Buffalo Hockey Beat - WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage

Sabres overcome blown call, adversity to beat Senators in shootout

BUFFALO – The best part of the Sabres’ 2-1 shootout win, interim coach Ted Nolan said, came 15:30 into the second period, when officials disallowed what appeared to be his team’s go-ahead goal.

Wait, what? Why would Nolan say that?

The Sabres have crumbled under adversity all season. But on Tuesday, after a delayed penalty possession whistle wiped out Jamie McBain’s score, they kept fighting against the Ottawa Senators inside the First Niagara Center.

“It ... Read the full article

Ted Nolan benches Ville Leino for Sabres’ win against Senators

BUFFALO – Ted Nolan said he isn’t down on or losing patience with Sabres center Ville Leino.

So why did the interim coach scratch the Finn, who has zero goals this season, for Tuesday’s 2-1 shootout win against the Ottawa Senators inside the First Niagara Center?

“Certain players with a certain skill set, they have to bring it,” Nolan said prior to the game. “And if you’re not going to play as well as ... Read the full article

Ted Nolan starting to see which Sabres give best efforts

BUFFALO – In the last week or so, Ted Nolan has noticed a shift among the struggling Sabres.

“The good guys are starting to rise a little bit, and the guys who are not putting that effort in game in, game out, they’re starting to stick out a bit, too,” the interim coach said this morning inside the First Niagara Center. “So one thing you do with the team is you kind of hold them ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Ville Leino to sit tonight, not sure what Ted Nolan wants from him

BUFFALO – Ted Nolan said he isn’t down on or losing patience with Sabres center Ville Leino.

So why is the interim coach scratching the Finn, who has zero goals this season, tonight against the Ottawa Senators?

“Certain players with a certain skill set, they have to bring it,” Nolan said this morning inside the First Niagara Center. “And if you’re not going to play as well as you can, sometimes it’s better to ... Read the full article

Despite losses, Sabres feeling good again, believe they’re on right path

BUFFALO – The end result hasn’t changed much yet. On paper, at least, the Sabres are still a terrible hockey team.

They’ve lost eight of their 10 games under interim coach Ted Nolan, scoring just 15 goals, a pathetic 1.5 a contest.

At their current pace, the 6-22-2 Sabres, who have 48 goals, would finish with the fewest points in the shootout era and score the fewest goals in NHL history.

But talk to ... Read the full article

Sabres to use new lines against Senators; Brayden McNabb back in lineup

BUFFALO – Ted Nolan wanted to give his lines a long look. The interim Sabres coach figured he couldn’t ask his players for consistency if he kept shuffling the trios.

But after a string of losses and more meager offensive production, Nolan switched up his combinations Monday.

“Our top line is having a little bit of trouble, maybe the chemistry wasn’t quite right,” Nolan said following practice inside the First Niagara Center. “We talked to ... Read the full article

Ted Nolan changes Sabres’ lines; Brayden McNabb to return Tuesday

BUFFALO – Ted Nolan wanted to give his lines a long look. The interim Sabres coach figured he couldn’t ask his players for consistency if he kept shuffling the trios.

But after a string of losses and more meager offensive production, Nolan switched the lines up today.

“Our top line is having a little bit of trouble, maybe the chemistry wasn’t quite right,” Nolan said this afternoon following practice inside the First Niagara Center. ... Read the full article

Sabres rookie Zemgus Girgensons ends goal drought, knows he must score

MONTREAL – It was here, Sept. 15 inside the Bell Centre, that Buffalo Sabres rookie Zemgus Girgensons first sent notice he wouldn’t be leaving the NHL.

The ferocious Latvian winger scored twice in the Sabres’ first exhibition game, a 5-4 shootout win against the Canadiens. Of course, preseason openers are often filled with junior and AHL players with little or no chance of making the big club.

Still, Girgensons’ performance impressed the Sabres.

“That ... Read the full article

Sabres outplay Canadiens most of night, still lose tight game

MONTREAL – Finding silver linings in defeats can be difficult, Ted Nolan said. But the interim Buffalo Sabres coach is beginning to see progress in his rebuilding club.

Mistakes, of course, are still part of the team’s game.

“But not as frequent as they were,” Nolan said Saturday following the Sabres’ 3-2 loss to the Canadiens before 21,273 fans inside the Bell Centre.

The hapless Sabres, losers of eight of their last nine games, outplayed ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Jamie McBain likes Ted Nolan’s straightforward approach

MONTREAL – Jamie McBain wanted to know why he was sitting so much. So the defenseman dissected the four games he had played under Ted Nolan, the Buffalo Sabres’ new interim coach.

“I couldn’t come to an answer myself,” McBain said Saturday prior to the Sabres’ 3-2 loss to the Canadiens inside the Bell Centre.

So the 25-year-old, a healthy scratch four straight games recently, approached Nolan.

“I wanted to kind of hear his opinion ... Read the full article