Vanek - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Shellacking from Rangers eliminates Sabres from playoff contention

BUFFALO – Two goals in 57 seconds. The New York Rangers couldn’t score another before the first period ended Friday, right?

The Sabres would buckle down facing elimination. Besides, the Rangers scored on fluky deflections.

Still, the crowd of 19,003 fans inside the First Niagara Center needed to vent.

So the surly spectators gave goalie Ryan Miller a Bronx cheer after he stopped a dump-in as the final seconds ticked down. Miller then nearly whiffed ... Read the full article

Sabres know a loss to Rangers would likely end playoff hopes

BUFFALO – The Sabres have shattered the widespread belief they would finish a lost season meekly and perhaps contend for a lottery pick instead of making an unlikely run at the Eastern Conference’s final playoff spot.

In dealing captain Jason Pominville and two other respected veterans for draft picks and prospects prior to the April 3 trade deadline, general manager Darcy Regier openly talked about the future and shifting the focus to next season.

The ... Read the full article

Sabres moved by emotional moments in Boston

BUFFALO – The Sabres first talked about a postgame salute beside the Boston Bruins for fans inside the TD Garden prior to Wednesday’s emotional game, the city’s first major sporting event since the Boston Marathon bombings killed three people and injured 180 on Monday.

Sabres assistant captains Steve Ott, Drew Stafford and Thomas Vanek spoke with trainer Tim Macre and equipment manager Rip Simonick about a special tribute for the more than 17,000 spectators in ... Read the full article

Sabres will be cheering for Panthers

AMHERST – For one night at least, the Sabres will become huge Florida Panthers fans.

“Absolutely,” winger Steve Ott said following the 10^th-place Sabres’ short practice inside the Northtown Center. “We need help. With (teams ahead) having games in hand, we definitely need help.”

The NHL’s worst club faces the eighth-place Rangers tonight in New York, a tilt the Sabres desperately need the Blue Shirts to lose in regulation.

“Any opponent that’s playing ... Read the full article

Sabres planned postgame salute to honor Boston fans

AMHERST – The Buffalo Sabres first talked about a postgame salute beside the Boston Bruins for fans inside the TD Garden prior to Wednesday’s emotional game, the first major sporting event in the city since Monday’s Boston Marathon bombings killed three people and injured 180.

Sabres’ Ennis fine with move from center back to wing

BUFFALO – Make no mistake, Tyler Ennis enjoys being a left winger. The slick youngster skated there for parts of three seasons, including his entire 20-goal rookie campaign. If the Sabres possessed more scoring depth down the middle, then Ennis might’ve never switched to center.

Changing positions ignited the speedy Ennis late last season. With more room to maneuver, the 23-year-old racked up eight goals and 19 points over a rollicking 12-game stretch, ending ... Read the full article

Enroth and some luck push Sabres past Flyers

BUFFALO – Sure, the Sabres needed some good fortune to down the Philadelphia Flyers 1-0 on Saturday afternoon. Christian Ehrhoff’s pass off the end boards created the game’s only goal. Daniel Briere hit the crossbar behind Sabres goalie Jhonas Enroth with just a single tick left in the game.

Still, they deserved their 17^th win this season and first in three games. The Sabres, so vile during Thursday’s 5-1 home loss to Montreal, ... Read the full article

Sabres down to five defensemen after Tyler Myers’ season-ending leg injury

BUFFALO – With 2:17 left in the second period of Thursday’s dismal 5-1 loss to the Montreal Canadiens, Sabres defenseman Tyler Myers absorbed P.K. Subban’s wicked one-timer from the point with his leg.

After blocking the lethal shot, Myers hobbled off seconds later when the Canadiens converted their five-on-three power play.

The 23-year-old finished the game, though, skating 25:37, his third-highest total this season, while blocking a game-high four shots.

Following the contest, Myers found ... Read the full article

Amerks captain Matt Ellis transitioning from Sabres back to AHL

BUFFALO – Reminders of the Sabres’ recent roster overhaul are all over Matt Ellis’ Clarence neighborhood.

Each day, the hardworking forward drives by “For Sale” signs in front of the homes Jordan Leopold and Jason Pominville recently left. When Ellis picks up neighbor Cody McCormick, instead of going downtown, the teammates drive 75 miles down the thruway to Rochester, their new playing home.

“The only one left in our neighborhood is (Thomas Vanek),” Ellis, ... Read the full article

Desperate Sabres have played Canadiens well

BUFFALO – The clock is ticking loudly again on the Sabres’ lost season. With eight games left, the 11^th-place club, which hosts the Montreal Canadiens tonight, is six points behind the eighth-place New York Rangers in the Eastern Conference playoff chase.

After three straight wins, the Sabres fell 4-1 Tuesday in Winnipeg. Incredibly, they’re 2-9-2 against the feeble Southeast Division, by far the NHL’s worst group of teams.

The Sabres have beaten the ... Read the full article