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Buffalo Sabres News

Loss to Lightning puts Sabres in must-win mode
February 12
Buffalo News
 
"Ryan Miller knows the Sabres can't escape the reality of their situation. They are in 14th place in the Eastern Conference following Saturday's 2-1 loss to Tampa Bay. They have just 27 games remaining. If they are to have any chance of making the playoffs, the loss to the Lightning has to be one of Buffalo's final setbacks of the season. "We did it to ourselves," Miller said in his stone-silent First Niagara Center dressing room. "We know we don't have many losses that we can put out there anymore. As I see it, there's probably seven or eight losses available for us out of the next [27] games, to be realistic. "That's just the way it is. We have to regroup, recover and learn what we can.""
Garon, Bolts grind out win over Sabres
February 12
Tampa Tribune
 
"Fighting, scrambling and battling continue to provide hope for the Lightning. Mathieu Garon stopped 26 shots while Steven Stamkos had a goal and an assist to lead Tampa Bay to a 2-1 victory against the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday at First Niagara Center. Steve Downie also scored as the Lightning improved to 7-1-2 in their past 10 games and have earned points in four consecutive road games (3-0-1), a season best heading into Sunday's game at Pittsburgh. The victory vaulted Tampa Bay from 14th in the conference to 11th and to within eight points of Toronto for the final playoff spot. The Lightning also kept pace with Southeast Division-leading Florida to remain nine points back of the"
A feel-good story masks lingering flaws
February 11
Buffalo News
 columnist Bucky Gleason
"So this is how things are going to unfold for the foreseeable future, huh? The Sabres are going to tease you the way they have many times in the past. They're going to make a triumphant run up the standings, restore hope and have you convinced the first 50 games were a mirage, as Darcy Regier suggested. Bet the house, the kids and all the beer in the fridge that the Sabres will keep things interesting for a while, but where is it all going? Perhaps they will put together another dramatic run into the postseason like they did last year. Or maybe they'll march into eighth place, empty their collective tank and slip back into 11th. Who knows? The Sabres had people thinking that they can stay"
Vanek returns to lineup with a bang
February 11
Buffalo News
 
"The Buffalo Sabres eased Thomas Vanek back into the lineup Friday night by starting him on the fourth line with Cody McCormick and Matt Ellis. But Vanek didn't ease himself in. He was instant impact, with his 20th goal of the season and two near-misses on game-winners in the Sabres' 3-2 shootout win over the Dallas Stars. "It was good to be back," said Vanek, who had missed three games with an upper-body injury suffered Jan. 31 in Montreal. "I thought I played well and generated chances." Sure did. Vanek had four shots on goal, second on the team, and scored with a power-play deflection at 5:07 of the third period. It's his seventh straight 20-goal season and ended Buffalo's 0-for-14 run"
Sabres upstage Stars with late heroics
February 11
Buffalo News
 
"It wouldn't have been a surprise if Derek Roy missed his chance to be the star. It's happened often this season. The Sabres' center is on pace to have the worst statistical year of his career, and the head-shaking moments have been plentiful. But finally, with at least one precious point on the line Friday, Roy connected. Roy scored with just 39.3 seconds left in regulation, lifting hard-charging Buffalo into a 2-2 tie with Dallas. Nathan Gerbe sealed the Sabres' rally from a two-goal, third-period deficit, scoring in the fifth round of the shootout to give the Sabres a 3-2 victory. "You need to come back in some games," Roy said. "You need character wins like that throughout the season."
Assistants filling the void for ailing Ruff
February 10
Buffalo News
 
"Lindy Ruff sat alone in the stands Thursday, nursing his broken ribs while the Sabres practiced in First Niagara Center. It's a scene that will be replayed until the coach is healthy enough to return to the ice. The Sabres, though, are hardly lacking in coaches. Buffalo expanded its staff this season, and there were still five assistants on the ice to coach and teach players while Ruff watched. "The wealth of knowledge that we have hockey-wise out there for us is pretty unbelievable," defenseman Mike Weber said. Assistant coach James Patrick again led the session, and he'll be the lead man on the bench when the Sabres host Dallas tonight. He was helped Thursday by assistants Kevyn Adams"
Sabres offense on a mini hot streak
February 10
Buffalo News
 
