Buffalo Hockey Beat - WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage

Former Sabres captain Brian Gionta excited to represent Team USA

BUFFALO – Before Brian Gionta caught his afternoon flight to Germany to represent Team USA at the Deutschland Cup, the former Sabres captain wanted one last on-ice workout.

Since Gionta couldn’t make it to Rochester, where he has been practicing with the AHL Americans, he called Matt Ellis, his friend and former Sabres teammate.

So for an hour Monday inside HarborCenter, Ellis and Nick Tuzzolino, two coaches at the Academy of Hockey, put Gionta, ... Read the full article

Sabres recall Zach Redmond for hobbled Matt Tennyson

BUFFALO – For four seasons, Sabres defenseman Zach Redmond shuttled between the St. John’s IceCaps and the NHL, first as a Winnipeg Jets prospect and later as a Montreal Canadiens depth veteran.

When the NHL called, Redmond, 29, couldn’t simply drive an hour or so down the thruway. Winnipeg, for example, is about 3,000 miles away. Redmond had limited flights to chose from and sometimes a five- or six-hour travel time from Newfoundland.... Read the full article

Phil Housley complimentary, critical of Sabres in opening month

BUFFALO – Instead of tearing into the Sabres following Saturday’s embarrassing 5-1 loss in Dallas, to the shock of some observers, coach Phil Housley praised his struggling team.

“When I evaluate the game, I think we played well,” Housley told reporters. “The score tells you differently and there’s probably going to be a lot of people that disagree with me. But I think we got the start that we wanted.”... Read the full article

Sabres’ Nick Baptiste likely to make season debut Tuesday

BUFFALO – After failing to earn a significant look during NHL training camp, Sabres prospect Nick Baptiste started his AHL season slowly, going pointless in his first five outings.

Finally, Baptiste, who potted 25 goals in 59 AHL contests last season, scored in his sixth game. The winger followed up by scoring twice in the final 2:25 of the Rochester Americans’ 4-3 come-from-behind overtime win against the Laval Rocket on Oct. 27.... Read the full article

Sabres’ Rasmus Ristolainen out tonight

Rasmus Ristolainen will miss tonight’s road tilt against the Dallas Stars with an upper-body injury, meaning four of the Buffalo Sabres’ top defensemen are now injured.

Ristolainen, the NHL’s leader in ice time with 27 minutes, 10 seconds a game, is day-to-day, Sabres coach Phil Housley told reporters in Dallas. The Finn was hurt in Thursday’s 5-4 road win against the Arizona Coyotes.... Read the full article

Jack Eichel line producing most of Sabres’ offense

BUFFALO – In their first weeks as Sabres linemates, Jack Eichel, Evander Kane and Jason Pominville have quickly morphed into one of the NHL’s most lethal trios.

Each player has a team-leading 12 points. Kane and Pominville both have a team-high six goals, while Eichel, whose eight assists tops the Sabres, has four goals.

“They have a big impact on our team,” Sabres coach Phil Housley said Wednesday.... Read the full article

Sabres recall Nick Baptiste for injured Justin Bailey

BUFFALO – With winger Justin Bailey day-to-day with a lower-body injury, the Sabres recalled Nick Baptiste this morning so they have an extra forward.

Bailey, who missed today’s practice inside HarborCenter, could play Thursday in Arizona, Sabres coach Phil Housley said.

“We want to keep him off the ice,” Housley said before the Sabres departed for their two-game road trip.... Read the full article

Sabres’ Kyle Okposo slowly finding game

BUFFALO – In good and bad times, Kyle Okposo tries to evaluate his game objectively. Of course, assessing yourself can be difficult, even emotional, but the Sabres winger believes he’s honest with himself.

“I expect a lot out of myself,” Okposo said Tuesday inside KeyBank Center. “I expect more. I expect myself to be at my best all the time. Is it going to happen? No. But you have to expect greatness and can’t ... Read the full article

Phil Housley believes Sabres can look at Bills’ success

BUFFALO – Phil Housley became a Buffalo Bills fan during his eight years playing here, so he has been keeping tabs on them during his first two months coaching the Sabres.

Right now, the 5-2 Bills are perhaps the NFL’s biggest surprise. To Housley, their success is no fluke. He keeps noticing a trend when the upstart team is discussed on television.

“What is the one thing they’re talking about the Buffalo Bills?” Housley said ... Read the full article

Defense injuries give Sabres’ Matt Tennyson opportunity

BUFFALO – As a depth defenseman for four seasons, Sabres newcomer Matt Tennyson often played sparingly during his frequent recalls to the NHL.

In a career-high 45 games with the Carolina Hurricanes a year ago, Tennyson, 27, hit the 18-minute mark once.

But these days, Tennyson is one of coach Phil Housley’s most trusted defensemen. In Saturday afternoon’s 3-2 loss to the San Jose Sharks, Tennyson played just over 21 minutes, his highest total since ... Read the full article