Tampa Bay Lightning - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Summer regimen helped Lightning’s Nikita Kucherov raise game

BUFFALO – As the summer wore on, Tampa Bay Lightning coach Jon Cooper started getting worried.

His young superstar, winger Nikita Kucherov, arrived in town in July – “Nobody comes to Tampa in July,” Cooper said – and seemingly wouldn’t stop working out.

Kucherov, 24, rented ice five days a week until training camp started.... Read the full article

Sabres’ Matt Moulson to return against Lightning

BUFFALO – When you’ve lost 18 of your 24 games like the Sabres have this season, including eight of the last nine, you keep trying different things.

So veteran winger Matt Moulson, a healthy scratch the last six games, will return tonight against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

“We sit where we are, we’re going to continue to make changes,” Sabres coach Phil Housley said this morning inside KeyBank Center.... Read the full article

Sabres’ Josh Gorges moving in and out of lineup

BUFFALO – The past two months have been difficult for Josh Gorges. The Sabres defenseman last sat out games 11 years ago, his second NHL season. The uncertainty that accompanies being a healthy scratch has taken its toll on the proud veteran.

“The adjustment is just trying to keep your mind right,” Gorges said Monday inside KeyBank Center. “Every day you don’t know if you’re in or out of the lineup, so that can ... Read the full article

Sabres goalie Robin Lehner’s shootout struggles continue in loss to Lightning

BUFFALO – To Sabres goalie Robin Lehner, shootouts are “different.” Players have all the time they need, allowing them to speed up, slow down and try things that wouldn’t be allowed in regular play.

“It’s not hockey,” Lehner said following Saturday’s 2-1 shootout loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning before 18,935 fans inside KeyBank Center.

It might not be regular hockey, but it still counts, and Lehner has been brutal in shootouts all season, ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Evan Rodrigues earning keep

BUFFALO – On a team featuring 11 veterans earning more than $3 million, Evan Rodrigues, a rookie 15 games into his NHL career, was arguably the Sabres’ best player during two wretched road losses last weekend.

Let that sink in.

“It’s a little disappointing Rodrigues is one of our best players,” Sabres general manager Tim Murray said Wednesday. “It’s great for him. But I’m not sure that’s what should’ve happened in those two games.”... Read the full article

Sabres’ Evan Rodrigues now NHL regular

BUFFALO – On a team featuring 11 veterans earning more than $3 million, Evan Rodrigues, a rookie 14 games into his NHL career, was arguably the Sabres’ best player during two wretched road losses last weekend.

“It’s a little disappointing Rodrigues is one of our best players,” Sabres general manager Tim Murray said earlier this week. “It’s great for him. But I’m not sure that’s what should’ve happened in those two games.”

Still, the ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Kyle Okposo week-to-week; Nick Deslauriers moves into lineup

BUFFALO – With leading scorer Kyle Okposo week-to-week after hurting his ribs, instead of recalling a forward, the Sabres will dress Nick Deslauriers for tonight’s tilt against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Deslauriers, a healthy scratch the last four games, has zero points this season. Okposo has 19 goals and 43 points.

The Sabres can’t exactly fill Okposo’s void.

Sabres coach Dan Bylsma said Okposo has the same injury winger Evander Kane suffered opening night, meaning ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Jack Eichel enjoying career-best stretch

BUFFALO – Sabres center Jack Eichel understands his history of scoring and penchant for shooting the puck has helped label him a goal scorer.

After all, the talented American has scored 39 times in his short career. In only 43 games this season, he has pumped a whopping 173 shots on goal, the NHL’s highest total since his season debut.

Still, Eichel, 20, said when he gets the puck on his stick, his first ... Read the full article

Sabres surging halfway through season

BUFFALO – Suddenly, the Sabres have some hope. Three wins in four games will create that. So will the type of victories they’ve earned.

In addition to Saturday afternoon’s thrilling come-from-behind win against Winnipeg, a tilt emotional enough it felt like it could change their season, the Sabres have played two of their best games of 2016-17 this month.

In beating Philadelphia 4-1 on Tuesday, a game that mirrored their 4-1 road win against the ... Read the full article

Snakebitten Sabres fall to Lightning

BUFFALO – Early in the second period of Thursday’s dreary 4-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning, goalie Ben Bishop gifted the Sabres’ anemic offense a chance it sorely needed to tie the game.

Stationed behind his net, Bishop blindly threw the puck up the middle of the ice to a waiting Kyle Okposo. The Sabres’ leading scorer then quickly let a low wrist shot loose toward the open net.

“That one was on the ... Read the full article