WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
October Edition
Victor Olofsson has been piling up points. ©2019, Hickling Images
BUFFALO – With the Sabres up one goal late Saturday afternoon, winger Victor Olofsson grabbed a pass at his own blue line, skated through the neutral zone and backhanded the puck into an empty net.
After the Los Angeles Kings scored in the final minute, Olofsson’s 16th goal this season became the winner in the Sabres’ 3-2 victory. It was also his 24th point in the last 22 games entering tonight’s road contest against ... Read the full article
Rasmus Ristolainen has scored all three of his goals around the net this season. ©2019, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Having scored all three of his goals this season at the net, Sabres defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen feels very comfortable around that area these days.
“I feel that’s my office now, the blue paint,” Ristolainen joked after scoring in Saturday afternoon’s 3-2 win over the Los Angeles Kings. “It’s the only place I can score right now, so I’ve got to go there a couple times a game, maybe get a bounce like today.”... Read the full article
Marcus Johansson is frustrated by his play. ©2019, Hickling Images
BUFFALO – Even during the opening weeks of the season, as Marcus Johansson scored goals and solidified himself as the Sabres’ No. 2 center, his play irked him.
“I didn’t feel like myself with the puck and stuff like that,” said Johansson, who scored four goals and seven points in the first nine games. “I mean, sometimes you still get points and the team wins. You kind of don’t think about it as much.”
These ... Read the full article
Jack Eichel missed Thursday’s game. ©2019, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Sabres captain Jack Eichel said he has been dealing with the upper-body injury that sidelined him for Thursday’s ugly 6-1 road loss to the Philadelphia Flyers.
“It’s not something that came out of nowhere,” Eichel said after practicing this afternoon inside KeyBank Center.
Eichel, who’s day-to-day, according to coach Ralph Krueger, has dealt with the injury well. The slick center carried a 17-game point streak into Thursday’s game, the second-longest in franchise history.... Read the full article
Jack Eichel has been on a tear. ©2019, Micheline Veluvolu
Jack Eichel’s 17-game point streak ended tonight because an upper-body injury forced him to miss the Buffalo Sabres’ road contest against the Philadelphia Flyers.
After skating in the pregame warm-up, the Sabres announced their captain would miss his first game this season.
Eichel, 23, has been the NHL’s hottest scorer, compiling 16 goals and 31 points during the league’s longest point streak this season. The center was one game short of tying the franchise-record point ... Read the full article
Jack Eichel has been piling up points. ©2019, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – If you ask Sabres captain Jack Eichel about his recent scoring exploits, he usually starts talking about his linemates or the rest of the team.
Eichel, 23, doesn’t want his success to overshadow the Sabres, so the ultra-talented center will heap praise on his wingers, Victor Olofsson and Sam Reinhart, and others.
“It’s tough to pinpoint one thing,” Eichel responded when asked how he has elevated his game over the last month. “The ... Read the full article
Jack Eichel scored his 24th goal Tuesday. ©2019, Micheline Veluvolu
TORONTO – It took more than 40 minutes, but captain Jack Eichel ignited the Buffalo Sabres again Tuesday, helping them roar back late in their 5-3 loss to the Maple Leafs.
After falling behind 3-0, Eichel assisted on defenseman Rasmus Dahlin’s power-play goal 1:29 into the third period, extending his point streak to 17 games.
Then after the Leafs restored their three-goal lead, Eichel scored at 6:30, his 24th goal in only 35 games this ... Read the full article
Jack Eichel (9) battles Nashville’s Colton Sissons on Thursday. ©2019, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Thursday was “Aud Night” at KeyBank Center, a special 50th anniversary promotion that celebrated the Sabres’ first home and the 1980s throughout their entertaining 4-3 win over the Nashville Predators.
In addition to giving out Memorial Auditorium shirts – the Sabres laid out gold, red, blue and orange ones on the seats to match the old building’s unique look – alumni attended and the Sabres sported their special white anniversary jerseys.
“It adds ... Read the full article
Jeff Skinner has gotten off to a strong start. ©2019, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Through 28 games, Sabres coach Ralph Krueger has resisted the temptation to reunite 40-goal scorer Jeff Skinner and captain Jack Eichel.
When Krueger broke up the lethal duo before the season, it felt like only a temporary move. How long could he really keep them apart, right?
Well, two months later, the NHL All-Stars are still skating on separate lines.
Krueger awarded rookie Victor Olofsson a coveted spot as Eichel’s left winger, an ... Read the full article
Conor Sheary scored twice Monday. ©2019, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Over the past week or so, the Sabres settled down and started showcasing some of the early-season form that made them one of the NHL’s heavyweights.
Their ability to play tighter defense helped them consistently generate more offense. While it had only resulted in two wins, it felt like the Sabres could bust out soon.
Luckily for them, the hapless New Jersey Devils visited town.
In its 22-year existence, around 2,700 periods of ... Read the full article