Sportsnet

'“Your first year it’s all right [missing the playoffs] because there are so many new faces and you can see it took a while for guys to get used to each other in playing, but then this year you start to get things going and you fall back into old habits again and our old ways,” O'Reilly said before adding he deserves some blame. “Being a leader, a lot of it falls on me, but to … [Read more...] about Ryan O’Reilly sounds off on ‘pathetic’ Buffalo Sabres season

'“I think more than anything, it’s another year with an outcome that you don’t want,” he told reporters. “Last year I bet you at this time, I bet we were saying the same thing we’re saying this year: ‘Next year we’ll get ‘em.’”' … [Read more...] about Jack Eichel: 2016-17 ‘another failed season’ for Sabres

'“For me, I think about it in the sense what would have changed in the summer following had we won that game,” Franson said Monday before his Buffalo Sabres hosted the Leafs. “We made a number of changes to the roster after that season. For myself, I was having a good playoff series, I had two goals in that game. I’ve always kind of had that ‘what if?’ kind of feeling, you … [Read more...] about Cody Franson looks back on 4-1 collapse, would re-join Maple Leafs

'This benching occurs in the midst of there being rumours some of the players on the Sabres are unhappy with Byslma.' … [Read more...] about Sam Reinhart given 0 seconds of ice time after violating Sabres policy

'Eichel will take to the mound at Coca-Cola Field in Buffalo on April 6, when the Bisons face the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders.' … [Read more...] about Sabres forward Jack Eichel to throw out first pitch at Buffalo Bisons game

'"I’m watching the play, watching the puck and the next thing I remember is getting a stick right to the crotch," said O’Reilly. "It threw me off, for sure. I got up slowly and turned around, I was trying to see who it was. And then off the one faceoff he comes up, or as we were skating down the ice and says ‘Yeah, sorry about that. I was going for your stick.’ I was like ‘Ah, … [Read more...] about Ryan O’Reilly weighs in on Sidney Crosby spear: ‘It happens’

'“Certain teams in this league get the benefit of the doubt and that’s just it,” said Lehner. “If the jerseys were reversed I don’t think we’re standing here talking three games.”' … [Read more...] about Lehner on Ristolainen suspension: Certain teams get benefit of doubt

'“The number of times we have been told by players — on the record, after games — ‘Well, things changed because we just went out and played. We stopped thinking and worrying where we were supposed to be on the ice.’ That’s an indictment of the way Dan Bylsma has them playing. They want to go play free.”' … [Read more...] about ‘Disconnect’ with players has Dan Bylsma’s future with Sabres in doubt

'In just 39 games this season, Kulikov has one goal, two points, is a minus-17 player and averages 21:31 of ice time. But it hasn't really been a season to blame on decline, because the 26-year-old has been battling a back injury since being checked into an open bench door in the pre-season. Kulikov has missed significant time and had his play negatively affected by the nagging … [Read more...] about Sabres GM says Dmitry Kulikov acquisition ‘didn’t work out’

'The third goal certainly wasn’t Lehner’s fault. Three Sabres, including an outplayed Jack Eichel, went behind their own net in attempt to retrieve a puck that, like so many, was passed by Zach Hyman to Auston Matthews in the slot. Insta-release, bar down, Leafs lead 3-2, and the rookie hops over injured Patrik Laine for the lead in rookie goals with his 22nd.' … [Read more...] about Lehner’s outburst sums up Sabres’ inability to string together wins

'“It’s pretty crazy that I’m going to be playing against them tonight,” said Guhle. “I didn’t even realize that Edmonton was coming here until yesterday when I looked at the schedule. I didn’t know if I would still be here, or how long I’ll be here, but when I figured out that I was playing them I was pretty excited.”' … [Read more...] about Sabres rookie Guhle set to live dream vs. hometown Oilers

'Lehner left the ice late in the first period and did not come out for the second.' … [Read more...] about Sabres’ Robin Lehner day-to-day with hip injury

'“It must be a joke floating around the league: You score two goals against the Buffalo Sabres and you’re going to win the hockey game,” Kane said.' … [Read more...] about Evander Kane: ‘Joke floating around the league’ about Sabres offence

'And while Babcock ultimately passed on the opportunity to go from one Rust Belt city in Detroit to another on the shores of Lake Erie, the fact he went so far past footsie with Buffalo is an indication of how things have changed thanks to the influence of Pegula. Buffalo used to be a place you outgrew; now it’s squarely in the mix for some of the biggest names in hockey.' … [Read more...] about Becoming Buffalo

'For a team with aspirations of punching a post-season ticket, games in October and November just took on an even greater significance. After hosting division rival Montreal on Thursday night, the Sabres will head west for a tough three-game road trip through western Canada. Every single point they can grab could pay off in a huge way come April. “I think the desperation level … [Read more...] about A little luck would go a long way for injured Sabres