WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
January Edition
Jamie McGinn (88) has been perhaps the Sabres’ biggest surprise. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Don’t let four impressive wins in the last six games fool you. The Sabres still rank last in the Atlantic Division and 29th in the 30-team NHL.
Yes, they’ve improved greatly this season. Still, they’re 11 points out of the Eastern Conference’s last wild card spot entering tonight’s home tilt against the Detroit Red Wings inside the First Niagara Center.
The Sabres are going to miss the playoffs for the fifth straight ... Read the full article
John Scott (right) talks with the Sabres’ Nick Deslauriers on Dec. 4. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – There’s little middle ground when it comes to John Scott, the popular former Sabres tough guy whose election as an NHL All-Star captain has created an embarrassing episode for the league and left an eight-year veteran on an AHL roster in Newfoundland.
The 6-foot-8 Scott, one of the league’s last true enforcers, is a polarizing figure.
In Buffalo, where he played 90 games over two seasons, Scott is still a folk hero ... Read the full article
Marcus Foligno has been a noticeable presence recently. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – For perhaps the first time all season, enigmatic forwards Marcus Foligno and Johan Larsson are playing well at the same time, meaning the Sabres have finally started receiving some notable contributions from their third line.
For the last four games, Foligno, Larsson and captain Brian Gionta have been one of the Sabres’ strongest trios, contributing some much-needed offense and grit while often facing the opposition’s best.
Larsson, the center, skated a season-high 17 ... Read the full article
Jaromir Jagr played his first game in Buffalo more than 25 years ago. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Late Monday, around 10:30 or 11:30 p.m., as many of his Florida Panthers teammates were probably turning in for the night, 43-year-old Jaromir Jagr was allegedly inside the First Niagara Center working out.
“Our cameras caught him,” Sabres coach Dan Bylsma said Tuesday prior to Jagr’s 87th career appearance against Buffalo, a 5-1 Panthers win in which the Czech scored his 736th NHL goal.
As Jagr has grown older, his legend ... Read the full article
Robin Lehner hasn’t played since opening night. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Sabres goalie Robin Lehner and defenseman Mark Pysyk will begin AHL rehab assignments with the Rochester Americans later this week, coach Dan Bylsma said this morning.
The Amerks play three games in three days this weekend, so Lehner might start two of the three. Bylsma also said he would be with the team a week from Wednesday.
Lehner hasn’t played since suffering a high right ankle sprain Oct. 8, opening night. Pysyk, meanwhile, ... Read the full article
Sam Reinhart celebrates his tying goal Saturday afternoon. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Sabres winger Sam Reinhart doesn’t care how his tying power-play goal late in Saturday afternoon’s 4-3 loss to the Detroit Red Wings went in the net. The rookie only cares about scoring his first goal in 11 games.
Just before Detroit’s Tomas Nosek hit the puck into his own net 8:58 into the third period, Reinhart narrowly missed beating Petr Mrazek in front. Reinhart was credited with his ninth goal since he was ... Read the full article
Sabres defenseman Mike Weber (6) hounds New Jersey’s Joseph Blandisi earlier this season. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – When you sweat and bleed for an emblem for so long, Sabres defenseman Mike Weber said, it becomes a part of you.
Weber, 28, is the Sabres’ longest-tenured player by two full years. Having debuted Oct. 26, 2007, he has experienced all the highs and lows of the team’s recent tumultuous history.
The Pittsburgh native will proudly tell you he has grown up in the organization and how much he loves Buffalo.
“I ... Read the full article
John Scott played only his seventh game Friday. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The sight, of course, would be odd. Just imagine 6-foot-8 former Sabres tough guy John Scott, who has five goals in his eight-year career, competing against superstars like Alex Ovechkin and Steven Stamkos in the new three-on-three NHL All-Star Game format.
If fans keep casting online ballots for Scott, that could happen Jan. 31 in Nashville.
Right now, Scott, a healthy scratch 19 times with the Arizona Coyotes this season, is the ... Read the full article
Carlo Colaiacovo has earned some regular duty recently. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Having endured a string of injuries in his 20s that almost derailed his career, Sabres defenseman Carlo Colaiacovo understands what it’s like to nearly lose something you love so dearly.
That’s one reason why the affable veteran, who’s on his fourth team in four seasons and nearly went to Russia last year before an opportunity materialized in Philadelphia, is cherishing his time with the Sabres.
“To have been in the league for so ... Read the full article
Zach Bogosian has played five games this season. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Sabres defenseman Zach Bogosian and winger Evander Kane will be game-time decisions tonight against the Carolina Hurricanes inside the First Niagara Center, coach Dan Bylsma said this morning.
Bogosian is only five games into his season after missing two months with a lower-body injury. Kane, meanwhile, was questionable for Wednesday’s 3-2 loss to Nashville with a lower-body injury before scoring a goal.
Update: Kane is wearing a walking boot on his left foot.... Read the full article