"It's only two games, so even the Sabres themselves caution there's not yet reason to put a Stanley Cup parade float on hold. But during those last two games, Buffalo has scored nine goals. For some teams, that might be just an above-average week. For these guys? It's a reason to celebrate. The Sabres enter tonight's home game against Dallas on their second-best scoring run of the season. They torched Boston, 6-0, Wednesday, tying their season high for a single game. They found the net three times Saturday against the New York Islanders as part of a 4-3 shootout victory. Here's a little perspective on the two-game total: It matches the output of their previous seven games combined. "It"
Sabres find the missing ingredients
February 9
Buffalo News
 columnist Bucky Gleason
"Well, look at what suddenly showed up at First Niagara Center for the first time all season. Whether it was Lindy Ruff watching from the press box or James Patrick running the bench mattered little. For one game Wednesday, the Sabres uncovered all that had been missing this season. OK, so the Sabres are 54 games into the regular season and need a tow rope to pull them to altitudes reserved for playoff contenders. They're one bad spill from tumbling back down the mountain and rolling off a cliff. For one game, they hiked up their pants, put up their dukes, accepted a challenge and won. And that, my friends, is progress."
Sabres show some gumption in beating Bruins
February 9
Buffalo News
 
"Patrick Kaleta's ability to agitate opponents has been limited this season. The NHL and its referees have put the shackles on his shenanigans, with penalties and suspensions subduing his aggressive style. The Buffalo Sabres' forward finally had some old-fashioned fun Wednesday. So did his high-scoring teammates. Kaleta challenged and fought Milan Lucic, pushed Zdeno Chara into Boston goaltender Tim Thomas, had a late run-in with three Bruins skaters and, for good measure, scored during Buffalo's convincing 6-0 victory over the rival Bruins. It was one of the better games of the season for Buffalo, which ran its unbeaten streak to five straight (4-0-1) and improved to 5-0-4 in the last nine"
Bruins take big step back in shutout loss to Sabres
February 9
Boston Herald
 
"The Bruins continued their one-step-up, one-step-back dance they've been perfecting in the new year, and they added a new twist to it last night. They fell flat on their face. After playing a terrific game in a 4-1 win over the Capitals on Sunday, the B's started last night with some fine intentions against the Buffalo Sabres, but saw the game quickly unravel en route to their worst loss of the season, 6-0, at First Niagara Center. "It went from good to bad to worse," said coach Claude Julien, who has rarely seen his team take such a beating."
Patrick to fill in against Bruins if Ruff can't coach
February 8
Buffalo News
 
"James Patrick feels completely comfortable running the Sabres. The Buffalo assistant coach, in his sixth season on the bench, is in charge of nearly all the team's optional practices. There have been a lot, so assuming control while coach Lindy Ruff takes a breather is nothing new. There's a chance those head coaching stints could escalate to regular-season games. Ruff was too sore to coach Tuesday, one day after breaking three ribs during a practice collision. General Manager Darcy Regier said Ruff is "day to day" and could miss tonight's game against Boston in First Niagara Center. "I'm hoping and expecting to see him here," said Patrick, who would take over if Ruff is unable to attend."
Sabres' Regier remains upbeat despite latest injury
February 8
Buffalo News
 
"Darcy Regier has been in hockey since 1974. He's been with teams from Canada to Texas, Phoenix to Hartford. As the Buffalo Sabres' general manager stood at the lectern Tuesday discussing -- of all things -- the day-to-day status of his broken-ribbed coach, Regier smiled and said, no, he's never seen anything like this. The Sabres' season of expectations has turned into a year of forgettable moments. The latest has coach Lindy Ruff possibly missing only the second game of his 15-year tenure when Boston visits First Niagara Center tonight. With the Sabres well on their way to missing the playoffs, Regier found a moment to brush away the darkness and profess faith that things will get better"
Sabres coach Ruff injured in practice collision
February 7
Buffalo News
 
