Buffalo Hockey Beat - WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage

Sabres’ inability to score goals again dooms them in loss to Penguins

BUFFALO – Having dropped all four games of their recent road trip, the Sabres sealed their fate long before Thursday’s 4-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins.

While the Sabres haven’t officially been eliminated from the playoffs, they will earn their eighth straight DNQ in the coming weeks.

Barely two weeks ago, the Sabres’ slick offense helped them roar back into the playoff race. They scored 23 goals over a six-game stretch, winning five times.

They ... Read the full article

Former Sabre Evan Rodrigues knows why Penguins enjoy so much success

BUFFALO – In their first days with Pittsburgh, ex-Sabres Evan Rodrigues and Conor Sheary experienced more losing. The forwards joined the powerhouse Penguins during what would become their longest losing streak since the 2011-12 season.

Rodrigues quickly learned more than talent separates his new team, which won three Stanley Cups over a nine-year stretch, from the Sabres.

“They just have such a calming presence, there’s no real panic in the room,” Rodrigues said prior to ... Read the full article

Expect Sabres to evaluate over final month; Jonas Johansson to start in goal

BUFFALO – Face it, the Sabres are playing for pride. Their four-game losing streak has kicked them out of the playoff chase.

So expect them to evaluate and even experiment a bit over the final 16 games, starting tonight against the Pittsburgh Penguins at KeyBank Center.

That means rookie goalie Jonas Johansson will start tonight, his second nod in three games.

Under normal circumstances, goalie Carter Hutton would likely face the Penguins. The veteran has ... Read the full article

Former Sabres Conor Sheary, Evan Rodrigues fitting in with Penguins

BUFFALO – In a little less than two seasons with the Sabres, Conor Sheary rarely played beside top center Jack Eichel. Instead, the winger often shuffled between the second and third lines as he struggled to score goals.

But in the four games since the Sabres traded him back to the Pittsburgh Penguins with forward Evan Rodrigues on Feb. 24, Sheary has received a plum assignment, skating beside superstar Sidney Crosby.

Sheary has gone from ... Read the full article

Sabres at 50: Daniel Briere thought he would spend rest of career in Buffalo

BUFFALO – Daniel Briere couldn’t believe what he heard. The former co-captain knew the Sabres have endured some lean years. But he had no clue their postseason drought started so long ago.

“That was the last playoff round for the Sabres?” Briere asked incredulously when a reporter informed him the Sabres hadn’t made the postseason since 2011, the year his Philadelphia Flyers defeated them in the opening round. “Wow, I knew the last few years ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Victor Olofsson, Linus Ullmark return from injuries, practice

Winger Victor Olofsson and goalie Linus Ullmark both practiced today in Winnipeg, where the Buffalo Sabres close their four-game road trip Tuesday against the Jets.

Olofsson, one of the NHL’s top rookies, left Saturday’s 5-2 loss after his lower body became tangled with Coyotes forward Brad Richardson in front of the Arizona bench.

Sabres coach Ralph Krueger told reporters Olofsson will face the Jets.

“It looks like he felt good today and we’re really pleased,” ... Read the full article

Sabres rookie Victor Olofsson leaves loss to Coyotes with undisclosed injury

Buffalo Sabres winger Victor Olofsson left Saturday’s 5-2 road loss to the Arizona Coyotes after suffering an undisclosed injury in the second period.

Coach Ralph Krueger did not have an update on Olofsson, one of the NHL’s top rookies, following the Sabres’ third straight loss.

Krueger said the team will know more about the Swede’s injury today.

“We’ll evaluate exactly what the situation is,” Krueger told reporters in Arizona. “It was definitely a disappointing ... Read the full article

Sabres recall Lawrence Pilut, send John Gilmour to Amerks

The Buffalo Sabres swapped defensemen with the Rochester Americans today, recalling Lawrence Pilut and sending John Gilmour back to their AHL affiliate.

Pilut, 24, has compiled zero points in 11 NHL games this season. He has produced offensively with the Amerks, scoring six goals and 23 points in 37 outings.

The Swede has been shuttling between Buffalo and Rochester over the past several weeks.... Read the full article

Wayne Simmonds thrilled to join Sabres: ‘A perfect opportunity for me’

BUFFALO – Sabres newcomer Wayne Simmonds has a reached a critical point in his career. The 12-year veteran needs to play meaningful games. Staying another six weeks with the hapless New Jersey Devils wouldn’t have helped him much.

Simmonds, 31, has endured the worst season of his NHL career. Given his age and declining production – just eight goals in 61 games this season – he needs to demonstrate he still possesses the skills that ... Read the full article

Dominik Kahun excited to join Sabres: ‘I’m really, really happy’

BUFFALO – Dominik Kahun experienced an unconventional path to the NHL. In 2012, the Sabres forward left Germany for North America, hoping a stint in junior would help him get drafted. Two years later, he went home without a team.

“I came to the OHL, my goal was to get drafted and play in the NHL, but I didn’t get drafted there,” Kahun said on a conference call Tuesday.

So Kahun, who was acquired from ... Read the full article