Weber - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Injuries still ravaging Sabres; Goalie Nathan Lieuwen out with concussion

BUFFALO – There is some good news. The Sabres could have three injured players back Tuesday against Detroit. Of course, 13 players – yes, a stunning 13 – are hurt right now.

Incredibly, the Sabres suffered three more injuries in the third period of Sunday’s 5-2 loss in Philadelphia.

– Goalie Nathan Lieuwen, who has a disturbing history of concussions, suffered another one, coach Ted Nolan said. Philadelphia’s Jay Rosehill possibly hit the rookie ... Read the full article

Sabres rookie Jake McCabe ready for NHL debut

Buffalo Sabres rookie Jake McCabe knows he’ll feel more nerves tonight during his NHL debut tonight in St. Louis against the Blues.

“Even out in the pregame skate, I’m sure my heart rate was getting up there, for sure,” the defenseman told reporters this afternoon in St. Louis. “This is a whole new level.”

The 20-year-old, the 44^th overall pick in 2012, played three NCAA seasons before signing a three-year, entry level contract ... Read the full article

Sabres goalie Matt Hackett still confident he can grab top job

BUFFALO – Nothing has changed, Matt Hackett said. Forget that he was enduring a terrible season in Rochester before injuries forced his recall. Forget that general manager Tim Murray recently said the Sabres’ goalie of the future likely wasn’t in the organization.

Hackett, a key piece of April’s Jason Pominville trade with the Wild, hasn’t lost much confidence. The 24-year-old still believes he can become the team’s No. 1 netminder, a coveted spot that’s up ... Read the full article

Injury to Sabres goalie Jhonas Enroth forces Nathan Lieuwen to make NHL debut in loss to Canadiens

BUFFALO – Fresh off two weekend appearances with Rochester, goalie Nathan Lieuwen learned early Sunday he had earned his first recall to the Sabres.

Newcomer Michal Neuvirth was injured, so the 22-year-old would be backing up Jhonas Enroth inside the First Niagara Center.

“I was shocked. I was nervous. Everything,” a smiling Lieuwen said after stopping all 10 shots he faced in his NHL debut, a 2-0 loss to the Montreal Canadiens. “I couldn’t stop ... Read the full article

Sabres’ blockbuster trade rocked dressing room before game

BUFFALO – It was a normal Sabres game night. Players were preparing for their warm-up Friday. Ted Nolan had held pregame his meeting and talked about his plan for the San Jose Sharks.

Then the interim coach saw Joe Battista, the team’s vice president of hockey-related business, coming around the corner.

Battista informed Nolan that goalie Ryan Miller, the scheduled starter, shouldn’t go out for the warm-up.

“I think we got a deal for him,” ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Mike Weber confident he’s playing well despite NHL-worst rating

BUFFALO – Mike Weber knows the number looks terrible. In 43 games this season, the gritty Sabres defenseman has accumulated a stunning minus-32, the NHL’s 824th and worst rating.

In what was supposed to be his breakout campaign, Weber has become one of the fans’ whipping boys during the worst season in franchise history.

But Weber believes his big minus rating is a bit misleading.

As a defensive defender, the 26-year-old’s never going to ... Read the full article

Sabres wish goalie Ryan Miller could’ve played more at Olympics

BUFFALO – In what was very likely his final Olympics, Sabres goalie Ryan Miller made just one appearance, coming within 17 seconds of blanking Slovenia in Team USA’s 5-1 win Sunday.

Would things have gone much differently for the Americans, who lost today’s bronze medal game 5-0 to Finland, if Miller had played?

Probably not. Los Angeles’ Jonathan Quick won his first three starts at the Sochi Games before Friday’s 1-0 loss to Canada.... Read the full article

Reeling Sabres blown out by Penguins, can’t help goalie Ryan Miller

BUFFALO – Wednesday wasn’t an Olympic audition for goalie Ryan Miller, Pittsburgh coach Dan Bylsma said hours before his potent Penguins throttled the hapless Sabres 5-1. He’s judging Miller on his body of work, not one game.

Bylsma, Team USA’s coach for the upcoming Sochi Games, knows what most NHL observers know: Miller’s played splendidly most of the season under the most trying of circumstances.

The Sabres’ third straight loss illustrated that. Once ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Ted Nolan relieved Tyler Myers won’t be sidelined long

BUFFALO – Interim Sabres coach Ted Nolan said defenseman Tyler Myers is day-to-day and “a lot better than we thought” after a lower-body injury forced him out of Monday’s 3-2 loss to Edmonton.

Myers could play tonight against the Pittsburgh Penguins inside the First Niagara Center.

Naturally, Nolan, who said Myers “was moving around real good” Tuesday, is relieved

“Some guys get banged up,” he said. “But he looked like he was hurt (Monday) night.”... Read the full article

Sabres’ Ryan Miller hasn’t talked to management much about future

BUFFALO – Days before he heads to the Sochi Games and just one month from the NHL trade deadline, goalie Ryan Miller said today he hasn’t discussed his future much with the Sabres’ new regime.

“Still don’t know what to say,” Miller, an unrestricted free agent following the season, said inside the First Niagara Center. “There’s been a change here. There was a change here before. So it’s like waiting to see what the plan ... Read the full article