WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
December Edition
Alexander Sulzer arrived from Vancouver last season. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Defenseman Alexander Sulzer hadn’t been seen much around the Sabres since injuring his knee early in a 4-0 home loss to the New York Islanders on Feb. 23.
On Thursday, though, the German was spotted on crutches sporting a cast around his right leg in the First Niagara Center dressing room.
Not long after, interim Sabres coach Ron Rolston said Sulzer had undergone successful surgery to repair his ACL and would be out ... Read the full article
Alexander Sulzer played 17 games this season. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Defenseman Alexander Sulzer hadn’t been seen much around the Sabres since injuring his knee early in a 4-0 home loss to the New York Islanders on Feb. 23.
Today, though, the German was spotted on crutches sporting a cast around his right leg in the First Niagara Center dressing room.
Not long after, interim Sabres coach Ron Rolston said Sulzer had undergone surgery to repair his ACL and would be out the ... Read the full article
Patrick Kaleta had been suspended twice prior to Monday. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Patrick Kaleta insists he has changed his game over the years, calming his ultra-aggressive style down to become a more complete and responsible player.
Players have noticed, he said. Referees have even lauded the Sabres’ top agitator.
“The referees have came up and said, ‘Hey, we respect what you’ve done so far. As long as you keep showing respect toward us, then we’ll respect you,’” Kaleta told reporters Monday in Raleigh before the ... Read the full article
Adam Pardy played for the Sabres on Feb. 5. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The Sabres’ injury and on-ice woes could help defenseman Adam Pardy, an NHL regular before numbers kicked him back to the minors this season, carve out a spot on the blue line.
With Jordan Leopold (hand) and Alexander Sulzer (lower body) sidelined, the Sabres on Monday summoned Pardy from Rochester for the second time this season.
He should play tonight in Tampa Bay against the Lightning, the start of a two-game Florida ... Read the full article
An undisclosed injury will shelve Alexander Sulzer (52) Tuesday. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Right now, the belief among the reeling, 15th-place Sabres is low. With very few positives to build on during their four-game losing streak, the Sabres are simply hoping to win games, interim coach Ron Rolston said this morning.
“There’s two things,” Rolston said following practice inside the First Niagara Center. “You go into hockey games and some teams hope they’re going to win, and some teams know they’re going to win ... Read the full article
Thomas Vanek is sitting out practice this morning. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Leading scorer Thomas Vanek and defenseman Alexander Sulzer, who left Saturday’s 4-0 loss to the New York Islanders, are missing from Sabres practice this morning inside the First Niagara Center.
With Sulzer (lower body) and defenseman Jordan Leopold (hand) sidelined, the Sabres have recalled Adam Pardy from Rochester. He’s practicing.
Stay tuned for updates. Vanek’s known for getting beat up and resting occasionally. Tough guy John Scott is practicing in Vanek’s place ... Read the full article
Ryan Miller was angry following the Sabres’ fourth straight loss. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Nothing has changed. The Sabres are still a mess, perhaps the NHL’s worst team. Since firing Lindy Ruff on Wednesday and naming Ron Rolston interim coach, they’ve lost both games and scored one goal.
The disenchanted crowd inside the First Niagara Center booed and moaned Saturday throughout an ugly 4-0 loss to the New York Islanders, just like they did during Tuesday’s 2-1 defeat to Winnipeg, Ruff’s final game as coach.... Read the full article
James van Riemsdyk fires in his second goal of the game past Tyler Myers and Ryan Miller on Thursday. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
TORONTO – Well, maybe it wasn’t Lindy Ruff’s fault after all. Perhaps the Buffalo Sabres are simply a bad hockey club.
If they couldn’t cobble together a strong, 60-minute effort Thursday, a day after the Sabres axed the NHL’s longest-tenured coach, will they ever?
With the franchise reeling and Ron Rolston making his debut as interim coach, the Sabres played another terrible second period, allowing two goals, the difference in the 3-1 loss ... Read the full article
T.J. Brennan returned to the lineup Tuesday. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The gaffe gnawed away at Jordan Leopold. His blown coverage on Pascal Dupuis’ late tying goal a day earlier left the struggling Sabres defenseman “upset … the whole day” Monday, he said.
The 32-year-old, a veteran of 602 NHL games, probably felt even worse Tuesday morning.
For Lindy Ruff, leaving Dupuis wide open in the right circle, something Leopold called an “easy read,” was the last straw. The Sabres coach scratched Leopold for ... Read the full article
Jason Pominville had a tendon sliced two seasons ago. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Sabres captain Jason Pominville has watched the scary video of Ottawa superstar Erik Karlsson getting his Achilles lacerated by Matt Cooke’s skate Wednesday in Pittsburgh.
Karlsson, the reigning Norris Trophy winner as the NHL’s top defenseman, will miss the rest of the season. His rehab will be long and grueling.
Pominville knows well. On April 22, 2011 in Philadelphia, James van Riemsdyk’s skate completely sliced a tendon in the winger’s lower leg.
It’s ... Read the full article