WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
Free Agency Edition
Drew Stafford has six goals and 14 points in the last eight games. ©2012, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The thinking went like this: Drew Stafford, fresh off a breakout offensive campaign, was a cinch for another big season. After all, the Sabres winger tallied 31 times in only 62 games last year.
Perhaps he could hit 40 goals. The 26-year-old had arrived as an NHL star, right?
One epic slump later, Stafford’s finally that lethal scoring threat again. It just took four months and an awful stretch of six goals in ... Read the full article
BUFFALO – Sabres defenseman Christian Ehrhoff, who left Tuesday’s 5-1 win in Washington following a knee-on-knee collision with the Capitals’ Troy Brouwer, is out indefinitely.
Coach Lindy Ruff offered few details about the slick German’s left knee injury Wednesday, only saying the 29-year-old had been evaluated and would miss “some time.” He wouldn’t specify if it could be days or weeks. He said the injury news was better than he expected.
Mike Weber, a healthy ... Read the full article
BUFFALO – With winger Patrick Kaleta back from his three-absence – he’s wearing a cast on his right hand and reportedly has a broken thumb – the Sabres have returned Travis Turnbull to Rochester.
The rookie center scored his first NHL goal and fought once subbing for the agitator.
Kaleta, meanwhile, played only his 58th game this season Tuesday in Washington.
“It’s exciting,” Kaleta told reporters in Washington. “I honestly don’t really like sitting ... Read the full article
Alex Ovechkin’s Capitals have 84 points. ©2012, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – In reality, it’s a single game for the Sabres, one of 82 regular-season contests. Tonight’s anticipated eight-versus-nine tilt in Washington is potentially worth two points for them, just like any other game.
If the Sabres win, break their tie with the Capitals (84 points) and move into eighth place, they could quickly lose the Eastern Conference’s final playoff spot again. Don’t forget, they stayed there less than a day after grabbing it Saturday.... Read the full article
BUFFALO – Sabres goalie Ryan Miller, who led the NHL with four wins thanks to a gaudy 1.26 goals-against average and .956 save percentage, has been named the league’s second star for the week ending March 25.
Miller allowed only five goals during the week and just two during his last three starts. He recorded his career-high sixth shutout in a 3-0 win Wednesday over Montreal.
“It’s not something you do on your own,” Miller ... Read the full article
BUFFALO – Beaten down, broken and seemingly finished at several points this season, the Sabres’ tight 3-1 triumph over the Minnesota Wild on Saturday – their 18th win in 28 tries – bumped the scorching club into the Eastern Conference’s final playoff spot.
On Feb. 17, the Sabres fell into the cellar, nine points out of the last postseason spot.
If the Sabres, who lead ninth-place Washington by two points (84-82), hold on, the ... Read the full article
BUFFALO – About 23 minutes into the Sabres’ 4-1 triumph Friday, rookie Travis Turnbull grabbed a loose puck off a faceoff, skated out of the zone and began creating a memorable first NHL goal inside New York’s historic Madison Square Garden.
When Turnbull reached the red line, he shot the puck in and zoomed by the Rangers’ Stu Bickel. The center then briefly retrieved his dump-in, throwing the puck out from behind the net as ... Read the full article
Mike Weber was playing regularly before being scratched Wednesday. ©2012, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – The plan’s to get Mike Weber some ice again soon, Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said. With seven healthy defensemen, someone had to sit Wednesday, so Weber, a team-worst minus-19, watched the 3-0 win over Montreal after playing 44 straight games.
Ruff could utilize all seven tonight in New York against the Rangers and drop a forward. He could also scratch Weber and skate him Saturday at home versus the Minnesota Wild.
Despite the ... Read the full article
BUFFALO – What does Lindy Ruff think about the stunning bounty punishment the NFL laid on the New Orleans Saints, which included a one-year suspension for coach Sean Payton and an indefinite ban for defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, the former Bills coach?
“I’ve said the NFL doesn’t mess around,” the Sabres coach said Thursday inside the First Niagara Center. “They, for the most part, get most of their stuff right. They send a strong message. ... Read the full article
BUFFALO – The Sabres’ shocking resurgence – one that’s vaulted them from the Eastern Conference basement to a points tie with eighth-place Washington in 33 days – can be attributed to several factors.
The banged-up defense corps has stayed healthy and locked down. Several slumping stars have started scoring again, giving the team a secondary scoring attack. A few youngsters have contributed immediately upon their arrival from Rochester.
Most notably, though, Ryan Miller began playing ... Read the full article