"You want an injury bug? The Buffalo Sabres have dealt with one all season but it reached a new level of absurdity Monday. This time, coach Lindy Ruff was added to the list in a freak accident. Ruff suffered three broken ribs in a scary collision with defenseman Jordan Leopold that put an end to practice in First Niagara Center. The team said late Monday afternoon Ruff would return to practice today and "resume his coaching responsibilities." The Sabres' next game is here Wednesday against Boston."
Sabres' Myers making up for lost time
February 6
Buffalo News
 
"Tyler Myers missed 19 games with a broken wrist this season so there's no way he's going to come close to the offensive totals of his first two years. But the Buffalo Sabres defenseman knows he can do more on the score sheet. Myers delivered at a key moment of Saturday's 4-3 shootout win over the New York Islanders, keeping the puck inside the zone and feeding Paul Gaustad for the tying goal at 11:46 of the third period. Myers jumped up on the play on his first shift in the opening period to create pressure in the Islanders' zone and it was how he spent much of the night. The play to feed Gaustad was perhaps his best."
Penalty kill in overtime saved the day
February 5
Buffalo News
 
"The Buffalo Sabres were in pure survival mode late in overtime Saturday night. Just to get to the shootout and give Ryan Miller the chance to earn the 4-3 win over the New York Islanders that set the franchise record for victories by a goaltender, the Sabres had to kill off a too-many-men-on-the-ice penalty. In overtime, remember, it's 4-on-3 power plays and there was plenty of room for the Islanders to work the puck. They got five shots on goal, but the Sabres' trio of Paul Gaustad, Robyn Regehr and Jordan Leopold did yeoman's work. Buffalo was credited with two blocks, but the trio got pieces of at least five pucks even though they only cleared it out of the zone for about 10 seconds."
Sabres escape New York with a win
February 5
Buffalo News
 
"When it ended on Jason Pominville's shootout goal, Ryan Miller thrust his arms in the air and looked up to the rafters of the creaky Nassau Coliseum. Then his teammates mobbed him. It was a dual celebration. The Buffalo Sabres had pulled off a rare rally Saturday night for a 4-3 win over the New York Islanders and Miller earned his 235th career victory, breaking Dominik Hasek's franchise record. Miller survived a shaky start in which he gave up three goals on eight shots in the first 15 minutes. Then he locked the door, stopping the final 30 pucks he faced, surviving a frantic overtime period that saw Buffalo get outshot, 9-1, and going 2 for 2 in the shootout. "I'm proud of it," Miller"
Miller makes history as Sabres rally past Isles, 4-3
February 5
NHL.com
 
"One had to wonder if Ryan Miller would indeed enjoy a historic night Saturday after surrendering three goals on nine shots in the first 20 minutes. But his teammates rallied from a 3-1 deficit before Miller went 2-for-2 in the shootout as the Buffalo Sabres pulled out a 4-3 win against the New York Islanders in front of 14,618 at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. With the victory Miller, 31, passed Dominik Hasek and became the winningest goaltender in Sabres history. Miller finished with 35 saves -- he stopped all 29 he faced after the opening period -- to secure his 235th career victory -- all with Buffalo. "I'm proud of it," said Miller, a fifth-round draft choice (No. 138) in"
Boyes, Gaustad flourishing after role reversal
February 4
Buffalo News
 
"The Sabres have guys playing unfamiliar positions all over the place. Tyler Ennis and Brad Boyes are at center. Paul Gaustad is at left wing. It's not easy, but it's working. The Sabres, who sorely lack depth at center throughout the organization, will continue to shuffle players tonight when they visit the New York Islanders. The biggest switch comes when Gaustad, Boyes and right wing Patrick Kaleta hit the ice. Gaustad has been a center for nearly his entire Sabres career, but he'll skate at left wing. Boyes, who was a right winger at previous stops, will be in the middle. "That line has been our best line," coach Lindy Ruff said Friday. "It's created the most chances. It's given up the"
Almost all systems go for Sabres
February 4
Buffalo News
 
