Archives for March 2016

‘With both teams off on Wednesday after playing back-to-back road games, the surprise news came out of Sabres camp late in the afternoon. The team announced in a terse press release that goaltender Robin Lehner underwent successful surgery on his right ankle and “will be unavailable for the remainder of the team’s games this season.”’

‘“Around the last two games of the regular season I started talking to my advisor and thinking about what was the best option for me and my future,” Conacher said. “I think my development at Canisius, and how well I developed there and the coaching staff and how much they worked to get my game better made me ready for the pro level. I had a good year this year so I just thought it was the time and place.”’

‘“It was for a while there,” O’Reilly said Tuesday inside Consol Energy Center before scoring. “I was getting really frustrated there. You look at the goals, it’s outcome focused, and that’s something you can’t control. You only control how you shoot the puck, how you skate, how you get to certain areas, and that’s what I’ve tried to focus on.”’

‘In Lehner’s absence this season, backup Chad Johnson has performed like a No. 1 goalie. Johnson has started six straight games and seven out of the last eight entering tonight’s tilt against the Toronto Maple Leafs inside the First Niagara Center.’

Game Day: Maple Leafs at Sabres (Toronto Sun)
Maple Leafs-Buffalo Sabres: Thursday game preview (Toronto Star)
Maple Leafs-Sabres Preview (AP)
Maple Leafs look to keep up recent success (NHL.com)
Game Journal: Game 77 – Maple Leafs vs. Sabres (MapleLeafs.com)

‘The Sabres were counting on Lehner to take over as their starter when they traded a first-round draft pick last June to acquire him from Ottawa.’

‘Lehner was limited to 21 games this season and posted a 5-9-5 record with a 2.47 goals-against average and a .924 save percentage. He last played in a March 16 game against the Montreal Canadiens.’

‘The organization reports it was a successful procedure on his right ankle — an injury that caused him to miss the majority of the season. In 21 starts the Swede posted a .942 save percentage with a 2.47 goals against mark.’

‘The Buffalo Sabres today announced that goaltender Robin Lehner has undergone successful surgery on his right ankle and will be unavailable for the remainder of the team’s games this season.’

‘Nelson recorded two more assists Tuesday during a 5-4 shootout loss to the Penguins, giving him four points in three appearances. The 23-year-old defenseman has reached the scoresheet in every game since leaving Minnesota State after his junior year.’