Archives for April 2015

'"I thought he played very well for his first game. He can be very proud of his first experience. He acted like a very mature young man," Sabres coach Ted Nolan said of his goaltender.' … [Read more...] about Halak, Islanders shut out Sabres 3-0

'Buffalo lost a second straight game despite getting 33 saves from Andrey Makarov in his NHL debut.' … [Read more...] about NY Islanders 3, Buffalo 0

'The Sabres (22-39-8) lost for the 14th time in their last 17 games (3-11-3) to ensure they'd remain at least two points ahead of the Arizona Coyotes in the "race" for last place in the NHL and a guaranteed top-two spot in the draft.' … [Read more...] about Shutout moves Islanders closer to playoffs

'Kyle Okposo's power play goal gave the Isles the early 1-0 lead. Okposo's shot deflected off Brian Gionta and into the Buffalo net for the 1-0 lead. Makarov kept it that way heading into the third. The Sabres netminder played well in his first action as a starter, even as New York continued to pepper him with shots, coming up with several big stops and 20 saves through the … [Read more...] about Halak, Isles Blank Sabres 3-0

'"I thought he made some really nice saves," Bogosian added. "It's never easy. The Islanders are a good team, they're fast, they throw a lot of pucks on net. I thought he played really well for us."' … [Read more...] about Sabres’ Makarov gets his first NHL start

'"No matter where they are in the standings … they compete hard," Islanders captain John Tavares said. "We knew this was a game we wanted to have."' … [Read more...] about Halak, Islanders shut out Sabres, inch toward playoffs

'“To be honest, I didn’t even get nervous,” Makarov said after the game. “I went into the game, simple as every one. I was more nervous waiting for that shot on net. I had to stop it.”' … [Read more...] about Makarov makes 1st start in loss to Islanders

Amerks lose fourth straight game (Rochester Democrat and Chronicle) Rockford IceHogs down Rochester to clinch playoff berth (Rockford Register Star) Amerks routed in Rockford, 7-2 (Amerks.com) IceHogs down Americans to clinch playoff berth (IceHogs.com) … [Read more...] about Sunday’s Rochester Coverage

Islanders seek to wrap up playoff berth against Sabres (Newsday) Sabres-Islanders Preview (AP) Buffalo Sabres (22-48-8) at New York Islanders (45-27-6) (The Sports Network) Islanders, chasing 2nd in Metropolitan, host Sabres (NHL.com) Game Preview: Islanders vs. Sabres (NewYorkIslanders.com) … [Read more...] about Saturday’s New York Coverage

'“Battling back against one of the better teams in the league after being down, 2-0, to take a 3-2 lead was very good,” Nolan said. “If you look back to when we first played in the beginning of the year, I think they just walked over us” during a 6-2 win. “It was a big improvement from that game to this game."' … [Read more...] about Sabres get tazed by Toews

'“I’m sure there’s going to be some strangeness to it,” Trottier said. “It’s never fun going into the building as the enemy. I have such a great memory there. It’s going back kind of to my first home. When there’s no more games being played there, it will be sad but at least they’re not torching it, tearing it down, thank goodness.”' … [Read more...] about Trottier prepares for trip back to where he started

'“Whether you’re staring on the road or at home the advantages you could argue are probably very small or minimal. But that’s what it is. It’s 82 games and getting in the playoffs is an accomplishment this year."' … [Read more...] about Blackhawks glad to make playoffs again

'The late rally ruined what could’ve been the Sabres’ most satisfying win this season.' … [Read more...] about Blackhawks’ late rally stuns Sabres

'“I’m sure there’s going to be some strangeness to it,” Trottier said prior to the Sabres’ 4-3 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks inside the First Niagara Center. “It’s never fun going into the building as an enemy, so to speak. For me, it’s going back kind of to my first home. When there’s no more games being played there, it will be sad. But at least they’re not like torching it, … [Read more...] about Sabres assistant coach Bryan Trottier has special memories of Nassau Coliseum

Jonathan Toews bails out Blackhawks with two goals in final minute (Chicago Tribune) Friday's matchup: Blackhawks 4, Sabres 3 (Chicago Tribune) Photo gallery (Chicago Tribune) Jonathan Toews scores twice in 47 seconds to lift Hawks to win (Chicago Sun Times) Blackhawks' reign depends on Patrick Kane (Chicago Sun Times) The closers: Blackhawks unbeaten when leading after … [Read more...] about Saturday’s Chicago Coverage