"Aside from not being able to score, the Sabres' recent games are pretty much what they envisioned for the season. They're creating more chances than the opposition. They're limiting mistakes. On those occasions when a breakdown happens, their goaltender makes the big save to bail them out. "We're getting much closer to the way that we want to play," Buffalo defenseman Robyn Regehr said Friday. It's just taken much, much longer than anyone anticipated. The Sabres visit the New York Islanders tonight with two of the three facets of their game clicking. The team defense and goaltending have been impressive during the last three outings. The Sabres have allowed just two goals in 190 minutes."
Sabres shoot, they miss
February 3
Buffalo News
 
"Lindy Ruff said it again Thursday. At some point, the goals are going to start going in for the Buffalo Sabres. The red light had better start shining if the team wants to avoid some dubious history. The season of misses is sliding toward becoming the worst in the Sabres' 41 years of existence. The 2002-03 squad set the record low of 190 goals, the only time Buffalo has scored fewer than 200 in a full season. Through 51 games, this year's edition is on pace for 191. Making things worse, the Sabres have managed to fall off that lowly rate of 2.33 goals per game for nearly three months. Since the infamous turning point of the season in Boston on Nov. 12, Buffalo is averaging only 2.03 goals"
To trade or not to trade Miller, that's Sabres' question
February 2
Buffalo News
 columnist Bucky Gleason
"Ryan Miller has been the first to downplay tying Dominik Hasek's franchise record for career victories because the variables have changed. His 234 wins with the Sabres came with an asterisk because they included 32 shootouts. Hasek, one of the best breakaway goalies ever, had 70 ties in nine years in Buffalo. Miller played well enough and deserved to break the record with a win over the first-place Rangers on Wednesday night. He made 29 saves and recorded his second shutout this season in what officially was a 1-0 shootout loss. He hasn't allowed a goal in 120 minutes, 51 seconds but has a 1-0-1 record to show for his last two games. He submitted his best performance of the season against"
Gaustad pesters Rangers with play
February 2
Buffalo News
 
"Sabres center Paul Gaustad drove the Montreal Canadiens crazy Tuesday night with three points and some quality on-ice chirping. Maybe he let his play do more of the talking Wednesday against the New York Rangers but Gaustad was again a pest, especially on the penalty kill. The Sabres were just 6 for 12 on the PK in the four games prior to their win in Montreal. They survived the only penalty they faced in that game and two Wednesday in their 1-0 defeat. The first one, a high-sticking call on Tyler Ennis, came six minutes into the third period. Gaustad and Patrick Kaleta pinned the puck behind the goal line in the Rangers' zone for nearly 30 seconds at one stretch, drawing a huge roar from"
Buffalo draws blank slate in shootout loss to Rangers
February 2
Buffalo News
 
"The Sabres' inability to score has played a key role in plenty of losses this season. It was the only reason they lost Wednesday. Buffalo goaltender Ryan Miller shut out the New York Rangers for 65 minutes, which for most teams equals a victory. Not on this night. The Sabres couldn't solve Henrik Lundqvist, either, hitting posts and missing wide-open chances with the game on the line. After Lundqvist made one more save than Miller in the breakaway session, the Sabres' ineptitude translated to the first 1-0 shootout loss in their history. "We have to put some pucks away," Miller said in First Niagara Center. "It was a really strong effort from our guys. One point is OK, but we can't afford"
Montreal Canadiens didn't play with enough desperation
February 1
Montreal Gazette
 
"Where was the desperation? That's what goaltender Carey Price was asking Tuesday night after the Canadiens dropped a 3-1 decision to the Buffalo Sabres at the Bell Centre. "I didn't think we were desperate enough in the second period," Price said after he turned in a 37-save performance. "We picked it up in the third period, but we have to do that more throughout the game.""
Buffalo Sabres leave Montreal with a good feeling
February 1
Montreal Gazette
 
