WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
October Edition
Ryan Miller is happy to be back in Buffalo. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – So far, Ryan Miller’s first visit here since the Sabres traded him Feb. 28, 2014 has been “a little surreal” and “a little bit emotional,” the goalie said this afternoon.
Of course, Miller, the Sabres’ franchise cornerstone for almost 10 seasons, is excited to be back. He’ll play his first game as opponent here Saturday afternoon with the Vancouver Canucks.
As usual, Miller, who talked to the media after the Canucks practiced this ... Read the full article
Ryan Miller will play in Buffalo for the first time as an opponent Saturday afternoon. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – In all those years Tyler Ennis practiced against goalie Ryan Miller, the slick Sabres winger estimates he scored on the former Vezina Trophy winner, oh, about zero times.
“My best memory of Ryan is probably the fact that I don’t think I scored on him ever in the four years I was at practice,” Ennis said this afternoon inside the First Niagara Center. “He’s an incredible goalie. Hopefully, I’ll have my best memory ... Read the full article
The Sabres’ Torrey Mitchell splits the Vancouver defense Thursday. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Of course, the Sabres’ best stretch in two months could end soon. The trade deadline is three days away. The rebuilding club will almost certainly deal some of its top assets.
If Thursday’s 6-3 win against the Vancouver Canucks was the final game for a few players, they gave the Sabres one heck of a goodbye before a capacity crowd of 19,070 fans inside the First Niagara Center.
Consider the exploits of these ... Read the full article
Adam Clendening played his first NHL game in Buffalo on Thursday. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Adam Clendening’s first experience playing here about 12 years ago is still vivid. The Wheatfield native remembers gazing around and soaking up the atmosphere during a Buffalo Regals youth hockey game hours before the Sabres hit the ice.
“That was definitely pretty surreal,” Clendening said Thursday prior to the Vancouver Canucks’ 6-3 loss to the Sabres, his first NHL game at the First Niagara Center.
Clendening used to be the little kid on ... Read the full article
Zemgus Girgensons blocked a shot Tuesday. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Top Sabres center Zemgus Girgensons, who blocked a shot with his right ankle Tuesday, will play again this season, coach Ted Nolan said this morning.
Nolan hinted Girgensons could be finished after James Wisniewski’s shot hit the Latvian halfway through the 4-2 win in Columbus.
“It’s bad but not as bad as we thought,” Nolan said inside the First Niagara Center.
Nolan wouldn’t say if Girgensons’ ankle was broken.
“It could be, ... Read the full article
Alex Biega made his NHL debut Feb. 16. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Alex Biega had finally cracked an NHL roster. For 10 days in December, the defenseman earned a fatter paycheck and practiced with the Vancouver Canucks.
But, oddly enough, the 26-year-old former Sabres prospect never played. He got tantalizingly close to game action once, dressing for the pregame warm-up.
“It wasn’t frustrating, but I guess I was antsy just to get in,” Biega said by phone Wednesday after the Canucks landed in Buffalo. “I ... Read the full article
Cody Hodgson has two goals this season. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
Struggling Buffalo Sabres center Cody Hodgson is a scratch for tonight’s game in Vancouver against the Canucks, his former team.
Ouch.
Hodgson might be enduring the worst season of any NHL forward. Seriously.
The 24-year-old has two goals, seven points and minus-21 rating in 48 games. He has one point in his last 14 games and one goal in his last 39 contests.
Coach Ted Nolan scratched Hodgson for the first time in his Sabres ... Read the full article
Ryan Miller was once the face of the Sabres. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
For Ryan Miller, tonight’s game in Vancouver will be a special experience. The Canucks’ starting goalie hasn’t played against Buffalo since the Sabres traded the franchise cornerstone 11 months ago.
“I mean, it’s going to be a little bit strange,” Miller told reporters Thursday in Vancouver. “I’ll pay special attention not to pass the puck toward the Buffalo symbol. It’s going to be nice to see some of the faces that were there, but part ... Read the full article
Brian Flynn skates Thursday with Vancouver’s David Booth in pursuit. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Nine games into what is quickly becoming the worst season in the Sabres’ 43-year history, the hapless team appears finished.
In Thursday’s feeble 3-0 loss to the Vancouver Canucks, the Sabres (1-7-1) showcased more of what makes them arguably the NHL’s worst team: terrible starts, a porous defense and no goal scoring.
So much for building on Tuesday’s 4-3 shootout triumph over the Islanders, the Sabres’ only win this season.
Where’s their frustration ... Read the full article
Cody McCormick skates Thursday. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Their paths never crossed last season. Hours before the Sabres promoted Ron Rolston from Rochester on Feb. 20, they waived Cody McCormick. As Rolston was starting his NHL career the next day, the gritty forward was beginning his first AHL stint since 2010.
But McCormick’s 28-game stay in Rochester didn’t signal the end of his Sabres career. In the summer, general manager Darcy Regier said the 30-year-old likely wouldn’t clear waivers again.... Read the full article