Pittsburgh Penguins - Buffalo Hockey Beat

With Zach Bogosian close to return, Sabres waive Matt Tennyson

BUFFALO – Nearly two months into the season, the Sabres could have their six regular defensemen play together for the first time tonight.

Zach Bogosian, out since suffering a lower-body injury in the preseason finale, could return in this weekend’s home-and-home series against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

“I’ve had a couple good days of practice,” Bogosian said after the Sabres prepared for tonight’s tilt inside KeyBank Center. “I feel ready. We’ll see what tomorrow brings.”... Read the full article

Sabres blow late lead, lose to Penguins in OT

PITTSBURGH – Center Jack Eichel said the Sabres played scared to lose. Winger Sam Reinhart said they sat on their lead late. Goalie Robin Lehner said they let the potent Penguins keep attacking them.

The sound bites following Tuesday’s wild 5-4 overtime loss to the Penguins sounded familiar, like throwbacks to last season, when the Sabres often imploded late.

While the Sabres have changed coaches and much of their personnel this season, they haven’t still ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Justin Falk earning keep on top defense tandem

PITTSBURGH – Buffalo Sabres veteran Justin Falk has carved out a solid 229-game NHL career by showcasing a gritty, no-frills style.

The 6-foot-5, 223-pound Falk is a defensive defenseman.

“In this league, I’ve always been pretty conservative as far as where I go on the offensive side and the rush and skating and all that,” Falk said prior to Tuesday’s 5-4 overtime loss to the Penguins inside PPG Paints Arena.

But Sabres coach Phil Housley ... Read the full article

Sidney Crosby, Penguins struggling entering tilt with Sabres

PITTSBURGH – Right now, superstar Sidney Crosby and the Penguins, the two-time defending Stanley Cup Champions, look nothing like their normal selves.

Crosby, 30, has scored zero goals in the last 11 games. If the slick center doesn’t score tonight against the Buffalo Sabres, a team he has dominated over the years, it would equal a career-long goal drought.

Incredibly, the most prolific scorer of his generation hasn’t created much, either, mustering only three assists ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Jack Eichel struggling to meet high expectations

PITTSBURGH – As the one-quarter mark of Jack Eichel’s third NHL season approaches, the Buffalo Sabres center possesses some pretty underwhelming statistics.

Seventeen games into another trying campaign, the slumping Eichel has four goals and 14 points. Over an 82-game season, that equals 19 goals and 68 points.

Those numbers would be fabulous for most NHL players. A Sabre hasn’t compiled 70 points since winger Jason Pominville in 2011-12.... Read the full article

Sabres to face loaded Penguins lineup

BUFFALO – It’s no secret NHL teams field stronger preseason lineups at home, especially toward the end. So Sabres coach Phil Housley knew the Pittsburgh Penguins would dress better players tonight than the first time the teams met eight days ago.

“It’s getting toward the end, right?” Housley said this morning after the Sabres skated inside HarborCenter. “They’re trying to get their guys geared up. But at the same time, it puts us in a ... Read the full article

Sabres goalie Linus Ullmark using head to make saves

BUFFALO – The drill, Sabres netminder Linus Ullmark explained, is “very easy.” Someone – on Tuesday it was goalie coach Andrew Allen – shoots pucks at him “top shelf.”

“I just try to get my head up there and actually try to get the puck to where I want it to go,” Ullmark said following practice inside HarborCenter.

Yes, the 6-foot-4, 221-pound Swede really tries to redirect the puck with his head.... Read the full article

Sabres’ Jason Pominville ready for first game back

BUFFALO – Sabres winger Jason Pominville, of course, knew center Jack Eichel possessed lethal speed.

“From zero to 60 pretty quick,” Pominville said after the Sabres prepared for tonight’s preseason tilt against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Penn State.

But in his first days back with the Sabres, Pominville has also seen the other ways Eichel’s dynamic talents allow him to dictate the play.... Read the full article

Sabres’ Rasmus Ristolainen to have hearing with NHL Player Safety for hit

BUFFALO – Sabres defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen will have a hearing with NHL Player Safety on Thursday afternoon for knocking Pittsburgh’s Jake Guentzel out of Tuesday’s 3-1 loss with a concussion.

Ristolainen, who has never been suspended, could receive a short ban for the hit.

The Finn was given a five-minute major penalty for interference and ejected 8:46 into the contest when he leveled Guentzel as the rookie waited for a pass that was intercepted just ... Read the full article

Rasmus Ristolainen ejected in Sabres’ loss to Penguins

BUFFALO – Sabres defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen had a split-second decision to make as Pittsburgh superstar Sidney Crosby dished the puck up to Jake Guentzel near their blue line early in Tuesday’s 3-1 loss to the Penguins.

Ristolainen could lay back and play it safe, or he could assume the short pass would be completed and step up and throttle Guentzel.

The Finn went for the hit, but the pass was intercepted by teammate Zemgus Girgensons. ... Read the full article