WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
Calder Cup Playoffs Edition
Casey Nelson struggled in limited action. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Had Taylor Fedun been healthy enough to participate in training camp, then perhaps the Sabres would’ve recalled the defenseman earlier this season.
But Fedun, who will make his Sabres debut tonight, fractured his foot in April. He didn’t skate again until the day before training camp started, coach Dan Bylsma said.
After finally joining Sabres practices Oct. 1, Fedun said he was still behind a week or two following his assignment Rochester Americans ... Read the full article
Dan Bylsma will coach his 500th NHL game tonight. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – When did we see this type of stretch from the Sabres – lots of dull, tight games they inevitably lose – before?
About three weeks ago, shortly after the season started, when they dropped four straight contests. After a brief turnaround, the Sabres are experiencing a similarly dreadful run entering tonight’s tilt against the Tampa Bay Lightning, the start of a four-game home stand at KeyBank Center.
Having lost five straight games (0-3-2), ... Read the full article
Ryan O’Reilly has missed two games. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Top Sabres center Ryan O’Reilly, out the last two games with a “mid-body” injury, is questionable for Thursday’s home tilt against Tampa Bay, coach Dan Bylsma said.
O’Reilly, who’s day-to-day, skated this morning on his own and is “progressing,” Bylsma said.
The Sabres held a team meeting today instead of practicing following Tuesday’s 4-1 loss in St. Louis, their fifth straight setback (0-3-2).
The 5-7-4 Sabres have six one-goal losses. In some ... Read the full article
Kyle Okposo is one of the few Sabres producing. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – With a slew of established, high-priced forwards and two talented youngsters poised to break out following terrific rookie seasons, the days of the Sabres owning one of the NHL’s worst offenses appeared to be over.
But 15 games into another tough season, the Sabres have scored only 29 goals, a paltry 1.93 a contest, the league’s worst figure entering tonight’s road tilt against the St. Louis Blues.
The Sabres have scored two or ... Read the full article
Dmitry Kulikov (77) battles Florida’s Aaron Ekblad on Oct. 29. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Some quick updates from HarborCenter, where the Sabres practiced about an hour this morning before flying to St. Louis:
– The Sabres plan to recall some players before Tuesday’s road tilt against the Blues. Only 17 players – 10 forwards, five defensemen and two goalies – practiced today.
They need a defenseman and at least one forward. Defenseman Dmitry Kulikov (undisclosed injury) missed today’s practice and will miss his third straight game Tuesday, ... Read the full article
Nick Baptiste scored two goals hours after getting sent down. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The Sabres sent wingers Nick Baptiste and Cole Schneider and defenseman Justin Falk back to the AHL today.
Hours after playing in the Sabres’ 4-2 road loss Saturday in New Jersey, all three skated in the Rochester Americans’ 3-2 road win against the Springfield Thunderbirds this afternoon.
Baptiste scored two goals, upping his AHL season total to five goals and seven points in six games.
The Sabres, who have been dealing with injuries ... Read the full article
Anders Nilsson makes one of his 41 saves Friday. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The Sabres have lost a lot of games in the past three-plus seasons – 176, to be exact – so they’ve experienced about every kind of defeat imaginable.
So, yes, an overtime penalty shot has victimized them.
But a high-scoring forward scored that goal on the road. How about a defenseman with 37 goals in 11 seasons doing that on your home ice?
That happened in Friday’s 2-1 loss to the New Jersey ... Read the full article
Derek Grant has been strong in the faceoff circle. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Derek Grant’s rather unimpressive stat line – zero goals and just one assist through 14 games – doesn’t tell the whole story. At first glance, it appears the Sabres’ fourth-line center has endured a rough month.
After all, Grant, 26, was the Sabres’ best player throughout training camp, helping him vault from a depth player likely ticketed for the AHL into regular NHL duty.
“He adds more to our team than scoring ... Read the full article
Justin Falk spent part of last season in Columbus. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Down one day, up the next. Repeat for six months. For the last three seasons, Sabres newcomer Justin Falk has served as a depth defenseman for three organizations, constantly shuttling between the NHL and AHL.
“Over the last two or three years I’ve hopped back and forth quite a bit,” Falk, 28, said after the Sabres recalled him this morning. “Just another day for me to go about my business. It’s just a ... Read the full article
Robin Lehner has looked like a No. 1 goalie all season. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Sabres goalie Robin Lehner grabbed the new mask he plans to debut for Military Appreciation Night, showed the soldiers and camouflage painted on the front and then turned it around.
At the bottom of the back plate, the Swede had “Trump” painted on with a small picture of the President-Elect.
“Got a little support for my man Trump here,” Lehner said Thursday after the Sabres prepared for tonight’s tilt against the New Jersey ... Read the full article
