WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
Offseason Edition
Phil Varone only played sparingly Saturday. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – In a deep rebuild, with losses and injuries piling up, plenty of jobs on the Sabres are still available.
Heck, the Sabres have had openings throughout the lineup for two years. Sooner or later, someone – a top prospect, an unknown youngster, a waiver acquisition or a depth veteran – has to step up and grab one, right?
Sabres coach Ted Nolan wants the newcomers do something different, stand out and make a ... Read the full article
Mike Weber had knee surgery last month. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – How bad are the Sabres early in games? Really bad.
Opponents have outscored the struggling Sabres 40-15 in the first period and outshot them 493-336 entering tonight’s tilt against the Philadelphia Flyers inside the First Niagara Center. In Thursday’s 7-0 loss to Minnesota, the Wild scored twice and outshot the Sabres 15-3 in the opening period.
“We talk about that all the time going into games, we have to have good starts, let’s ... Read the full article
Ted Nolan’s Sabres have lost nine straight games. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The Sabres have lost a franchise-record nine consecutive games and 31 of 45 overall this trying season. They rank 29th in a 30-team league and dead last or close to the bottom in every major statistical category. They just lost 7-0 to a reeling Minnesota Wild team, their worst home defeat since 1977.
Of course, the Sabres, who host the Philadelphia Flyers tonight, were supposed to lose this season. But was ... Read the full article
Thomas Vanek scored his eighth goal Thursday. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Call it hockey’s worst-kept secret.
Of course, Thomas Vanek couldn’t say anything as he bounced from team to team last season. But the former Sabres star confirmed the suspicions when free agency opened July 1, signing a three-year, $19.5 million contract with the Minnesota Wild.
Vanek, a Minnesota resident and Golden Gophers college hero, wanted to return home.
“Honestly, every time I went out somewhere and got recognized, that was one of the ... Read the full article
Tyler Myers will stand in front of the net tonight. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Right now, Sabres defenseman Tyler Myers said, the plan is “to disrupt as much as I can” in front of the net during power plays.
“I guess I’m used to being in that area defensively, but it’ll be different,” Myers said this morning inside the First Niagara Center. “Usually I’m trying to carry out the puck, and now I’ll be trying score. So it’s a different look.”
The Sabres’ NHL-worst power play can’t ... Read the full article
Dominik Hasek (right) is greeted by Rene Robert (14) and Danny Gare (18) prior to having his number retired Tuesday. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Goalie Dominik Hasek had never picked his own number before the Sabres acquired him in 1992.
Back home in the Czech Republic, he was given No. 9 as a 16-year-old when a player got sick. When he came to North America in 1990, the Chicago Blackhawks gave him Nos. 31 and 34.
So shortly after he arrived, Hasek was shocked when equipment manager Rip Simonick approached him at a late-summer workout at Sabreland ... Read the full article
Dominik Hasek speaks to the media this morning. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Legendary Sabres goalie Dominik Hasek had never chosen his own number.
Back home in the Czech Republic, he was given No. 9 as a 16-year-old when a player got sick. When he came to North America in 1990, the Chicago Blackhawks gave him Nos. 31 and 34.
So shortly after the Sabres acquired him in 1992, Hasek was shocked when equipment manager Rip Simonick approached him at a late-summer workout at Sabreland in ... Read the full article
Florida goalie Roberto Luongo watches the puck in front of Cody Hodgson on Friday. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – It’s getting ugly again. In fact, it’s starting to feel like October. The Sabres are losing every game. They can’t score. Opponents keep outshooting them.
Following an exciting 10-3 run, the Sabres have lost three straight games and seven of the last eight.
A wretched start, an early-season staple, doomed the Sabres in Friday’s boring 2-0 loss to the Florida Panthers before a capacity crowd of 19,070 fans inside a quiet First Niagara ... Read the full article
Rasmus Ristolainen will miss his second straight game tonight. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Some quick Sabres lineup updates following a very quiet morning skate inside the First Niagara Center:
– Defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen skated but will miss his second consecutive game because of the flu.
“He’s available, but this is the first time he touched the ice in four or five days, so we’re going to let him get his feet back underneath him and put him in the next game,” Sabres coach Ted Nolan said.... Read the full article
Sabres goalie Jhonas Enroth is 5-0 in shootouts this season. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – As John Tavares stickhandled toward the net, making move after move, Jhonas Enroth barely budged in his crease. When the slick New York Islanders superstar finally shot the puck, the composed goalie stuck his right pad out, securing the Sabres’ 4-3 come-from-behind shootout win Saturday.
“You look at Jhonas and how he handled it, he wasn’t even bothered by it,” Sabres defenseman Mike Weber said Sunday inside the First Niagara Center. “A lot ... Read the full article
