Buffalo News

'Playing a team missing seven players due to Covid protocol, the Sabres were passive and never grabbed the game in SAP Center. Tomas Hertl had two goals and an assist to lead the San Jose Sharks to a 5-3 win over Buffalo, which has dropped two straight in regulation for the first time this season to fall to 5-3-1.' … [Read more...] about Observations: Sabres are too passive in getting schooled by Sharks

'"Work ethic, his daily habits, they’ve always been good," Amerks coach Seth Appert said on a video call Monday. "It’s taken another notch now. He’s really embracing being a pro, he’s embracing coming to the rink and finding ways to try to get 1, 2, 5% better at different areas of his game on and off the ice every day. So his attention to detail and his habits are extremely … [Read more...] about Sabres Notebook: Jack Quinn named AHL Rookie of the Month

'The CBA extension of 2020 is squarely on the Sabres' side, as the team controls medical decisions (still can't believe the Players' Association let that point go unchallenged). Teams interested in Eichel have to first deal with their own in-house struggles of taking on a $10 million per season cap hit for the next four years and perhaps the risk of the surgery the player … [Read more...] about Mike Harrington: On Jack Eichel front, lots happening and nothing happening

'Quinn tallied five goals and five assists for 10 points as the Amerks went 4-2 and finished tied for second in the AHL in scoring with 27 goals.' … [Read more...] about Sabres Notebook: Jack Quinn named AHL Rookie of the Month

'If you are a Sabres fan, the most encouraging part of this is the team would have been competitive in these games even with league-average goaltending. They are right around break even in net shots and expected goals, which indicates the run of play in these games is balanced. Forwards Victor Olofsson, Rasmus Asplund and Tage Thompson have been regularly dangerous in these … [Read more...] about Travis Yost’s Sabre Metrics: How shift in Atlantic Division could impact Sabres

'Eden native Alex Iafallo had the last laugh against his hometown team, scoring the tiebreaking goal with 6:19 left to give the Los Angeles Kings a 3-2 win over Buffalo before an announced crowd of 12,101.' … [Read more...] about Observations: Sabres blow another lead, lose to Kings as Eden’s Iafallo nets game-winner

'"I'm just trying to get to good spots and play each zone as well as I can, try to help the team in a lot of areas," Iafallo told The Buffalo News in a previous conversation over the weekend. "Penalty kill, blocking shots, whatever it is. And sure, you're trying to score goals and get a bunch of shots on net and try to create offense, too. I'm just trying to do a lot to keep my … [Read more...] about Sabres Notebook: Big weekend for Alex Iafallo capped by game-winning goal

'"Guys were pretty excited to have a little bit of normalcy and go on the road and go out to dinner and just hang out," Okposo said. "That's a special part about playing in the league that it's one of those things where you don't really know what you have until it's gone. And with the pandemic, it was gone for 18 months."' … [Read more...] about Some California dreamin’ gives Sabres first chance at team bonding since the pandemic

'"It's fun to not always just have a regular practice," Olofsson said at the Toyota Sports Center, the Los Angeles Kings' suburban practice facility. "When we get down to overtime, it's big to get that extra point and it's important to practice on it and we had a really good practice."' … [Read more...] about After glimpse of success, Sabres work overtime to improve their 3-on-3 play

'"He was calm and confident," added coach Don Granato. "He read the shooters and the situations moments before they were transpiring. He was key. And I think our guys rallied around that."' … [Read more...] about Observations: After blowing 3-0 lead, Sabres get Anderson an OT win on Asplund’s goal

'"I was happily surprised with Cody today, he looked way better (than expected)," coach Don Granato said. "I didn't go into it with much expectation. I thought he would stay out of anything close to a contact situation. He just wouldn't. He jumped right in. So he is definitely feeling better. But no timetable yet."' … [Read more...] about Sabres notebook: Cody Eakin back at practice, closing in on return

'Five years remain on Eichel’s contract that carries a $10 million annual cap hit. His no-movement clause begins in July, which would allow Eichel to nix any trade. Sabres General Manager Kevyn Adams is valuing Eichel as a healthy, elite centerman with a track record that includes five seasons of 20 goals and three appearances in the NHL All-Star game.' … [Read more...] about As Jack Eichel turns 25, the former Sabres captain still awaits a resolution

'“He’s got the ability, that’s for sure,” said Don Jackson, the Minnesota-born longtime coach of EHC Red Bull Munchen. “The rest is mental and taking advantage of the opportunity, which he has right now.”' … [Read more...] about How breaking sticks set JJ Peterka on a path from Austria to the Sabres

'“I did not find out any more other than it’s encouraging, like the healing process is going as good as we’d hoped," Granato said of Mittelstadt. "With Mittsy there’s that day-by-day checking and so he’s definitely going in the right direction. ... It’s progressing and the hope is very shortly or immediately when we get back that he’d be able to integrate with us right away.”' … [Read more...] about Sabres notebook: Casey Mittelstadt might rejoin team following 4-game road trip

'Don Granato has instilled belief in a roster that’s a blend of young, unproven core players and experienced castaways determined to show they can succeed when hard work is rewarded with opportunity. The challenge will increase in difficulty on the road where capacity crowds roar in approval at the Sabres’ mistakes and the other coach can use second line change.' … [Read more...] about Inside the Sabres: Hot start the product of coaching, leadership, smart additions