WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
Spring Edition
Ryan Miller lost a shutout with 1:42 left in the game Monday. ©2013. Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – In his 462-game career, Sabres goalie Ryan Miller has 28 shutouts. That’s one every 16.5 games, or an average of four per full season.
But how many more shutouts could Miller have?
When the Maple Leafs’ Nazem Kadri scored with 1:42 left in the Sabres’ 2-1 win Monday in Toronto, it was the seventh time had Miller lost a shutout with three minutes or less left in the game, according to a local ... Read the full article
Jason Pominville (front) and Thomas Vanek began skating together regularly last season. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Early in the second period of the Sabres’ 2-1 win Monday, Thomas Vanek knocked Nikolai Kulemin down in his own zone, grabbed the loose puck and zoomed down the left wing into Toronto territory on a three-on-two break.
Vanek then laid a perfect pass over to Jason Pominville, almost without looking, as he stopped at the top of the left circle. Cody Hodgson, meanwhile, was roaring to the crease with a ... Read the full article
Nathan Gerbe practiced with Mikhail Grigorenko and Steve Ott on Wednesday. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – While Nathan Gerbe still had to be cleared to play Wednesday, it appears the feisty Sabres winger could make his season debut tonight in Carolina after undergoing offseason spine surgery.
Gerbe skated on the wing Wednesday beside 18-year-old rookie Mikhail Grigorenko and Steve Ott, his first action on a regular line this year.
“We’ll see where he’s at (today),” Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said following practice inside the First Niagara Center.
Gerbe underwent ... Read the full article
Nathan Gerbe could make his season debut Thursday. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – While Nathan Gerbe still must be cleared to play, it appears the feisty Sabres winger could make his season debut Thursday in Carolina after undergoing offseason spine surgery.
Gerbe skated on the wing this morning beside 18-year-old rookie Mikhail Grigorenko and Steve Ott, his first action on a regular line this year.
“We’ll see where he’s at tomorrow,” Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said following practice inside the First Niagara Center.
Gerbe underwent ... Read the full article
Cody Hodgson already has two goals in two games this season. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The inexperience is their greatest asset and most glaring weakness. It excites and worries Sabres coach Lindy Ruff in the same breath.
His top two centers, Tyler Ennis and Cody Hodgson, are true neophytes, veterans of just a combined 235 NHL games.
Ennis only began playing center regularly late last year, his second full season. The 23-year-old was dynamic, though, compiling eight goals and 19 points over a 12-game stretch.
Hodgson, meanwhile, ... Read the full article
Ryan Miller dazzled Monday while making 34 saves. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
TORONTO – Remember this one. The Buffalo Sabres’ gritty 2-1 triumph over the Maple Leafs on Monday could be their blueprint for success in this lockout-shortened season.
Against a team fresh off a big opening-night win and playing its first home tilt, the Sabres showcased unyielding muscle, capitalized on their few chances early and received splendid goaltending from Ryan Miller before a capacity crowd of 19,475 fans inside the Air Canada Centre.
“We came in ... Read the full article
Mike Kostka played two seasons with the Sabres’ old affiliate in Portland. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
TORONTO – Mike Kostka was one day away from ditching his NHL dream, all set to take a gig playing overseas.
The 27-year-old Maple Leafs rookie couldn’t find any good work in North America. Despite two solid seasons with the Buffalo Sabres’ top affiliate in Portland, the team hadn’t tendered the defenseman a contract in 2010, making him a free agent.
Then Kostka’s friend, an AHL player named Marco Rosa, stopped over Kostka’s home a ... Read the full article
Steve Ott and the Sabres enjoyed a nice opening-day win Sunday. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
TORONTO – The Air Canada Centre, once the Buffalo Sabres’ favorite visiting rink, is now a house of horrors.
After winning eight in a row at the ACC, the Sabres have lost five straight games here dating back to March 12, 2011. They haven’t won here Nov. 6, 2010, a 3-2 shootout triumph in which backup goalie Jhonas Enroth earned his first NHL victory.
The Sabres’ 4-3 loss here in their last visit March 30 ... Read the full article
Thomas Vanek tucks the tying goal past Philadelphia goalie Ilya Bryzgalov on Sunday. ©2013, Dan Hicking, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – It was as if nine months hadn’t passed. One game into a new season, the Sabres kept exorcising their old demons, picking up where they left off last winter and spring during an exciting 5-2 triumph over the Philadelphia Flyers on Sunday inside a noisy First Niagara Center.
Thomas Vanek enjoyed an opening day that will forever live in Sabres lore, recording two goals and a career-high five points to start the lockout-shortened ... Read the full article
Mikhail Grigorenko skated 15 shifts during his NHL debut Sunday. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Ten minutes after the Sabres’ 5-2 opening-day win over the Philadelphia Flyers had ended, Steve Ott was still thinking about that nifty chance beside the net slick rookie center Mikhail Grigorenko had created for him.
Sure, Ott was excited about his power-play goal that opened the scoring just 11:07 into his Sabres debut. But the opportunity that had gotten away was still playing inside his head at bit.
“I kind of feel bad. ... Read the full article