WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
Offseason Edition
Jason Spezza joined Dallas in the summer. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Right away, Lindy Ruff and Jason Spezza buried the hatchet. For years, as Ruff coached the Sabres and Spezza starred for the Ottawa Senators, the two were adversaries.
At the height of the fierce post-lockout Sabres-Senators rivalry, Ruff sent Adam Mair on the ice to jump Spezza, a move that helped ignite the infamous 2007 brawl between the teams after Chris Neil leveled Sabres co-captain Chris Drury.
Spezza, who was dealt to Ruff’s ... Read the full article
Nikita Zadorov earned regular duty earlier this season. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The Sabres will make one lineup change tonight against the Dallas Stars, inserting 19-year-old defenseman Nikita Zadorov for Andre Benoit.
Zadorov has struggled in recent weeks, becoming a healthy scratch after earning regular duty throughout November and December.
What does Sabres coach Ted Nolan want to see from the Russian?
“With a young defenseman, you just want to make sure you grab those young mistakes real quick, want to make sure they don’t ... Read the full article
Tyler Myers (57) missed today’s practice. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Relax, Sabres fans. Defenseman Tyler Myers, whose name is making the rounds in trade rumors with the March 2 deadline approaching, missed today’s practice inside HarborCenter for a maintenance day, coach Ted Nolan said. Ditto for Josh Gorges, Myers’ partner.
“They’ve been playing a lot of hockey lately,” Nolan said.
Both will play Saturday, Nolan said.
The Sabres could change goalies against Dallas. Michal Neuvirth, out last week after injuring his ankle during ... Read the full article
Steve Ott played two seasons in Buffalo. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – They’re still all over town. Go to a Sabres game, walk around the mall or do some grocery shopping, and you’ll inevitably see someone wearing a No. 9 Steve Ott Sabres jersey.
“Must’ve been on sale when I got traded or something,” Ott joked Thursday prior to the St. Louis Blues’ 3-0 win, his first game in Buffalo since the Sabres dealt him Feb. 28. “I don’t know. Maybe they were just giving ... Read the full article
Marcus Foligno (82) will miss his 18th straight game tonight. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Before Marcus Foligno broke his hand fighting Boston’s Matt Bartkowski on Dec. 21, the Sabres center was enjoying perhaps the best run of his young career.
Foligno had just been moved to the middle by Sabres coach Ted Nolan. He had a three-game goal streak during the team’s torrid run earlier in December.
Still, Foligno, who could return this weekend, doesn’t want a do-over. Bartkowski hit Sabres captain Brian Gionta high after ... Read the full article
Nikita Zadorov got stuck in the Dominican Repulblic. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
The Buffalo Sabres lifted defenseman Nikita Zadorov’s suspension when he returned to the team Wednesday. Still, the 19-year-old defenseman won’t play tonight against the Oilers.
The Sabres suspended Zadorov on Monday after his flight from the Dominican Republic got oversold, leaving him stuck following the NHL All-Star break.
The Russian missed Monday’s practice and the team’s flight to Calgary. He was scratched for Tuesday’s 4-1 loss to the Flames.
“Somebody does that, you just don’t ... Read the full article
Nikita Zadorov (51) will join the Sabres in Calgary. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – When the Sabres began their first post-NHL All-Star break practice Monday afternoon, Nikita Zadorov was absent.
Where was the 19-year-old defenseman? Apparently, stuck in the Dominican Republic.
The Sabres announced at 2:41 p.m. Monday they had suspended Zadorov after he failed to report back to the team on time following the break.
“What can you do?” coach Ted Nolan said after the Sabres practiced without Zadorov inside HarborCenter. “The travel conditions sometimes get ... Read the full article
Nikita Zadorov sat much of October. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The Sabres suspended Nikita Zadorov today after the 19-year-old defenseman failed to report back to the team on time following the NHL All-Star break.
“What can you do?” coach Ted Nolan said this afternoon after the Sabres practiced without Zadorov inside HarborCenter. “The travel conditions sometimes get in the way. That’s how it is.”
In a statement, general manager Tim Murray said Zadorov would join the team on its trip out west. Nolan ... Read the full article
Nikita Zadorov was late reporting back to the Sabres. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The Sabres suspended Nikita Zadorov today after the 19-year-old defenseman failed to report back to the team on time following the NHL All-Star break.
Zadorov isn’t on the ice this afternoon practicing at HarborCenter.
“We anticipate Nikita joining the team at some point during this week’s western road trip,” Sabres general manager Tim Murray said in a statement.
In other news, the Sabres have recalled goalie Matt Hackett from Rochester because Michal Neuvirth ... Read the full article
Philadelphia’s R.J. Umberger deflects the puck past Sabres goalie Michal Neuvirth on Saturday. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – If you’re a glass-is-half-full type, the Sabres did some good things in Saturday’s 4-3 defeat to a weak Philadelphia Flyers team, their 10th consecutive regulation loss.
For the first time in weeks, the Sabres started strongly and showcased a better effort early, taking the lead and dictating much of the play. When the Flyers went up 2-1, they tied it late in the second period. They even scored three goals for the ... Read the full article