"The Buffalo Sabres had probably heard the song in their dressing room 2½ hours earlier, rumbling from the Bell Centre's sound system to introduce the Canadiens to the crowd shortly before the opening faceoff. So now, nearing 10:30 on Tuesday night, they were hearing Good Feeling again, but the bass-heavy tune's bouncy lyrics now blared on their own stereo. The Sabres' 3-1 victory over the Canadiens was a battle of two bottom-feeding Eastern Conference clubs. Both almost assuredly will be cleaning out their lockers come early April, on the outside of the playoffs looking in."
Montreal Canadiens just didn't show up against Sabres
February 1
Montreal Gazette
 
"Give the Buffalo Sabres an A-plus at every position for their 3-1 victory on Tuesday. And while you're at it, you can also give the finger to the Canadiens, who now find themselves ranked No. 13 in the East. What they also managed to do with an empty performance, during which the Sabres outshot the Canadiens 40-28, was stay within eight points of the last playoff spot – but only because the Florida Panthers weren't part of the NHL schedule."
Sabres look to Ennis for creativity as a center
February 1
Buffalo News
 
"Tyler Ennis, at times, can be the Sabres' top playmaker. He's shifty, has speed and knows how to pass. Now that he's playing center, Ennis hopes he'll have the puck more and show those skills. It might help Buffalo sustain an offensive attack. Ennis, who'd been out since reinjuring his left ankle Dec. 17, returned to the lineup Tuesday night for the Sabres' 3-1 victory over to Montreal. In a change, the erstwhile left winger skated at center in the middle of right wing Drew Stafford and left wing Nathan Gerbe. "I can play center, and I'm excited to," Ennis said in Bell Centre. "Maybe they just want a little change or switch it up a bit. I'm comfortable with it, and they're comfortable with"
Vanek hurt as Buffalo defeats Montreal in its first game after the break
February 1
Buffalo News
 
"Even after winning consecutive games for the first time in 11 weeks, Sabres coach Lindy Ruff left Montreal shaking his head at Buffalo's bad luck. The Sabres used a 40-shot barrage to earn a 3-1 victory over Montreal, giving them back-to-back victories for the first time since Nov. 11. Thomas Vanek, though, wasn't around to celebrate. The Sabres' leading goal scorer suffered an upper-body injury in the first period Tuesday. He played a regular shift, including the final one of the frame, but didn't return for the second."
Sabres pushing to host NHL event
January 31
Buffalo News
 
"The NHL knows how to throw a party. The league has successfully turned its three marquee events — the All-Star Game, the draft and the Winter Classic — into must-attend bashes that last days instead of hours. The Buffalo Sabres want in. Team President Ted Black this weekend reiterated his desire to bring any and all of the galas to Buffalo as soon as possible. Sunday's All-Star Game in Scotiabank Place concluded a four-day run of hockey and fan-friendly festivities that had residents and visitors smiling, talking and pulling out their wallets throughout Ottawa. "Hockey fans in Buffalo would embrace it," said Sabres forward Luke Adam, who took part in the event along with teammate Jason"
Pominville shows he's out of touch
January 31
Buffalo News
 columnist Bucky Gleason
"Jason Pominville took the path of least resistance Sunday when asked after the All-Star Game by teammate Luke Adam if he could pick one player from Team Chara to join the Sabres. Pominville's reaction might have sounded like music to his team in Buffalo, but it hardly passed for leadership. "I don't know if I'd pick a player," Pominville said. "I like our team. I like everybody we have. I like the chemistry we have in our locker room, so I would keep it that way." Pominville was either lying or delusional, either of which is disturbing heading into tonight's game in Montreal."
Sabres resume quest for a win streak
January 31
Buffalo News
 
"The Buffalo Sabres held a late-afternoon practice at First Niagara Center after players got back into town Monday from the All-Star break. Coach Lindy Ruff demanded high-tempo drills and he eventually got them, with the 75-minute workout one of the crisper-looking ones this team has put together in some time. There was plenty of upbeat talk in the locker room afterward, and then it was time to head to the airport for the flight to Montreal in preparation for tonight's game against the Canadiens in the Bell Centre. But there's a reality looming around the room too: The Sabres are 14th in the East and several players could be in their final month in the Blue and Gold if the team becomes a"
W's taking the heat off Cunneyworth
January 31
Buffalo News
 
