabres bench.

Would Sabres coach Dan Bylsma really start his backup against the Pittsburgh Penguins over Lehner, his starter who has played 13 of the first 17 games?

After fiddling with his sticks at the bench for a few moments – it almost seemed like Nilsson was teasing everyone trying to see if he ... Read the full article