Buffalo Hockey Beat - WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage

Sabres want gritty Zenon Konopka to be role model for youngsters

BUFFALO – Zenon Konopka isn’t joining the Sabres just for his grittiness and supreme faceoff skills. In the 33-year-old center, a ferocious fighter, the team also possesses a hardworking veteran the youngsters can look up to.

“Those type of guys are really good role models for the younger players,” interim coach Ted Nolan said this afternoon inside the First Niagara Center shortly after the Sabres claimed Konopka on waivers. “They last that long because they ... Read the full article

Report: Sabres claim Zenon Konopka off waivers from Wild

BUFFALO – The Sabres have claimed gritty center Zenon Konopka off waivers from the Minnesota Wild, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune’s Michael Russo.

The 33-year-old, a native of nearby Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont., is a rare mix of grit and skill, fighting regularly and annually ranking among the NHL’s faceoff leaders.

Konopka, 6-feet and 213 pounds, has 12 goals, 29 points, 1,049 penalty minutes and a minus-45 rating in 323 NHL games. He has one goal, ... Read the full article

Drew Stafford could be sidelined ‘little while;’ Sabres have limited options to fill forward void

Winger Drew Stafford suffered an upper body injury early in Thursday’s wretched 4-1 loss to the Wild could be sidelined “a little while,” interim Buffalo Sabres coach Ted Nolan said.

“I’m not 100 percent sure,” Nolan told reporters in Minnesota. “But it’s not a day-to-day thing.”

That means the Sabres, who only had 12 healthy forwards, have to find add another one.

But where do they get one? They already recalled three recently.

Veterans Jamie ... Read the full article

Best Sabres photos of 2013: Lindy Ruff returns to Buffalo

Over the next few days, ace photographer Dan Hickling will be sharing and talking about some of his favorite shots from 2013.

Take it away, Dan …

When Lindy Ruff brought his Dallas Stars into Buffalo back on Oct. 28, it evoked a whole lot of memories. Some even felt that bringing a former Sabres coach back to the Buffalo bench would be a fine idea. (Little did anyone know that two weeks later, ... Read the full article

Sabres goalie Ryan Miller named to Team USA’s Olympic squad

Not surprisingly, Team USA today named Buffalo Sabres goalie Ryan Miller to its Olympic roster for the upcoming Sochi Games.

It’s very likely the 33-year-old, who became a national hero while backstopping the Americans to a silver medal in 2010, will start.

Miller has performed splendidly for the struggling Sabres this trying season, posting a 2.69 goals-against average and .927 save percentage in 28 games despite facing 1,023 shots, the NHL’s second-highest total.

Detroit’s Jimmy ... Read the full article

Sabres recall Johan Larsson and Brayden McNabb from Amerks

The Buffalo Sabres have recalled forward Johan Larsson and defenseman Brayden McNabb from the Rochester Americans.

Injuries to center Ville Leino (lower body) and defenseman Henrik Tallinder (upper body) briefly left the Sabres with no extra players on their road trip. They play Thursday in Minnesota against the Wild.

Larsson has one assist and 18 penalty minutes in 18 NHL games this season. The Sabres sent the 22-year-old to the Amerks following a one-game recall ... Read the full article

Best Sabres photos of 2013: Big John Scott up close

Over the next few days, ace photographer Dan Hickling will be sharing and talking about some of his favorite shots from 2013.

Take it away, Dan …

Love him or hate him, no one is neutral about Sabres tough guy John Scott. Consigned to thug duty under former coach Ron Rolston, the big man has blossomed (to a degree) under Ted Nolan. He will never be mistaken for a dangler, but Scott is ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Henrik Tallinder out 1-2 weeks with upper-body injury

Buffalo Sabres defenseman Henrik Tallinder will be sidelined a week or two after suffering an upper-body injury, interim coach Ted Nolan told reporters today in Winnipeg.

Nolan said a “mishap,” believed to be a hit, hurt the 34-year-old in Sunday’s 2-1 shootout win against Washington.

Still, the veteran skated 21:05 in the game and practiced Monday.

“He thought he was good,” Nolan said.

Tallinder, who stayed in Buffalo, has been playing more than ... Read the full article

Best Sabres photos of 2013: Mikhail Grigorenko’s first NHL goal

Over the next few days, ace photographer Dan Hickling will be sharing and talking about some of his favorite shots from 2013.

Take it away, Dan …

Mikhail Grigorenko’s rookie season was dismal by every measure, except for one. Goal celebration. The highly skilled Sabres’ first-rounder of 2013 (12th overall) scored just once during the truncated lockout season — Jan. 29 on a backhander against Toronto goalie James Reimer. But he didn’t get cheated on ... Read the full article

Sabres goalie Ryan Miller to rest, happy with Jhonas Enroth playing regularly

BUFFALO – Sabres goalie Ryan Miller will take a well-deserved break tonight in Winnipeg, giving way to backup Jhonas Enroth for the 13^th time this season.

Miller, fresh off a career-best 49-save effort in Sunday’s 2-1 shootout triumph against Washington, is fine with sitting. The Sabres, like all NHL teams, have a loaded schedule this Olympic campaign.

Their tilt against the Jets, the start of a two-game road trip, begins a stretch of 19 ... Read the full article