Ott - Buffalo Hockey Beat

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

Sabres’ Ville Leino feeling good about game

BUFFALO – The numbers, of course, are still bad. Fourteen games into his season, Sabres center Ville Leino has zero goals, three assists and just 10 shots.

That’s it.

But Leino, having played 20:19 and 19:23 in the last two games, is beginning to earn interim coach Ted Nolan’s trust.

Leino will pivot newcomer Matt D’Agostini and captain Steve Ott tonight against the Toronto Maple Leafs inside the First Niagara Center.

In Wednesday’s 3-1 ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Mikhail Grigorenko, Brayden McNabb to sit against Maple Leafs

BUFFALO – These aren’t regular healthy scratches. Interim coach Ted Nolan, who’s been charged with evaluating and developing the Sabres’ young lineup, wants some of his prospects to sit occasionally.

So center Mikhail Grigorenko and defenseman Brayden McNabb will be scratched tonight against the Toronto Maple Leafs inside the First Niagara Center.

Both should play Saturday against the New Jersey Devils, however.

“I’m not unhappy,” Nolan said this morning about Grigorenko’s play. “It’s just when ... Read the full article

Matt D’Agostini ready for any role with Sabres

BUFFALO – Matt D’Agostini had just experienced NHL waivers, what he described as “the most anxious 24 hours of your life.”

The Pittsburgh Penguins, his third team since the beginning of last season, released him Tuesday. The 27-year-old winger could’ve gone to the minors for the first time in four years.

But the hapless Sabres claimed D’Agostini on Wednesday, awarding him perhaps his final NHL chance.

So before D’Agostini spoke to the media Thursday ... Read the full article

Sabres lose Corey Tropp on waivers to Blue Jackets; Matt D’Agostini excited for new opportunity

BUFFALO – Losing Corey Tropp on waivers to the Columbus Blue Jackets isn’t disappointing, Ted Nolan said. Instead, the interim Sabres coach is happy the 24-year-old winger will enjoy an NHL opportunity he couldn’t here.

“Pittsburgh lost a guy to us,” Nolan said this afternoon inside the First Niagara Center. “That’s unfortunate we haven’t got enough room for him right now. It’s good for him to be picked up by somebody else and get his ... Read the full article

Late penalty dooms Sabres in loss to Canadiens; Matt D’Agostini expected to join team today

BUFFALO – Tyler Ennis said he was simply trying to hit his spot on the Sabres’ set breakout. Both wingers are supposed to loop. He had no intention of trying to pick Ryan White.

“All of a sudden he was going to my ice,” Ennis said Wednesday following the Sabres’ 3-1 loss to the Montreal Canadiens, their fifth straight defeat.

With the Sabres down 2-1 with 2:58 remaining, a referee whistled Ennis for interference, giving ... Read the full article

Sabres grab early lead against tired Red Wings, falter again late

BUFFALO – The reeling Detroit Red Wings limped into a town Sunday a beaten up and tired bunch ripe to be exploited. They left galvanized by only their second win in 10 games, a tight 3-1 triumph against the rested Sabres in a dull, low-chance affair.

Playing without three regulars, including star Pavel Datsyuk, the Wings fell behind early before scoring the go-ahead goal 11:43 into the third period inside the First Niagara Center.

So ... Read the full article

Sabres to wear new third jersey for first of 10 times Sunday

BUFFALO – The Sabres will wear their gold third jersey for the first of 10 home games Sunday against the Detroit Red Wings.

That’s 10 of the 29 remaining games inside the First Niagara Center, Sabres fans. Ten!

Fans immediately panned the two-tone jersey, which features gold as the primary for the first time in team history, after Sabres captain Steve Ott unveiled it via Twitter on Sept. 4.

Reaction has been so harsh ... Read the full article

Sabres reward Luke Adam and Brayden McNabb for strong starts with Amerks

BUFFALO – Luke Adam figured he had fallen out of the Sabres’ plans. The 23-year-old winger, a strong Calder Trophy candidate two years ago at this time, barely received a look during the exhibition season.

The struggling, goal-starved team then refused to summon Adam from Rochester as he began piling up scores and recapturing his old form.

“I think they kind of had their mind made up,” Adam said Wednesday inside the First Niagara Center ... Read the full article

Ted Nolan moving Sabres rookie Zemgus Girgensons back to wing

BUFFALO – Long-term, interim coach Ted Nolan said, the Sabres project rookie Zemgus Girgensons as a winger. So despite three impressive games at center, the 19-year-old Latvian switched back to the side today.

“If we’re going to ask him to be a winger, we better play him in that position,” Nolan said this afternoon following practice inside the First Niagara Center. “If he’s going to be a center ice man, we better put him ... Read the full article