Rochester Americans - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres notes: Chris Stewart doesn’t want to discuss benching

BUFFALO – Instead of walking into the dressing room following a long skate Tuesday morning, struggling Sabres winger Chris Stewart veered off and undressed somewhere else.

A few minutes later, a staff member wheeled in Stewart’s equipment on a shopping cart and placed it in his locker.

Clearly, Stewart, a healthy scratch for the Sabres’ 1-0 win against the Los Angeles Kings, wasn’t in the mood to discuss his benching.

“All players have to play ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Nikita Zadorov would be happy in NHL or with Russia

BUFFALO – Naturally, Russia recently put Sabres defenseman Nikita Zadorov on its preliminary roster for the upcoming world junior championship. The country has nothing to lose by adding the 19-year-old’s name.

The Sabres, of course, can keep Zadorov if they want.

But would they actually let Zadorov, who skates more than 20 minutes some nights beside Rasmus Ristolainen, join his country for the tournament?

“I just read it for the first time myself that ... Read the full article

Jean Beliveau still greatly influences Sabres’ Josh Gorges

BUFFALO – Josh Gorges considers himself old school. He believes defensemen should wear single-digit numbers. So after sporting No. 26 with the Montreal Canadiens for years, the veteran wanted a low number when the Sabres acquired him.

Gorges had a couple of choices. He settled on No. 4, partly because iconic Canadiens legend Jean Beliveau, who died Tuesday at age 83, wore it during his illustrious Hall of Fame career.

Beliveau is hockey royalty.

“What ... Read the full article

Canadiens legend Jean Beliveau inspired Sabres’ Josh Gorges to wear No. 4

Gorges had a couple of choices. He settled on No. 4, partly because iconic Canadiens legend Jean Beliveau, who died Tuesday at age 83, wore it during his illustrious Hall of Fame career.

Beliveau is hockey royalty.

“What ... Read the full article

With Cody McCormick still sidelined, Sabres recall Tim Schaller

BUFFALO – Tim Schaller had just eaten lunch and gotten comfortable on the couch Tuesday afternoon in Rochester when Americans coach Chadd Cassidy phoned the center.

“Get yourself to Buffalo tonight,” Cassidy told Schaller, who had been sent down following his NHL debut Saturday.

Schaller hopped in his car and arrived at the First Niagara Center around 4 p.m.

The Sabres summoned Schaller for their 2-1 shootout win against the Tampa Bay Lightning because forward ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Cody McCormick not worried about concussions

BUFFALO – Cody McCormick escaped without even a cut when Eric Fehr’s skate hit the Sabres forward on the chin Nov. 22 in Washington.

“Watching the replay, it was pretty close,” McCormick said this morning inside the First Niagara Center. “I consider myself lucky coming out of that without a cut on my face.”

Fehr’s skate still injured McCormick. The 31-year-old has been undergoing concussion protocol.

McCormick, the Sabres’ top fighter, has a history of ... Read the full article

Sabres recall Tim Schaller from Amerks

BUFFALO – With forwards Cody McCormick and Drew Stafford injured, the Sabres recalled center Tim Schaller from Rochester this afternoon.

Schaller made his NHL debut in Saturday’s 4-3 shootout win in Montreal. To create room for Schaller, the Sabres placed McCormick on injured reserved.

The 24-year-old Schaller has six goals and 15 points in 20 games with the AHL Americans this season.

McCormick is still undergoing concussion protocol. Stafford has a lower-body injury.... Read the full article

Cody McCormick out against Lightning; Sabres could make recall

BUFFALO – After participating fully in this morning’s skate, Sabres forward Cody McCormick left the ice and spoke to reporters about his recovery from a possible concussion.

It was assumed McCormick, out since Eric Fehr’s skate hit him in the head Nov. 22 in Washington, would return tonight against the Tampa Bay Lightning inside the First Niagara Center.

But McCormick will miss his fourth straight game. With winger Drew Stafford out (lower body), the Sabres ... Read the full article

Sabres send Tim Schaller back to Amerks

BUFFALO – The Sabres sent center Tim Schaller back to the AHL Rochester Americans this afternoon.

Schaller made his NHL debut in Saturday’s 4-3 shootout win in Montreal, skating 11 minutes, 52 seconds.

Center Cody McCormick (possible concussion) or Drew Stafford (lower body) could return Tuesday when the Sabres host Tampa Bay.... Read the full article

Sabres recall Tim Schaller from Amerks

BUFFALO – With winger Drew Stafford questionable for tonight’s game in Montreal with a lower-body injury, the Sabres have recalled center Tim Schaller from the Rochester Americans.

The undrafted 24-year-old has never played in the NHL.

He has six goals, 15 points and 20 penalty minutes in 20 games this year. The Sabres gave the New Hampshire native a long looking during training camp.

Schaller has 17 goals, 33 points and 58 penalty minutes ... Read the full article