"Throughout the hockey world, even in Quebec, there's really only one language. It has two letters, W and L. The language, of course, is wins and losses. If a coach wins, he's good. If he loses, he's not. Montreal's Randy Cunneyworth is finally winning. The NHL's most famous unilingual Anglophone has led the Canadiens to points in five of their last six games, a run he hopes to continue tonight when the Buffalo Sabres visit. It has, at least temporarily, quieted the calls for his head that began the moment he was hired as interim coach Dec. 17. "[It's settled down] for the time being," Montreal defenseman Josh Gorges said Monday. "Winning will keep it that way. That's the only recipe to"
Add a star? Pominville likes status quo
January 30
Buffalo News
 
"The talent level at NHL All-Star Games is downright ridiculous. The players who skated in Sunday's exhibition have combined for 5,136 goals and 13,558 points during their stellar careers. If given the chance, Jason Pominville would pass on acquiring all of them. The relaxed, good-natured feel of the All-Star event shined through shortly after Team Chara earned a 12-9 victory over Team Alfredsson. Buffalo Sabres rookie Luke Adam grabbed a microphone and interviewed teammate Jason Pominville, who had a goal and assist in a losing effort."
Buffalo's in a party mood
January 30
Buffalo News
 
"The NHL knows how to throw a party. The league has successfully turned its three marquee events — the All-Star Game, the draft and the Winter Classic — into must-attend bashes that last days instead of hours. The Buffalo Sabres want in. Team President Ted Black this weekend reiterated his desire to bring any and all of the galas to Buffalo as soon as possible. Sunday's All-Star Game in Scotiabank Place concluded a four-day run of hockey and fan-friendly festivities that had residents and visitors smiling, talking and pulling out their wallets throughout Ottawa. "Hockey fans in Buffalo would embrace it," said Sabres forward Luke Adam, who took part in the event along with teammate Jason"
Back to the real NHL games
January 30
Ottawa Sun
 columnist Chris Stevenson
"The days at the beach, as tweeted by Capitals defenceman Mike Green from the Cayman Islands, are over. The neon tans from Las Vegas will now start to fade. The NHL's feel-good weekend here — a resounding success which revolved around the emotional outpouring between Ottawa captain Daniel Alfredsson and Senators fans — now becomes a fond memory. Ahead is a 30-game sausage grinder that is the rest of the NHL season. "You need the break whether you're here or somewhere else doing something different. This is a part of the season the guys really look forward to, just to recharge the battery," said Maple Leafs winger Joffrey Lupul. "When you get back from this break, you're re-energized and you"
Chara's stars beat hometown hero Alfredsson
January 30
Ottawa Sun
 
"On his big day, Daniel Alfredsson surrounded himself with Swedes. But it was a bunch of Slovak buddies, led by New York Rangers winger Marian Gaborik, who drove Team Chara to a 12-9 victory over Team Alfredsson in front of 20,510 in the 57th NHL all-star game Sunday at Scotiabank Place. While former Senators defenceman Zdeno Chara scored the third-period winner, it was Gaborik, voted the game MVP, who led his club to victory with a hat trick and four-point effort as Team Chara walked away with the bragging rights. "You could see the guys wanted to win," said Chara when asked if he gave his team any instructions with the score tied 6-6 going into the third period. "I didn't have to say a"
Burke says he wasn't taking a shot at Regier
January 29
Buffalo News
 
