Ott - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres goalie Ryan Miller focusing on what could be last start in Buffalo

BUFFALO – Ryan Miller knows most NHL cities can’t offer what this one has for 11 seasons. The Sabres goalie hasn’t just played for a team; he’s felt a part of something special in the community.

But right now isn’t the time to reflect, Miller said Thursday. He’s still with the Sabres. The former Vezina Trophy winner wants to focus on his 533^rd start tonight against the San Jose Sharks.

Still, with the NHL ... Read the full article

Late-game heroics help Sabres down Bruins, earn Jhonas Enroth rare win

BUFFALO – Having just won an Olympic silver medal, Sabres goalie Jhonas Enroth could finally find some comfort in an otherwise miserable season. Sure, the struggling backup had just one win all year, but he had been Sweden’s No. 2 netminder behind Henrik Lundqvist, his idol.

Perhaps Enroth’s two weeks at the Sochi Games generated some much-needed confidence. The 25-year-old dazzled at times Wednesday, making some brilliant saves against the Boston Bruins before a capacity ... Read the full article

GM Tim Murray looking to trade Ryan Miller, goalie understands long Sabres career might end soon

BUFFALO – The Sabres could still realistically re-sign franchise goalie Ryan Miller, rookie general manager Tim Murray said. That, however, isn’t “the route we’re looking at right now.”

“Our priority right now on both sides is to pursue a proper trade,” Murray said Tuesday in a brutally honest interview prior to Miller’s 36-save performance in the Sabres’ 3-2 win against the Carolina Hurricanes.

The trade deadline hits one week from today. Murray sounds ready ... Read the full article

Sabres GM Tim Murray trying to trade goalie Ryan Miller, ‘put him in a position to succeed’

BUFFALO – It’s still realistic the Sabres could re-sign franchise goalie Ryan Miller, general manager Tim Murray said. That, however, isn’t “the route we’re looking at right now.”

“We’re looking … to get value for him, to put him in a position to succeed,” Murray, a rookie GM, said tonight inside the First Niagara Center.

The trade deadline’s just eight days away and the rebuilding Sabres, the NHL’s worst team, are looking to deal.

Here ... Read the full article

Sabres ready for hectic schedule following Olympic break, know changes are coming

BUFFALO – Trade rumors have dogged Matt Moulson since the Sabres acquired the winger almost four months ago. But with rosters frozen for 16 days during the NHL’s Olympic break, Moulson briefly got away from the noise, rehabbed his rib injury and relaxed a bit.

“It was good to just go home and train and get healthy again and spend some family time,” Moulson said Monday inside the First Niagara Center.

Moulson and the Sabres ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Mike Weber confident he’s playing well despite NHL-worst rating

BUFFALO – Mike Weber knows the number looks terrible. In 43 games this season, the gritty Sabres defenseman has accumulated a stunning minus-32, the NHL’s 824th and worst rating.

In what was supposed to be his breakout campaign, Weber has become one of the fans’ whipping boys during the worst season in franchise history.

But Weber believes his big minus rating is a bit misleading.

As a defensive defender, the 26-year-old’s never going to ... Read the full article

Sabres captain Steve Ott says Buffalo ‘holds a big piece of my heart’

BUFFALO – Players of Steve Ott’s ilk – tough, versatile leaders with a scoring touch – are precious commodities. That’s why the Sabres captain should be in high demand before the NHL’s March 5 trade deadline. The winger could fetch at least a first-round draft pick.

Ott, an unrestricted free agent following the season, said today he hasn’t had any contact talks. He’s repeatedly said he’d love to stay with the rebuilding Sabres.

But what ... Read the full article

Sabres wish goalie Ryan Miller could’ve played more at Olympics

BUFFALO – In what was very likely his final Olympics, Sabres goalie Ryan Miller made just one appearance, coming within 17 seconds of blanking Slovenia in Team USA’s 5-1 win Sunday.

Would things have gone much differently for the Americans, who lost today’s bronze medal game 5-0 to Finland, if Miller had played?

Probably not. Los Angeles’ Jonathan Quick won his first three starts at the Sochi Games before Friday’s 1-0 loss to Canada.... Read the full article

Sabres’ Ted Nolan moved by Olympic experience, proud of Latvia’s effort at Sochi Games

BUFFALO – For Ted Nolan, leading Latvia’s surprising entry at the Sochi Games was just one part of the Olympic experience. The interim Sabres coach said his team “left the game at the rink.”

So Nolan attended curling, downhill skiing and speed skating events. He enjoyed simply sitting down in the cafeteria and trying to guess which sports the athletes played. He said he met a Mexican alpine skier who’s a prince and someone from ... Read the full article

Matt Moulson ready to return; Sabres will use weary goalie Tuesday

BUFFALO – Matt Moulson said he noticed “a weird thing” when he watched the Jan. 30 hit that has sidelined him four games. Phoenix’s Shane Doan just bumped the Sabres winger. But Moulson’s skate got caught and he fell down, and he elbowed himself in the rib.

“I originally thought I popped my own rib out,” Moulson said Friday inside the First Niagara Center after the Sabres’ first post-Olympic practice. “That wasn’t the case. ... Read the full article