Archives for April 10, 2015

‘“I feel good, and confidence is such a big thing,” Ennis said Thursday in First Niagara Center. “When you’re confident, you want that puck at all times and that’s how I’m feeling. That’s how I should feel for the rest of my career. I’ve hit that point where you’re comfortable in the league, you’re getting older and it’s time to take charge. I’m excited for next year.”’

‘The Blue Jackets are 10-0-1 in their last 11 games and one game shy of tying the franchise mark for the longest point streak. Since March 1, they are 13-1-1 and behind only the New York Rangers in points among NHL teams. The Rangers are 14-4-1 for 29 points.’

‘Arizona remains at 56 points while the Sabres are at 54. After sitting idle since Monday, the Sabres play Friday night in Columbus and must get at least one point to stay alive. In Saturday’s season finales, the Sabres host Pittsburgh while Arizona hosts Anaheim.’

‘“Certain guys grab the reigns when they’re given a ride, and some guys choke up a little bit,” Nolan said Thursday inside the First Niagara Center. “It all has to do with their personalities. But I think Ristolainen’s one of those kids, he seems a little bit more mature than his age. He’s really grasped it and he wants to be a real good player.”’

Blue Jackets, Sabres at a glance (Columbus Dispatch)
Sabres-Blue Jackets Preview (AP)
Buffalo Sabres (23-49-8) at Columbus Blue Jackets (40-35-5) (The Sports Network)
Surging Blue Jackets host Sabres in home finale (NHL.com)
Jackets look to extend points streak to 12 games in home finale (BlueJackets.com)

‘Singing and dancing? This atrocious team, which has always found a way to lose — except now, when its fans really wanted it to — danced and sang, delirious after prevailing in a meaningless game that could cost the franchise the next Wayne Gretzky or Mario Lemieux?’

‘Rochester will be Reinhart’s fourth team this season. He had one assist in nine games with the Sabres before being returned to the juniors. He had 65 points (19 goals, 46 assists) in 47 games to finish third among Kootenay players. Reinhart also helped Canada win the world junior title in January.’

‘The Amerks play on the road Thursday against the Lake Erie Monsters, then home on Friday against the Toronto Marlies. If he is in the lineup Thursday, Reinhart could play a total of six games. The Amerks have already been eliminated from the post-season, so his AHL experience will be limited to the half dozen games to end the year.’

‘Matt Ellis is not ready to hang it up and Matt Ellis dearly loves the game of hockey and to play it so you probably know how he feels today, “Those thoughts always cross you mind, you never know when it’s going to be your last day, so for me this is a familiar feeling because I seem to go through it every year, but you try to make the most of each day, live in the present and whatever happens, happens.” Ellis added, “I took a look around and tried to embrace being here.”’

‘“It’s been a pretty tough season here at some points, but you have to remember that you love what you do and yesterday was a good way to do that,” Patrick Kaleta said. “It was good to bond a little more as a team, but with two games left to go, you have to play your heart out and give everything you got.”’