WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
Stanley Cup Playoffs Edition
Zach Bogosian has regulary been a healthy scratch. ©2020, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – The Sabres placed defenseman Zach Bogosian, a healthy scratch eight of the last nine games, on waivers today.
Bogosian, 29, has become a spare part this season, sitting out 17 of the last 26 games. When the Sabres benched him for the first time Dec. 12, a report quickly surfaced he had requested a trade.
He hasn’t played since struggling in the Sabres’ 6-1 loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Feb. ... Read the full article
Jack Eichel and the Sabres mobbed Victor Olofsson following Thursday’s overtime goal. ©2020, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – After missing six weeks of action, Sabres winger Victor Olofsson needed some time to adjust.
For the first two periods of Thursday’s 4-3 overtime win against the Columbus Blue Jackets, the Swedish rookie generated little offense.
“I got a little rust in my game there,” Olofsson said after scoring two goals, including the winner 2:44 into overtime.
By the end of Thursday’s thrilling come-from-behind victory, Olofsson kept showcasing the talents – his quick ... Read the full article
Jason Pominville talks to the media before Thursday’s game. ©2020, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Popular former Sabres captain Jason Pominville recently told some friends he would love to help out their beer league team if they ever needed a player to fill in.
“They’re like, ‘You’re in full time!’” Pominville said prior to Thursday’s 4-3 overtime win against the Columbus Blue Jackets inside KeyBank Center.
So Pominville, who scored 16 goals in 73 games for the Sabres last season, plays hockey once a week at the ... Read the full article
Victor Olofsson has missed the last 15 games. ©2020, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Sabres wingers Victor Olofsson and Kyle Okposo will return from their injuries tonight against the Columbus Blue Jackets, coach Ralph Krueger said.
A lower-body injury has sidelined Olofsson, one of the NHL’s top rookies, the last 15 games. Meanwhile, an upper-body injury has shelved Okposo the past six games.
In other lineup news, an upper-body injury will sideline forward Marcus Johansson tonight. Krueger said Johansson is day-to-day.... Read the full article
Colin Miller has regulary been a healthy scratch this season. ©2020, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – For the first time in three months, Sabres defenseman Colin Miller has developed some rhythm, playing eight straight games.
In mid-November, the Sabres started scratching their biggest offseason acquisition, and he sat out 16 of the next 32 games, never playing more than four straight contests.
Following two terrific seasons with the Vegas Golden Knights, Miller has adjusted to the Sabres’ system slowly.
But Miller, 27, has been performing better since the NHL ... Read the full article
Victor Olofsson was injured Jan. 2. ©2020, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – When Sabres winger Victor Olofsson started practicing again Saturday, coach Ralph Krueger said the rookie might need another week before he could play.
But Olofsson went full tilt this afternoon, taking reps in his normal spots beside captain Jack Eichel and Sam Reinhart and down low on the power play.
Meanwhile, Kyle Okposo, who returned for Tuesday’s morning skate, practiced in his regular spot at right wing with center Johan Larsson and ... Read the full article
Brandon Montour (62) tries to help goalie Carter Hutton on Tuesday. ©2020, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Suddenly, goalie Carter Hutton has morphed into a difference-maker again, helping the Sabres secure tight games by making clutch stops in the waning minutes.
Hutton struggled for months, losing the No. 1 job and 13 straight starts. Before Linus Ullmark suffered a lower-body injury, he had become a spare part, only playing when the Sabres had back-to-back games.
But in the last week, Hutton, 34, has began showcasing the early-season form that helped ... Read the full article
The Sabres recalled Scott Wilson last week. ©2020, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Earlier in his career, Sabres winger Scott Wilson said he would often run around on the ice, a style that sapped his energy and took him out of plays.
Wilson, 27, realized he needed to embrace a simpler way.
“Being physical when I can but not running around like an idiot,” Wilson said after the turnover he helped create led to center Johan Larsson’s goal in Sunday afternoon’s 3-2 loss to the Anaheim ... Read the full article
Kyle Okposo has missed five games. ©2020, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – On Feb. 1, winger Kyle Okposo was cross-checked during his first shift in the Sabres’ 2-1 overtime win against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
“Something broke,” Okposo said after skating with his teammates this morning for the first time since leaving the lineup.
Still, Okposo, 31, tried gutting out what he called “a freak injury” for the rest of the period.
“I knew it wasn’t good,” he said of the upper-body injury. “I tried ... Read the full article
Jack Eichel played more than 28 minutes last game. ©2020, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – After skating a career-high 28 minutes, 22 seconds in Sunday afternoon’s 3-2 loss to the Anaheim Ducks, Sabres captain Jack Eichel ranks second among NHL forwards in ice time, trailing only Edmonton Oilers superstar Leon Draisaitl.
Through 55 appearances, Eichel has averaged a whopping 22:08 – 18 seconds less than Draisaitl.
With very few scoring options at his disposal, Sabres coach Ralph Krueger has been running Eichel ragged, skating him at least 20 ... Read the full article