Stafford - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Former Sabres coach Lindy Ruff returns home to Buffalo with Stars

BUFFALO – This city, of course, is still Lindy Ruff’s home. Always will be, the former Sabres coach said shortly after his stunning Feb. 20 dismissal.

At times, it felt as if Ruff, having survived so much turmoil and change over his 15 seasons, would never leave.

But 250 days ago, Darcy Regier, Ruff’s close friend, drove to his Clarence home and fired him, the Sabres’ regression too much for the general manager ... Read the full article

Awful first period dooms Sabres in loss to Avalanche

BUFFALO – The buzz began building as Drew Stafford wound up at the left point. A second later, as the winger pumped a slap shot on Colorado goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere 14:09 into the game, the 18,422 fans inside the First Niagara Center roared, almost like the Sabres had scored.

It was, of course, a Bronx cheer – perhaps the loudest you’ll ever hear. The hapless Sabres finally had their first shot.

“That’s a low moment,” ... Read the full article

Sabres must make roster move; Jason Pominville returns with Wild

BUFFALO – Defenseman Henrik Tallinder will return tonight against popular former Sabres captain Jason Pominville and the Minnesota Wild following a four-game absence.

With Tallinder (upper body) back from injured reserve, either rookie Rasmus Ristolainen or Alexander Sulzer, the spare defenders this morning, will be sent to Rochester, Sabres coach Ron Rolston said.

Update: Sulzer has been assigned to the AHL.

Meanwhile, backup goalie Jhonas Enroth will make his third start for the winless Sabres ... Read the full article

Sabres listless in ugly loss to Blue Jackets, still winless

BUFFALO – OK, five games is a big enough sample size to judge the winless Sabres. Yes, it’s still early, but Thursday’s ugly 4-1 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets cemented their status as the NHL’s worst team.

The Sabres’ rebuild, commitment to youth and general manager Darcy Regier’s warning to expect “suffering” tempered expectations this season.

Still, did anyone really expect them to be this bad?

The Sabres (0-4-1) have five goals this season. ... Read the full article

Tyler Ennis ready to lead young Sabres, confident he’ll start scoring

BUFFALO – Tyler Ennis spoke confidently. That missing offense, “It’s going to come,” the Sabres center said before repeating the words again.

“There’s always stretches,” the pointless Ennis said Wednesday after the Sabres prepared for tonight’s tilt against the Columbus Blue Jackets inside the First Niagara Center. “It’s only been four games.”

Of course, the 24-year-old’s hardly alone right now. Seventeen players on the winless Sabres (0-3-1) haven’t recorded a point yet. The team only ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Tyler Myers, Mike Weber finally skate as defense partners

BUFFALO – In their three years as Sabres teammates, Tyler Myers and Mike Weber have rarely kept the same defense partner long.

Myers has spent significant time beside almost every established defenseman in recent seasons, a result of personal and team struggles. Weber, meanwhile, has only established himself as a regular presence in the last year.

Still, the two had never been paired together for more than a few shifts before Tuesday’s 3-2 overtime loss ... Read the full article

Youthful Sabres focusing on solving long list of problems

BUFFALO – This is a new era for the rebuilding Sabres, a struggling team featuring five rookies, three of them teenagers.

At one point during Monday’s long practice, the Sabres, who’ve done little right while losing their first three games, went through a pass-heavy drill.

Simply dishing the puck can be an arduous task these days.

“We need to get better there,” coach Ron Rolston said inside the First Niagara Center after the Sabres ... Read the full article

Thomas Vanek and Steve Ott ready to captain Sabres

BUFFALO – Shortly before noon Tuesday, the Sabres quickly streamed off the First Niagara Center ice following practice and walked to their dressing room. The metal door closed after all the players had entered.

Inside, coach Ron Rolston began addressing his team’s captaincy, which had remained vacant since the Sabres traded Jason Pominville in April.

Cheers emanated from the room a few minutes later. More applause could be heard shortly after that.

Instead of ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Drew Stafford optimistic and refreshed after ‘nightmare’ season

BUFFALO – When the worst season of Drew Stafford’s career mercifully ended five months ago – he describes the six-goal, 18-point campaign as hitting “rock bottom” – the Sabres winger stopped dwelling on it.

“You got to get over it,” Stafford said Thursday inside the First Niagara Center after the Sabres prepared for tonight’s preseason finale in Carolina. “It was an absolute nightmare. It’s one of those things where you can’t change the past, what’s ... Read the full article

Marcus Foligno impressing Sabres again early after forgettable season

BUFFALO – When Marcus Foligno’s dismal, five-goal season ended in April, the 22-year-old could’ve laid the blame on others or taken responsibility, Sabres coach Ron Rolston said.

“Whether they think it’s me or them, ultimately they got to make that change, and I think he took that ownership on that,” Rolston said Saturday prior to the Sabres’ 3-2 exhibition shootout loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs before a capacity crowd of 19,070 fans inside the ... Read the full article