"It sure sounded like an insult when Brian Burke said last month that Darcy Regier is "really unreasonable" while talking trades. The Toronto general manager said Saturday that wasn't case. Burke has not chatted with Buffalo's GM since saying the two talk different languages about players during trade conversations. The silence shouldn't be interpreted as hard feelings. "It wasn't a shot at him anyhow," Burke said after the board of governors meeting. "It's just like trying to make a trade with a guy that's speaking Persian and you're speaking English. We made one trade, we made the Dominic Moore trade, so we made one trade. Some guys are trading partners and some guys aren't. "I could"
Sabres' Black hints at possible changes among 'core' players
January 29
Buffalo News
 
"Ted Black's usual smile and laidback attitude were on full display Saturday afternoon. Then the Buffalo Sabres' season got brought up. The smile disappeared. The pained look worn by most folks in Sabreland took over. "It's a tough year," the team president said. That summed up the obvious. The Sabres are 14th in the 15-team Eastern Conference. They've won only four times in 18 games. The season is well on the way to becoming a lost one. Black isn't quite there. After all, something good may eventually come out of the struggles. That's the hope, anyway. "I wouldn't say that about any season [being a lost one] because you never know where the seeds of greatness are going to be planted,""
First-half follies have Sabres stuck in the breakdown lane
January 29
Buffalo News
 
"It's been a complete collapse. Bad goaltending. Bad offense. Injuries. Questionable offseason moves. Questionable coaching. You name it, there's a reason why one of the more anticipated seasons in Buffalo Sabres history already appears flushed down the drain with 33 games still left on the schedule. The players will say otherwise because they have to, but it's clear the playoffs should not even be in the thoughts of a club that's 14th in the Eastern Conference and actually tied for last. The eye test shows a 10-point deficit and five teams to climb over, an arduous task. The numbers show an equally dark tale. According to sportclubstats.com, the Sabres stand just an 0.6 percent chance of"
Adam draws hardest-shot spot
January 28
Buffalo News
 
"Luke Adam repeatedly made himself very clear. The Buffalo Sabres' rookie is thrilled to be part of NHL All-Star Weekend, but he doesn't want to embarrass himself competing against the best in the world. So, along those lines, he wanted to do anything in the Skills Competition tonight except the hardest-shot contest. Just imagine, Adam said Friday, watching Boston slap shot king Zdeno Chara fire a 100-mph blast and following that up with your own 70-mph shot. No thanks. A half-hour later, Adam got the news he dreaded. When the All-Stars gather in Scotiabank Place, the Buffalo forward will be competing against the big shooters. Teammate and fellow All-Star Jason Pominville couldn't help but"
No car, no problem for Pominville
January 27
Buffalo News
 
"No new car. No $20,000 monetary donation made to the charity of his choice. Those were the perks to go with being the last pick during the NHL All-Star draft on Thursday — bonuses that went to San Jose's Logan Couture and not Jason Pominville, although the Buffalo Sabres' captain was in the running for being the last of the 38 players chosen in the draft. Pominville, the Sabres' leading scorer with 47 points in 49 games, was selected 36th overall (third-to-last player taken) during the draft by Team Alfredsson. The final four picks, all forwards, included Pominville, Couture, Boston's Tyler Seguin and Dallas' Jamie Benn. "I'll have to fly back home, I won't drive," Pominville quipped in an"
Who will win? Breaking down All-Star teams
January 27
NHL.com
 
"The draft is over, the rosters set for the 2012 Tim Hortons NHL All-Star Game. We now know who will be wearing the white jerseys for Team Alfredsson and the blue jerseys to represent Team Chara. Now it's time to take a look at the rosters and break them down by position. Look for our prediction at the end. FORWARDS Datsyuk and Malkin on the same team is a scary proposition for the opposition. They may be the two most skilled players in the NHL right now. As Chara said, you can put them on the same line and they can be unstoppable, or you can put them on separate lines and they'll still be dominant and "make the line." Team Alfredsson has a lot of talent, but it doesn't have two"
Fans' fury deserves an answer
January 25
Buffalo News
 columnist Bucky Gleason
"Some might be surprised and perhaps offended, but I've never been one to read comments after my columns and rarely put much stock into what people say in emails. I toss reactions into the same jar. Fans are passionate about sports and have strong opinions. We have that much in common. Buffalo fans pay attention, and many make valid points while telling me why they disagree with me or remind me when I miss something. Some have called me names I wouldn't repeat at a bachelor party. It comes with the job. What irks me is when people accuse me of writing something I didn't write, then blast me under false pretenses. There's plenty of real material for people to second-guess, let alone things"
Another concussion sidelines Hecht
January 25
Buffalo News
 
