WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
Calder Cup Playoffs Edition
Victor Olofsson scored six power-play goals last month. ©2019, Janet Schultz
A record-setting start has earned Buffalo Sabres winger Victor Olofsson NHL Rookie of the Month honors for October, the league announced today.
Olofsson scored all six of his goals on the power play, becoming the first NHL player to register his first eight goals on the man advantage.
The Swede, who possesses a lethal wrist shot, also scored two power-play goals during a six-game stint late last season.
Overall, Olofsson has scored six goals and ... Read the full article
Jimmy Vesey has zero points in six games. ©2019, Hickling Images
BUFFALO – Sabres winger Jimmy Vesey has quickly learned to like what his new city offers, including the easy drive to work.
Vesey, who spent three seasons with the New York Rangers, already knows he can get anywhere in about 15 or 20 minutes.
“There’s a big convenience factor, I think, in terms of commuting and everything like that,” Vesey said prior to Monday afternoon’s 4-0 win over the Dallas Stars. “I’m settling in nice.”... Read the full article
Carter Hutton posted a 25-save shutout Monday afternoon. ©2019, Janet Schultz
BUFFALO – Few figured coach Ralph Krueger could transform the Sabres so quickly that – gasp – a playoff berth would feel possible this season.
Players need time to understand new messages and systems. Besides, Krueger inherited a hapless team that won just two games last March.
It would take time – maybe months, even a season – before the Sabres showed real progress, right?
Well, six games into Krueger’s tenure, the Sabres are still ... Read the full article
Henri Jokiharju has impressed the Sabres. ©2019, Janet Schultz
BUFFALO – Just five games into the season, Sabres defenseman Henri Jokiharju and winger Victor Olofsson have earned spots in the NHL.
The Sabres have told both youngsters to leave the hotel they’ve been staying in and find something more permanent.
“They’re both out hunting for places to live,” Sabres coach Ralph Krueger said today inside KeyBank Center. “But, again, the competition in the league doesn’t stop. The pressure on you doesn’t stop to perform.”... Read the full article
Victor Olofsson has roared out of the gate. ©2019, Hickling Images
BUFFALO – Winger Kyle Okposo still remembers the first time he and some other Sabres watched rookie Victor Olofsson shoot the puck.
It was training camp in 2018, and Olofsson had just arrived for his first North American season after leading the Swedish Hockey League in goals.
What Okposo and the others saw wowed them.
“We were just like, ‘Who is this kid who can shoot the puck like this?’” Okposo said Thursday inside KeyBank ... Read the full article
Jack Eichel (9) skates past Shea Weber on Wednesday. ©2019, Hickling Images
BUFFALO – Officially, center Marcus Johansson’s winner 1:30 into overtime Wednesday doesn’t count as the Sabres’ ninth power-play goal this season.
Johansson secured the Sabres’ third win in four tries (3-0-1), an exciting 5-4 triumph over the Montreal Canadiens, five seconds after center Phillip Danault’s slashing penalty expired.
So, yes, on paper, Johansson’s one-timer from the right circle goes down as an even-strength score. But Danault hadn’t even gotten back into the play yet.
Make ... Read the full article
Kyle Okposo scored in Saturday’s win. ©2019, Hickling Images
BUFFALO – Throughout his career, Ralph Krueger has refused to number lines. The Sabres coach said it’s one of his core philosophies.
Krueger believes everyone, no matter how small the role, contributes to a team’s success. Ranking forward trios or defense pairs would take away from that.
“I just (have) the respect for the depth that teams need to be successful and the role players that I need,” Krueger said after the 2-0 Sabres prepared ... Read the full article
Sam Reinhart (23) and Jeff Skinner (53) celebrate a Sabres goal Saturday. ©2019, Hickling Images
BUFFALO – One by one Rick Jeanneret introduced them, 15 in all, including some of the greatest names in Sabres history.
Gilbert Perreault, the most iconic name, received a rousing standing ovation from the capacity crowd of 19,070. The fans roared for Danny Gare and Jason Pominville, two of the most popular players in franchise history.
Before the Sabres started Saturday’s 7-2 annihilation of the New Jersey Devils, they kicked off the home portion ... Read the full article
Marcus Johansson has impressed coach Ralph Krueger. ©2019, Hickling Images
PITTSBURGH – Marcus Johansson rarely displays much emotion. In good times and bad, the Buffalo Sabres center usually keeps an even keel.
Still, Ralph Krueger could tell being named one of the Sabres’ two alternate captains earlier this week had special meaning to Johansson.
“His Swedish persona (was) able to kind of tuck it away in the talk with me, but I thought he was extremely honored,” Krueger said prior to Thursday’s 3-1, season-opening win ... Read the full article
Carter Hutton played a career-high 50 games last season. ©2019, Hickling Images
PITTSBURGH – In almost equal preseason action, Buffalo Sabres goalie Linus Ullmark outplayed Carter Hutton, posting a goals-against average 64 points lower and a save percentage 49 points higher than his partner.
But Hutton, 33, handled the load last season, playing a career-high 50 games.
Sabres coach Ralph Krueger, who said everything was up for competition during training camp, probably wants to show Hutton respect on opening night against the Penguins.
The veteran will ... Read the full article
