Archives for January 2016

'“It’s a tough thing to go through emotionally,” Bogosian said Friday, prior to a game against the Chicago Blackhawks. “We want to say that we’re as tough as they come, but there’s an emotional side of things that some people don’t understand that goes into the game of hockey. That was probably the hardest thing, saying goodbye to those guys.”' … [Read more...] about Bogosian happy to return to Winnipeg

'“It’s like we are a jilted girlfriend or boyfriend. This relationship ended and we’re still stuck on this,” he said. “I’m in the minority and it will never happen in the real world, but imagine if he comes on the ice and he hears no boos. It might even get under his skin. I’m tired of hearing about Evander Kane. He’s not our player anymore. We’re four points out of a playoff … [Read more...] about Fans looking forward to booing Kane

'"It's too late to create offense that late in the game and expect to win," O'Reilly said. "We, myself and the rest of the forwards, we've got to find a way to generate offense and actually get results early in the game to generate some sort of momentum and confidence to put the puck in."' … [Read more...] about Blackhawks beat Sabres 3-1 for 6th straight win

'The Sabres (15-22-4) had their losing streak pushed to six games - all in regulation. They have lost their last nine games to the Blackhawks dating back to the 2009-10 season. The Sabres haven't won in Chicago since Jan. 10, 2007.' … [Read more...] about Danault’s first career goal lifts Blackhawks

'Kane’s time in Buffalo is like the rest of his career. There are a lot of interesting numbers; they just don’t add up to anything tangible. If Kane stays healthy and out of handcuffs, he should score and score a lot. But with Kane, there is now a disclaimer. Maybe he truly is “The Natural,” as he has dubbed himself, but he’s failed to live up to his own billing.' … [Read more...] about With Evander Kane, there are always questions

'Sunday, however, won’t be about who won or lost the trade. It will be about venting, about the relationship between a star player and a rabid hockey city, and how fans are left feeling when the star decides he’d rather play somewhere else. It won’t be about right and wrong, or what’s fair. It could be funny, it could get mean. But it will most definitely be loud.' … [Read more...] about Kane’s Winnipeg return assured of one thing: Noise

'Ryan O'Reilly tied it in the final period, but Phillip Danault's first career goal gave Chicago the lead for good. Chad Johnson was impressive at times in the loss, making a series of highlight-reel saves to keep Buffalo in the game, including 19 stops in the second period alone, but let the game-winner sneak past him on the short side.' … [Read more...] about Blackhawks Send Sabres to 6th Straight Loss

'"We have to control what we can control. Again, that's finding a way to put the puck in the net. We're digging ourselves a huge hole. If we don't change something soon here, we're going to be in trouble."' … [Read more...] about Sabres-Blackhawks: From the Locker Room

'"[Johnson and rookie goalie Linus Ullmark] have been outstanding for us, giving us a chance to win every game," O'Reilly said. "Without having [Johnson] play like that, it would've been a much different outcome. They would've blown us out. We have to help [our goalies] out more and score."' … [Read more...] about Danault’s first NHL goal helps Blackhawks top Sabres

'"Sometimes situations don't fit perfectly and that happens throughout the league with many different types of players," Kane said in Chicago on Friday. "I think you saw Seth Jones and Ryan [Johansen] get flip-flopped for one another and that stuff happens all the time. I think the only real unusual part was that I was out for the season and I was just coming off surgery. That … [Read more...] about Sabres’ Kane excited for return to Winnipeg

'"It's frustrating," said Ryan O'Reilly, who scored the Sabres' only goal in the third period. "I think a big reason is we have to get on the board early. It's too late to create offense that late in the game and we have to, myself and the rest of the forwards, we've got to find a way to generate offense and actually get results early in the game to generate some sort of … [Read more...] about Offense comes too late in loss to Blackhawks

Amerks put on a show fitting for 60th anniversary (Rochester Democrat and Chronicle) Sabres goalie Robin Lehner feels good in Amerks rehab start (Olean Times Herald) Hershey Bears suffer late road loss to Rochester (Harrisburg Patriot News) Hershey Bears fail to hold 3-1 lead (Lebanon Daily News) Lehner wins rehab start in Rochester (WGR-AM) Amerks celebrate 60th … [Read more...] about Saturday’s Rochester Coverage

'The duo has been on the ice for five of the 13 goals scored at even strength during the Sabres’ five-game losing streak, with Gorges victimized one additional time without Ristolainen. As Buffalo heads into the unfriendly confines of Chicago on Friday, the defensemen know they need to be better.' … [Read more...] about Loose play of Sabres’ top defense pair leads to losing

'“He’ll get a couple games, for sure,” Buffalo coach Dan Bylsma said Thursday. “He needs to get in the net and see shots, stop shots. He wanted to go down for practice the last few days to get a full volume of shots and to get that there and get in a game and see game action. He’s pretty excited about it.”' … [Read more...] about Lehner to get plenty of work in with Amerks

'It is likely the Sabres goal to have MSG agree to add a separate Buffalo feed here to provide more Buffalo sports programming. If that happens, there would no need for Bills and Sabres owners Terry and Kim Pegula to start their own regional sports network similar to the former Empire Sports Network. A regional sports network would be a much more expensive proposition than … [Read more...] about Sabres in strong negotiation position as TV, radio deals near end