Pominville - Buffalo Hockey Beat

15 years ago, the Sabres kicked off the Terry Pegula era in grand fashion

Fifteen years years ago today, the Sabres played their first game under owner Terry Pegula, ushering in what promised to be an exciting and successful era by beating the Atlanta Thrashers 4-1 in an emotional HSBC Arena.

We all know how things have turned out since that thrilling night. Still, the Sabres made the playoffs that season, closing the season on a 16-6-4 tear and roaring up the standings after Pegula took over. His presence ... Read the full article

Sabres roar back against Wild, lose in OT; Josh Norris misses second game

BUFFALO – It was about to be one heck of a penalty kill for the Sabres. Defenseman Mattias Samuelsson cleared the puck down down the ice, seemingly extinguishing the power play the Minnesota Wild carried into Saturday afternoon’s overtime.

But Wild goalie Filip Gustavsson skated out to the left circle and quickly flung the puck up to Kirill Kaprizov at the Buffalo blue line as the Sabres changed. Kaprizov skated in and fed Mats Zuccarello, ... Read the full article

Sabres Hall call caught Thomas Vanek, Jason Pominville off guard

BUFFALO – During a break in Thursday’s second period, Thomas Vanek and Jason Pominville were told to stand alongside Ryan Miller, their close friend and former Sabres teammate, as he addressed the crowd on the video boards.

Vanek said he figured he and Pominville would serve as Miller’s “hype guys” as he spoke.

When Miller began talking, it became clear what was happening.... Read the full article

Former Sabres star Maxim Afinogenov shares special moment with Lindy Ruff

BUFFALO – Other than a bit of a receding hairline, former winger Maxim Afinogenov looks pretty much like he did 20 or so years ago, when his slick exploits electrified Sabres fans.

Heck, Afinogenov looks like he could still lace up the skates and dazzle a bit, even at age 46. The Russian played until 2019-20 – he spent 10 seasons in the Kontinental Hockey League after leaving North America – before retiring.

The COVID-19 ... Read the full article

23 alumni scheduled to attend Sabres’ 2005-06 Reunion Night

Twenty-three members of the beloved Buffalo Sabres team that roared out of the lockout and stunned the NHL by earning 110-points and reaching the Eastern Conference final are scheduled to attend the 2005-06 Reunion Night on Jan. 15 against the Montreal Canadiens, the team has announced.

The talent-laden team, which fell one game short of reaching the Stanley Cup final, will be honored during a pregame celebration in KeyBank Center. Alumni are scheduled to make ... Read the full article

After trade to Sabres, Conor Timmins could have career-changing chance

BUFFALO – OK, time for a quick pop quiz, Sabres fans. Does defenseman Conor Timmins’ career goal total eclipse the number of teams he has played for since breaking into the NHL in 2019-20?

The answer, of course, is yes, although by a slim margin. Timmins, a native of nearby St. Catharines, Ontario, has scored six goals in his 159-game career and played for five teams. He has been traded four times, including twice earlier ... Read the full article

Sabres legend Ryan Miller happy in role as goalie scout and development coach with Sharks

ROCHESTER – Right now, Buffalo Sabres legend Ryan Miller is busy interviewing goalie prospects and writing reports, his final preparations for the NHL Draft.

Later this month, Miller, 44, will be in Texas watching prospects at the World Under-18 Junior Championship.

These days, Miller, who retired in 2021, works as a goalie scout and development coach for the San Jose Sharks. It’s a job, given his long and successful career and cerebral approach to hockey, ... Read the full article

Ex-Sabres Jason Pominville, Ryan Miller know Lindy Ruff can succeed in Buffalo

BUFFALO – Before the Sabres re-hired Lindy Ruff, one of the coach’s prominent former players, Jason Pominville, said he texted some friends and told them, “It has to be him. They have to bring him back.”

“Like, this is the time to bring him back,” Pominville wrote to them.

He had no inside information during the Sabres’ search for Don Granato’s replacement. The former winger simply knew Ruff could help a young, talented ... Read the full article

For Jason Pominville and Martin Biron, Rick Jeanneret amplified special moments with Sabres

Jason Pominville considers himself lucky. The popular former Sabres captain arrived in Buffalo in his early 20s hoping he would hear legendary play-by-play man Rick Jeanneret call his name for scoring a goal.

Well, before his rookie season ended in 2005-06, he scored the scintillating overtime goal that propelled the Sabres to a playoff upset against the Ottawa Senators. Just months into his career, he was a part of one of Jeanneret’s signature calls.

“I ... Read the full article

Success Sabres prospects enjoying with Rochester Amerks could help in Buffalo

ROCHESTER – Before the Americans staved off elimination by defeating the Hershey Bears on Wednesday, coach Seth Appert asked his assistants and some veterans how many times they had competed in a conference finals or championship.

Michael Peca, who played 13 seasons and captained the Buffalo Sabres to the Stanley Cup final in 1999, told him three. Mike Weber, who played 10 years, said he never advanced that far. Defenseman Matt Bartkowski, a ... Read the full article