Rochester Americans - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres sign Varone to entry-level deal

BUFFALO – The Sabres have signed forward prospect Phil Varone to a three-year, entry-level contract, the club announced Monday.

The 21-year-old rookie has turned heads in Rochester this season, compiling a team-best 43 points and 35 assists. His assist total ranks fourth among AHL rookies and 15th overall. He ranks 12th in freshman scoring.

Varone attended Sabres training camp on a tryout before earning a one-year AHL contract.

Varone, 5-foot-10 and 186 pounds, enjoyed a ... Read the full article

Lindy Ruff feels Tyler Myers’ 3-game suspension ‘a little harsh’

BUFFALO – Lindy Ruff said he “was surprised, disappointed” that the NHL banned Sabres defenseman Tyler Myers three games for ramming Montreal’s Scott Gomez into the boards from behind.

Both the coach and Myers knew the boarding penalty Monday, which concussed Gomez, would probably earn a suspension. But three games for a player with a clean record?

“I felt that as a first-time offender it was a little harsh,” Ruff said Wednesday prior to the ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Myers banned 3 games for Gomez hit

BUFFALO – Uh-oh. Starting tonight, the ninth-place Sabres will be missing star defenseman Tyler Myers for three straight games during their furious fight for the Eastern Conference’s final playoff spot.

Early Tuesday night, the NHL suspended Myers for ramming Scott Gomez’s head into the boards from behind Monday in the Sabres’ 3-2 overtime win against the Montreal Canadiens.

“At no point during Myers’ approach to the check does he see anything other than Gomez’s back,” ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Marcus Foligno plans special goal jump to honor father, Mike

BUFFALO – Don’t fret, Sabres fans. The Foligno jump is coming. It’ll just have to take place following Marcus Foligno’s second goal.

The top prospect planned to honor his father, popular former Sabres captain Mike Foligno, by leaping into the air to celebrate his first big league score.

Mike jumped after about every one of his 355 goals from 1979-94. Marcus’ brother Nick Foligno, a Senators winger, paid homage once as a rookie in 2007.... Read the full article

Sabres’ Vanek questionable for tonight’s tilt

BUFFALO – Sabres winger Thomas Vanek, who left Thursday’s 3-1 loss in Boston after the Bruins’ Johnny Boychuk leveled him, is questionable (upper body) for tonight’s game in Ottawa against the Senators.

“Thomas is doing OK,” Sabres coach Lindy Ruff told reporters Friday in Ottawa. “I can’t answer that question (if Vanek will play). I think it all just depends on how he’s feeling tomorrow.”

Vanek didn’t practice Friday. Neither did winger Patrick Kaleta, who ... Read the full article

Sabres loan Schiestel from Amerks

BUFFALO – Last winter, Sabres defense prospect Drew Schiestel earned an AHL All-Star berth.

With 23 points and a gaudy plus-15 rating in Portland, a recall seemed inevitable for the 59^th pick in 2007. Then, two games before the big tilt, Schiestel tore his ACL, shelving him for the season.

The 22-year-old hurt his knee again on opening night for Rochester this season, his first appearance in eight months.

On Tuesday, the Sabres loaned ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Milller named NHL’s first star of week

BUFFALO – A scintillating week in which he posted two shutouts has earned Sabres goalie Ryan Miller the NHL’s first star for the period ending March 4.

For the week, Miller went 3-0-0 with a 1.00 goals-against average and .974 save percentage.

Miller dazzled Wednesday, making 43 saves – a franchise record for a shutout – during a 2-0 win in Anaheim. He stopped 39 shots Thursday in a 1-0 victory in San Jose. He ... Read the full article

Sabres summon Foligno again

BUFFALO – With defenseman Robyn Regehr’s injury leaving the Sabres with only 18 healthy skaters, they summoned rookie winger Marcus Foligno from Rochester prior to Saturday’s tilt in Vancouver against the Canucks.

Defenseman Alexander Sulzer, acquired from Vancouver on Monday, replaced Regehr, making his Sabres debut, just his 13^th appearance this season.

Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said Regehr is day-to-day with a “mid-to-lower” injury he suffered Thursday in San Jose.

Sulzer began the game ... Read the full article

Ryan Miller sad to see Paul Gaustad leave Sabres

BUFFALO – Sabres goalie Ryan Miller and center Paul Gaustad had been beside each other every step of their 10-year professional careers.

Naturally, seeing the Sabres deal Gaustad to Nashville for a first-round pick Monday jolted Miller, who’s sad to see his close friend leave.

“A pretty tough day,” Miller told reporters Tuesday in Anaheim. “I’m not going to lie. I’m not real happy about the way it all turned out. But that’s the business ... Read the full article

Sabres deal Paul Gaustad, Zack Kassian at trade deadline

BUFFALO – If it meant getting better in the future, Darcy Regier said the Sabres would take a minor step back at the NHL trade deadline. Sixty-two games into the season, the Stanley Cup talk for the 12th-place club has ceased. Monday was about utilizing assets and filling a glaring need for a scoring center.

Clearly, the general manager had a plan to fix his underachieving team, which was six points out of eighth place ... Read the full article