Archives for December 2013

Rochester Amerks head to Michigan for weekend (Rochester Democrat and Chronicle) Amerks begin two-game road set tonight against defending champs (Amerks.com) … [Read more...] about Friday’s Rochester Coverage

'“The atmosphere with Toronto is more like a playoff game. Everything gets built up, even in here,” Sabres defenseman Henrik Tallinder said Wednesday in the dressing room after practice. “When you come out there and it’s dead quiet and we’re not playing well as a team, it’s tough to get that little extra drive. When you have that audience out there, you build off that.”' … [Read more...] about Sabres aim to get competitive juices flowing

'“You look at all the championship teams and it starts from goaltending out. ... I prefer you build around him rather than use him as a pawn to try and get something to make you better,” Nolan said. “You learn to deal with the now as a coach and we’ve got one of the better goaltenders in the world here and I’d like to build around him myself.”' … [Read more...] about Nolan wants to build around Miller

'“I think he could tell I was too focused before on playing a certain type of game a particular way, always be in the right spot,” Ennis said Wednesday inside the First Niagara Center. “He came in and just said, ‘Just go out, play and have fun. Don’t worry about the Xs and Os too much. Just take the puck and make plays again.’ That was refreshing in itself. I really like that … [Read more...] about Struggling Tyler Ennis refreshed by Sabres’ new regime, excited about Ted Nolan’s style

'“So hopefully he likes what we’re doing, and you never know,” Nolan said.' … [Read more...] about Ted Nolan wants Sabres goalie Ryan Miller to stay; Brayden McNabb assigned to Amerks for single game

Rangers-Sabres Preview (AP) New York Rangers (14-14-0) at Buffalo Sabres (6-20-2) (The Sports Network) Rangers hoping to find consistency in play (NHL.com) Pregame Notes: Rangers at Buffalo (NewYorkRangers.com) … [Read more...] about Thursday’s New York Coverage

'“We hired Pat LaFontaine to be head of hockey operations, and he's my boss now,” Battista said. “Working alongside a quality person and hockey mind like that, every day is exciting and every day we're making progress.”' … [Read more...] about Penn Hills native moves from Penn State to Sabres front office

'“You look at all championship teams, it starts from the goaltending out. You build around him versus using him as a pawn to try get something to make you better. We’ve got one of the better goaltenders in the world here and I talked to Pat about this and I said, ‘The one thing we want to do is create an environment where people want to come here and stay here’, so hopefully he … [Read more...] about Sabres Nolan wants Miller to stay

'The Sabres of course would have to approve him playing. He said, “If they want me to play there, then I’ll have to discuss it with Pat and Ted and we’ll see, so I don’t know. I guess we’ll see what’s best for me and if they think it’s going to be a really good experience for me, then I’ll go there and give 100-percent.' … [Read more...] about Sabres Grigorenko wants to play for Team Russia

Amerks trounce last-place Utica (Rochester Democrat and Chronicle) Amerks bomb Comets; road win-streak ends (Utica Observer Dispatch) Hello, Goodbye: McNabb Shines For Amerks, Heads Back to Buffalo (WGR-AM) McNabb, Porter power Amerks in 6-1 rout of Comets (Amerks.com) Final: Comets 1 @ Rochester 6 (UticaComets.com) … [Read more...] about Thursday’s Rochester Coverage

'Keeping their NHL-worst pace over 82 games, the Sabres would finish with just 132 goals – and that would be by far the lowest total in NHL history in the expansion era that dates to 1967.' … [Read more...] about Low-scoring Sabres on pace for historically bad year

'Now, with two goals and seven points in 28 games, he needs to resuscitate his career. He deserves the benefit of the doubt while the Court of Public Opinion considers his appeal. Players who lack confidence often have slow feet, which make them look lazy. Is that what happened with him? It’s time to find out.' … [Read more...] about It’s time for the light to go on for Stafford

'Grigorenko was not on the roster released Monday night by the Russian Hockey Federation for the upcoming World Junior Championships. That’s because he is in the NHL and technically would need to be loaned out to play in the tournament that begins Dec. 26 in Sweden.' … [Read more...] about Sabres consider options for Grigorenko with McCormick returning

'“I think you respect him a lot more for (being) a man that talks to you face-to-face telling you what he wants from you or what you should be doing better,” said Foligno, who registered a one-punch knockout of New Jersey’s Ryan Carter on Saturday. “That makes it a lot easier. … He just tells you how it is.”' … [Read more...] about Sabres’ Marcus Foligno embracing lesser role, feels game improving

'“We’re not 100 percent sure what we’re going to do,” Nolan said following practice inside the First Niagara Center. Nolan said Grigorenko, who’s sat five of the last eight games, has “got to be playing.” “I’ve never seen a player develop not playing,” he said.' … [Read more...] about Sabres could send Mikhail Grigorenko to play with Russians or back to junior