Robitaille - Buffalo Hockey Beat

After decades of pain, ex-Sabres analyst Mike Robitaille feels hope

Editor’s note: This is the first in a three-part series on popular ex-Buffalo Sabres defenseman Mike Robitaille.

Until a few weeks ago, Mike Robitaille would wake up every morning dreading the shower. Taking one felt like hell. Moving his hands up to his head or below his waist might send a high-voltage shock through his chest, down his neck or even into his feet.

Of course, the searing pain he experienced wasn’t exclusive to the ... Read the full article

Rene Robert seized opportunity with Sabres, became legend: ‘Could do it all’

When Mike Robitaille caught up with Rene Robert last year, he was struck by how well his old friend and Buffalo Sabres teammate looked.

Robert, who was approaching his 72nd birthday, had a trim physique and a full head of hair. Robitaille saw the same man he had played with almost 50 years earlier.

“Looked like a young Rene to me, just kind of bouncing along and feeling good,” Robitaille told the Times Herald on ... Read the full article

Joe Daley played one maskless season with Buffalo before putting on protection later in his career. Photo courtesy of Joe Daley

Flashback: Meet Joe Daley, the maskless Sabres goalie

Fifty years ago today, the Buffalo Sabres played their first game, beating the Penguins 2-1 on Oct. 10, 1970 at Pittsburgh Civic Arena.

Jim Watson and Gilbert Perreault scored for the Sabres that night. Roger Crozier, whose presence offered the expansion team instant credibility, made 35 saves.

Crozier’s goalie partner that inaugural season was a journeyman named Joe Daley, a 27-year-old who had spent most of his career in the minors.

Daley played just one ... Read the full article

Former Sabres captain Jason Pominville not retired, would like to play again

BUFFALO – Popular former Sabres captain Jason Pominville recently told some friends he would love to help out their beer league team if they ever needed a player to fill in.

“They’re like, ‘You’re in full time!’” Pominville said prior to Thursday’s 4-3 overtime win against the Columbus Blue Jackets inside KeyBank Center.

So Pominville, who scored 16 goals in 73 games for the Sabres last season, plays hockey once a week at the ... Read the full article

Sabres rookie Victor Olofsson quickly develops into all-around presence

BUFFALO – Victor Olofsson’s ability to quickly adapt and evolve has helped him morph from an unheralded Sabres prospect into one of the NHL’s top rookies.

Just weeks after beginning his North American career last season, Olofsson established himself as one of the AHL’s top scorers with the Rochester Americans.

Following his terrific 30-goal, 63-point campaign, the Swedish winger graduated to Buffalo, scoring six times in the first seven games this year.

But Olofsson, ... Read the full article