WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
Calder Cup Playoffs Edition
Matt Ellis will have options if he retires. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
ROCHESTER – Physically, Matt Ellis said, he hasn’t felt this good in four or five years. At 34 years old, having just finished his 14th pro season, the popular former Buffalo Sabres forward believes he could keep playing.
“I definitely feel like I got lots left in the tank,” Ellis said Thursday inside the Blue Cross War Memorial.
Still, Ellis understands he could be nearing retirement. This season, his first out of the NHL ... Read the full article
Andrey Makarov became a spare part late this season. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
ROCHESTER – It rarely happens. In fact, it might have been a first. Five days after posting a 30-save shutout, the Americans scratched a healthy Andrey Makarov for their next game, Friday’s 5-0 loss to Albany.
Top Buffalo Sabres goalie prospect Linus Ullmark started the home finale. Nathan Lieuwen, just back from his three-week NHL stint, backed up the Swede.
The loquacious Makarov, 22, watched from the stands wearing a suit.
Two years ago, ... Read the full article
Patrick Kaleta has played only 26 games with Rochester. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
ROCHESTER – Patrick Kaleta smirked before pausing 10 seconds. The popular former Buffalo Sabres winger kept searching for the right word to describe his first full AHL season since 2006-07, his rookie year.
The oft-injured agitator, a veteran of 348 NHL games, never found one.
“Kind of hard to put a word on it,” Kaleta said Friday inside the Blue Cross War Memorial. “But with what I can kind of control playing-wise, I did what ... Read the full article
Justin Bailey just scored his 20th goal. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
ROCHESTER – Before Americans winger Justin Bailey started his first pro season, he set a significant goal for himself. The Williamsville native wanted to score 20 times, a tough number for anyone, let alone a rookie, to reach in this low-scoring era.
“I think it’s something that in the beginning I strived to accomplish,” Bailey said Thursday inside the Blue Cross War Memorial after the AHL club prepared for tonight’s home finale against the Albany ... Read the full article
Chad Johnson talks Sunday. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Chad Johnson often talks about his desire to be a starting goalie, so not surprisingly, the Sabres veteran has already examined the jobs that could be open when he hits unrestricted free agency July 1.
“It’s hard not to,” Johnson said Sunday as the Sabres held their end-of-season meetings. “I try to stay as in the moment (as possible). I’m not going say which teams, but there’s four teams that need goaltenders or ... Read the full article
Cody McCormick has still been around the rink. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The blood clots Cody McCormick developed halfway through 2014-15 will force the rugged Sabres forward to retire, general manager Tim Murray said Monday.
“Cody McCormick is not going to jeopardize his life or his family by trying to play again,” Murray said inside the First Niagara Center. “We support him in that. He was around this winter and did some other things when players were rehabbing. So I don’t know if that’s going ... Read the full article
Tim Murray smiles this afternoon. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Following a 27-point improvement in 2015-16, a season in which the Sabres morphed from the NHL’s laughingstock into a legitimate team again, the playoffs “may actually be a realistic goal” next year, general manager Tim Murray said.
“So that will be our statement to the players, that yes, the goal is to reach the playoffs, and that we actually do expect that we can do that,” Murray said this afternoon during an end-of-season ... Read the full article
Robin Lehner recently underwent ankle surgery. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Sabres goalie Robin Lehner knew his pain threshold would be tested when he returned in mid-January from the high right ankle sprain he suffered opening night.
“Since that day it’s been pain, it’s been swelling after every practice, every game,” Lehner said Sunday as the Sabres held their end-of-season meetings inside the First Niagara Center.
After missing more than three months, Lehner started 20 times, often performing like the No. 1 goalie the ... Read the full article
Jack Eichel wants to rest a bit this offseason. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – When center Ryan O’Reilly joined his new teammates seven months ago, the stench leftover from consecutive 30th-place finishes – the culture of losing, you might call it – still surrounded the Sabres.
“I think you could sense it a bit, for sure,” O’Reilly said this morning as the Sabres held their end-of-season meetings inside the First Niagara Center. “I think there’s a lot of habits, when you look at winning teams, ... Read the full article
Ryan O’Reilly was named team MVP Friday. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – In his first season as coach, Dan Bylsma has experienced so much excitement surrounding the Sabres he wonders how crazy it would feel if his team becomes a contender again.
The Sabres, of course, will miss the playoffs for the fifth straight season. Still, to a rabid fan base yearning for postseason hockey, the progress the Sabres have made this season – they’ve improved 25 points with newcomers Jack Eichel, Ryan O’Reilly and ... Read the full article
