‘They’ll play six games in nine days, including three in the next four, beginning on Friday in Winnipeg. The road trip continues on Saturday at Minnesota and Monday at Pittsburgh before the Sabres return home and play another three games in four days.’
The Sabres Report - November 16, 2018
Jeff Skinner could enjoy one of Sabres’ greatest seasons ever ★
‘Skinner, 26, showcases a tenacity few NHL players possess, relentlessly forechecking and backchecking. And despite his stature – the Sabres list him at 5-foot-11 – he consistently fights for position around the net, the so-called dirty area.’
Sabres’ Patrik Berglund to return against Jets ★
‘“I don’t think as a coaching staff, or if you ask the players, we were at our best against Tampa,” Housley said this afternoon inside KeyBank Center. “We’ve changed the lineup before, wins and losses, but I like what Patrik brings. He’s going to get an opportunity tomorrow.”’
Friday's Winnipeg Coverage ★
Gameday: Five keys to Winnipeg Jets vs Buffalo Sabres (Winnipeg Sun)
Soaring Jets host Sabres (The Sports Xchange)
Sabres at Jets preview (NHL.com)
Game day: Jets vs Sabres (WinnipegJets.com)
The Sabres now know what their roles are and they're embracing them ★
‘Another thing I’ve noticed is the players are having fun. They seem to be enjoying practice and even though we’re not in the room for a long time, they are just sitting together talking and enjoying being there. McCabe said, “For sure, not to bring up last year, but Factor (Ryan O’Reilly) got a lot of heat for his comments at the end of the year, but it’s not fun coming to the rink when you’re losing, especially year after year and it’s draining and even like today, we didn’t skate yesterday so I was excited to come to the rink and get back to work with these guys. We have such a great group of guys in this room and it’s fun to go to war with them every day.”’
Sheary talks first impressions of Buffalo ahead of return to Pittsburgh ★
‘When you’re in Pittsburgh you’ve got a lot of high-end talent that you don’t find every day so it’s hard to build it like that. But I think as far as the stuff that people maybe don’t see, I think he’s doing a good job of incorporating some things that they did that maybe make our team better. Good, character people I think is a thing he looks for. I think he’s done a really good job of that.’
The Sabres Report - November 15, 2018
Numbers can be deceiving for Rasmus Ristolainen's impact on Sabres ★
‘”He’s certainly been a catalyst,” said Sabres assistant coach Steve Smith, who works with Ristolainen. “I think because he’s getting more looks and more success and guys are finding him more often. He’s been a catalyst for the other guys in a way that allows me to show everyone what we’re trying to do.”‘
Sabres goalie Carter Hutton enjoying starting role ★
‘Sure, he played a career-high 40 games as a rookie in 2013-14, but that was mostly subbing for injured Nashville Predators starter Pekka Rinne. Other than that, he has never played more than 32 times.’
Sabres building confidence as they prepare for three-game road trip ★
‘”It’s obviously good to be on the winning side here, but we’re only 18 games in. It’s one thing to do good in the first 18, but we have to keep it rolling here, keep it moving and find ourselves in the playoffs. That would be the goal here, and once you get there, anything can happen.”‘
Beaulieu developing chemistry alongside Dahlin ★
‘”I just think that we think the game really well, the same way, so I think that makes things a lot easier to read in the offensive zone for both of us.”‘