Olofsson - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres’ Zemgus Girgensons scoring goals, feeling confident on top line

BUFFALO – Sabres winger Zemgus Girgensons occasionally flashes some of the skills that helped make him the 14th overall pick in 2012.

In Sunday’s 5-1 win against the Detroit Red Wings, Girgensons utilized his soft hands to score on a short-handed breakaway. In Saturday’s 6-3 loss to the Vancouver Canucks, he tipped linemate Kyle Okposo’s laser in, briefly tying the game.

In 46 games this season, Girgensons has compiled eight goals, his highest total since ... Read the full article

Sabres newcomer Michael Frolik arrives in Buffalo ready for new opportunity

BUFFALO – Michael Frolik’s whirlwind Tuesday started around 6:30 a.m. in Toronto. After waking up, the Sabres newcomer headed to the U.S. Embassy.

After a trip back to the hotel, Frolik returned around 3 or 4 p.m. and picked up his visa – he said it was approved in just one day – and left for Buffalo. But traffic added nearly an hour to the drive, so the Czech arrived around 7:30 p.m.

Five days ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Scott Wilson rewarded for strong start with Amerks

BUFFALO – After winger Scott Wilson broke his right ankle in training camp last season and missed the first three months, he spent five weeks in the minors.

While Wilson, 27, made it back to the NHL – he played 15 late-season games with the Sabres – his recovery was far from over.

“Really dealing with that ankle was a full-year thing for me,” said Wilson, who was injured Sept. 30, 2018.

So when the ... Read the full article

Michael Frolik looking forward to fresh start with Sabres

BUFFALO – Like a lot of NHL players, Michael Frolik’s role started changing after he turned 30. His minutes dropped. He even became a healthy scratch.

After spending most of his tenure with the Calgary Flames skating on the second line with Mikael Backlund and Matthew Tkachuk, the Czech winger often played under 10 minutes this season.

“I wasn’t really happy with my role,” Frolik, 31, said on a conference call Friday to discuss his ... Read the full article

Replacing rookie Victor Olofsson will be tough for Sabres

BUFFALO – Winger Victor Olofsson’s absence for the next five to six weeks could extinguish the Sabres’ playoff hopes. From the get-go, they’ve relied on the Swedish rookie to score goals.

Now, the lower-body injury he suffered in Thursday’s 3-2 overtime win against the Edmonton Oilers could sideline him until mid-February, the Sabres announced Friday.

Having scored 16 goals and 35 points in 42 games, including six power-play goals in the first seven contests, Olofsson ... Read the full article

Sabres rookie Victor Olofsson out five to six weeks with lower-body injury

BUFFALO – A lower-body injury will sideline rookie winger Victor Olofsson, the Sabres’ second-leading scorer, five to six weeks, the team announced today.

His loss is a massive blow to a team fighting for a playoff spot. He ranks second in goals and points on the Sabres, trailing only captain Jack Eichel, his center.

Olofsson has scored 14 goals and 35 points in 42 games this season. He has been a threat from the ... Read the full article

Sabres recall Scott Wilson from Amerks

BUFFALO – The Sabres recalled winger Scott Wilson from the Rochester Americans this morning.

Wilson, 27, has scored six goals and 10 points in 22 games with the Amerks this season.

The Sabres lost rookie winger Victor Olofsson to an undisclosed injury early in the third period of Thursday’s 3-2 overtime win against the Edmonton Oilers.... Read the full article

Jack Eichel scores on penalty shot in OT after Sabres lose Victor Olofsson

BUFFALO – For 10 seconds during the first minute of Thursday’s overtime, Sabres captain Jack Eichel stood behind his own net to recharge as his teammates changed.

Possession is critical in three-on-three overtime, especially with Edmonton Oilers superstars Conor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl lurking nearby.

So Eichel wasn’t about to give the puck up. The center waited and waited and waited before the capacity crowd of 19,070 inside KeyBank Center.

At that point, Eichel had ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Victor Olofsson named NHL’s Rookie of Month for December

BUFFALO – Sabres winger Victor Olofsson, who led all first-year players with six goals and 14 points in 14 games in December, has earned NHL Rookie of the Month honors for the second time this season, the league announced today.

Olofsson, 24, was also named the top rookie for October.

The Swede quickly morphed into a top Calder Trophy candidate this season, scoring six goals in the first seven games. He also set an ... Read the full article

NHL All-Star Jack Eichel enjoying one of greatest seasons in Sabres history

BUFFALO – Sabres captain Jack Eichel’s selection to the NHL All-Star Game, of course, was a no-brainer.

Eichel’s fifth NHL season has quickly become his best. Right now, he ranks among the game’s elite stars.

The slick center has already scored 24 goals, just four off his career high, and 52 points in 39 games. He’s tied for third in NHL goal scoring and is seventh in points entering tonight’s game against the Tampa ... Read the full article