WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
January Edition
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
Lindy Ruff spoke to the media Friday. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Lindy Ruff tried watching the Sabres’ 3-1 loss Thursday in Toronto. He lasted one period. The team’s former coach found the experience “incredibly strange.”
“I turned it off,” Ruff said Friday inside the First Niagara Center, his first comments since the Sabres’ 6-10-1 start led to his dismissal Wednesday after 15 seasons as coach. “It was something I wanted to but I couldn’t.”
Ruff was emotional, thoughtful and even funny while speaking ... Read the full article
Lindy Ruff’s biggest regret was not winning a Stanley Cup for owner Terry Pegula. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – When Darcy Regier knocked on Lindy Ruff’s door Wednesday afternoon, the Sabres general manager didn’t have to say a word.
Ruff knew his 15 seasons as Sabres coach had ended.
“I saw him, I said, ‘I know,’” Ruff said this morning inside the First Niagara Center, his first comments since getting fired. “I said, ‘Don’t say you’re sorry.’ I said, ‘You’ve been my biggest backer all these years.’”
Ruff thanked a long list ... 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
Thomas Vanek said this afternoon he keeps “waiting for Lindy to come back.” ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
TORONTO – A day later, Lindy Ruff’s dismissal as coach of the Buffalo Sabres after 15 seasons still hadn’t sunk in for some of his former players. For 13 current Sabres, Ruff was the only NHL coach they had even known before Ron Rolston took over on an interim basis Wednesday.
Ruff’s firing following the Sabres’ terrible 6-10-1 start stunned them. He had just led a 90-minute practice. But when Ruff boarded the team bus ... Read the full article
Christian Ehrhoff isn’t practicing today. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Defenseman Christian Ehrhoff and center Tyler Ennis are missing from Sabres practice this afternoon inside the First Niagara Center. Stay tuned for an update later. Ehrhoff blocked a shot with his chest Sunday.
In addition, forward Cody McCormick, who’s practicing, is on waivers today, according to TSN’s Bob McKenzie.
Fresh off Tuesday’s wretched 2-1 loss to Winnipeg, today could an interesting day.
Here are today’s lines from left to right:
Thomas Vanek, Cody ... Read the full article
Jordan Leopold skates this morning. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Jordan Leopold walked into the dressing room following a long skate this morning, began taking off his equipment and noticed a few reporters waiting to chat with him.
The struggling defenseman was the last player off the ice for a reason.
“You guys smell blood or what?” joked Leopold, who will sit as a healthy scratch tonight against the Winnipeg Jets inside the First Niagara Center.
Leopold, a team-worst minus-7, has never been ... Read the full article
Christian Ehrhoff joined the Sabres in 2011 amid much hype. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Charlie Sheen’s a baseball guy, you know. He starred in two “Major League” movies as pitcher Rick “Wild Thing” Vaughn and played centerfielder Happy Felsch in “Eight Men Out,” the story of the 1919 Chicago Black Sox.
The bad-boy actor has never hidden his affection for America’s pastime. He once bought all the outfield seats in Anaheim to try to grab a home run ball from an Angels game.
But what does he ... Read the full article
Ryan Miller makes a lunging save off the stick of James Neal (not pictured) during the third period Sunday. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Ten minutes after the Sabres’ disappointing 4-3 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Sunday afternoon, a seething Ryan Miller stomped into the dressing room, crossed his arms and faced a throng of reporters and cameras.
The Sabres had just a blown 3-2 third-period lead after falling behind 2-0 only 87 seconds into the tilt.
Miller’s lip quivered as he cursed, sighed and vented his frustrations following the Sabres’ sixth loss in nine games.... Read the full article