WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
Stanley Cup Playoffs Edition
Drew Stafford (left) and Cody Hodgson celebrate the Sabres’ only goal Sunday. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Just under eight minutes into the Sabres’ 3-1 loss Sunday, winger Drew Stafford created one of the struggling team’s few highlight-reel goals this season by stealing the puck from Detroit’s Darren Helm above the left circle and dishing to an open Cody Hodgson in the slot.
The center then waited for Jonas Gustavsson to go down before tucking the puck past the outstretched goalie.
It was only the Sabres’ 41st goal in ... Read the full article
Mikhail Grigorenko has been taking a regular shift. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Anybody will notice 19-year-old center Mikhail Grigorenko’s skill set, interim Sabres coach Ted Nolan said.
“He sees the ice very well,” Nolan said this afternoon following practice inside the First Niagara Center. “He’s a big man. He has a tremendous shot.”
But Nolan also sees “a young kid” within all that talent.
“A young kid that’s finding his way,” he noted.
That’s why Nolan’s exercising patience with the rookie, who’s pointless in two ... Read the full article
Henrik Tallinder believes the Sabres have been “jumping on the train a little bit more” with Ted Nolan. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The Sabres’ emotional 3-1 victory in Ted Nolan’s debut as interim coach Nov. 15 is starting to feel like a distant memory.
Yes, the Sabres have been showcasing a better compete level at times. Yes, they’re starting games much better.
But the bottom-feeding club has been outscored 15-5 in four straight losses since beating Toronto. The Sabres, who have an NHL-low five wins and 11 points, are still really bad.
“I really liked ... Read the full article
Terry Pegula paid $189 million for the Sabres in 2011. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The Sabres’ awful on-ice performance hasn’t hurt the team’s value.
Forbes’ annual list of NHL franchise values pegs the Sabres worth $250 million, 22nd in the league. The Sabres ranked 22nd last year at $175 million.
Sabres owner Terry Pegula paid $189 million for the team in 2011.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are the NHL’s most valuable team at $1.15 billion. The Columbus Blue Jackets are the least valuable at ... Read the full article
Ted Nolan has his hands full fixing the Sabres. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The Sabres’ emotional 3-1 victory in Ted Nolan’s debut as interim coach Nov. 15 is starting to feel like a distant memory.
Yes, the Sabres have been showcasing a better compete level at times. Yes, they’re starting games much better.
But the bottom-feeding club has been outscored 15-5 in four straight losses since beating Toronto. The Sabres are still really bad.
“I really liked the emotion of the first game, and everyone was ... Read the full article
Ryan Miller (30) battles his brother, Detroit’s Drew Miller, Sunday. The Sabres debuted their new third jerseys. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The reeling Detroit Red Wings limped into a town Sunday a beaten up and tired bunch ripe to be exploited. They left galvanized by only their second win in 10 games, a tight 3-1 triumph against the rested Sabres in a dull, low-chance affair.
Playing without three regulars, including star Pavel Datsyuk, the Wings fell behind early before scoring the go-ahead goal 11:43 into the third period inside the First Niagara Center.
So ... Read the full article
Mark Pysyk returned Sunday after a one-game absence. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The Sabres switched their lineup for Sunday’s 3-1 loss to the Detroit Red Wings, sitting three players interim coach Ted Nolan dressed last game.
Defenseman Mark Pysyk, a surprise scratch for Thursday’s 4-1 loss in Philadelphia, returned. Nolan sat the rookie, one of the Sabres’ few bright spots this season, so he could evaluate other players.
“We only have a limited amount of time to see everybody, and I mentioned to him ... Read the full article
Mark Pysyk sat Thursday. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The Sabres are changing up their lineup for this afternoon’s tilt against the Detroit Red Wings, sitting three players interim coach Ted Nolan dressed last game.
Defenseman Mark Pysyk, a surprise scratch for Thursday’s 4-1 loss in Philadelphia, will return. Nolan sat the rookie, one of the Sabres’ few bright spots this season, so he could evaluate other players.
“We only have a limited amount of time to see everybody, and I mentioned ... Read the full article
Tyler Myers, who said he likes where his “game’s going,” was smiling Saturday. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Tyler Myers needed some advice. Just four games into the season, the struggling Sabres defenseman had already compiled a wretched minus-7 rating. He was starting to lose ice time.
For all the preseason hubbub over his productive summer, the 23-year-old hadn’t showcased any improvements in his wobbly game.
So following his minus-3 performance in the Sabres’ 4-1 loss to Columbus on Oct. 10, Myers reached out to Jim Corsi, the goalie coach... Read the full article
The Riverside Ice Rink was so cold Saturday that Ryan Miller could see his breath. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – As a 29-year-old veteran of 107 NHL games, defenseman Alexander Sulzer gives the struggling Sabres some much-needed stability, interim coach Ted Nolan said.
“We’re running around the defensive zone a little bit too much,” Nolan said Saturday after the Sabres prepared for this afternoon’s game against the Detroit Red Wings inside the First Niagara Center.
That’s why Nolan and Pat LaFontaine, the president of hockey operations, watched Sulzer play Friday in Rochester. The ... Read the full article