"The Sabres' never-ending quest to get healthy remains just that. Buffalo suffered another unexpected absence Tuesday, losing center Jochen Hecht to a concussion. He took part in the morning skate prior to the 2-1 shootout win over New Jersey, but he quickly began to feel terrible. Hecht visited with doctors, who diagnosed him with his second concussion of the season and third in less than a year. "He's not good," Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said after the game. "He's got concussion symptoms. Wasn't feeling bad [Monday]. He took a hit from [T.J.] Oshie in St. Louis, kind of an elbow — and came off [Tuesday] and he was a mess. He couldn't focus. Emotionally, he was really unstable. He's in a"
Sabres go break dancing
January 25
Buffalo News
 
"There was a strange noise coming from the Sabres' dressing room Tuesday night. It was, believe it or not, laughter. There was an unfamiliar look on the players' faces, too. They were smiling. Honest to goodness, they were actually smiling. For once, they had a reason to laugh, grin and feel good about things. For once, they won. Buffalo ended a pair of long losing streaks with a 2-1 shootout victory over New Jersey, stopping slides of five games overall and 12 straight away from home. Aside from some of Ryan Miller's saves, it wasn't the prettiest of victories, but it was definitely worthy of a good mood as the team broke up for the All-Star break."
Devils fall in shootout, lose 2-1 to Sabres
January 25
New York Post
 
"This loss should haunt the Devils during the All-Star break they already started before the game began. The first team that couldn't beat the Sabres at home this winter, they will stew, winless in three, until next Tuesday's showdown with the Rangers. "We're not an elite team yet," Martin Brodeur said after the Devils fell 2-1 in a shootout to the Sabres in Newark. "We're middle of the pack. Gracious hosts for a Sabres squad that arrived with a team record 12 straight road losses, the Devils started off like a team that already started the All-Star break."
Ehrhoff's goals: Lift spirits, then win games
January 24
Buffalo News
 
"Christian Ehrhoff, who is ready to play his first game of 2012, wants to bring more than his hockey skills to the Buffalo Sabres tonight. He plans to bring a dose of Daniel Tosh or Chris Rock. He feels the Sabres could use a laugh. Ehrhoff, who has been out since suffering an upper-body injury against Washington on Dec. 30, will be on the blue line tonight against the New Jersey Devils in Prudential Center. While the defenseman was sidelined, the Sabres went just 2-7-2, part of a disheartening stretch that has seen Buffalo win just three times in 17 games."
Sabres say they've got to get defensive
January 24
Buffalo News
 
"Once upon a time, the Buffalo Sabres were a fast, aggressive team. They lived by the mantra of "play on your toes, not on your heels." Their forwards flew up ice and the defensemen joined exhilarating rushes, giving the team the type of attack that led to odd-man chances. That style is gone. The offense doesn't have the firepower to get into shootouts. The goaltenders haven't made enough saves to allow the Sabres to trade chances. So, yet again, the Sabres are looking to team defense as a way to get rid of their misfortune."
Sabres are overdue for change at GM
January 22
Buffalo News
 columnist Bucky Gleason
"OK, so what's the point of no return? When is enough, in fact, enough? Sabres owner Terry Pegula is a nice guy and appears to be a patient owner, but even he must have a breaking point that induces swift and decisive action. Unfortunately, he missed the deadline for "swift" by about eight months. There's still hope for "decisive" once he realizes his team has become a laughingstock. Whether his players became too comfortable or spoiled or stale no longer matters. The reality is the Sabres have lost their collective hunger and no longer have the competitive bite and chemistry to consistently compete with the big boys. If Milan Lucic didn't expose their flaws two months ago, their 12-game"