‘”It’s tough news to take,” captain Brian Gionta acknowledged. “But at the end of the day it’s a good thing he had it and found it early on and it was nothing too severe. He’s a big piece of this team, there’s no doubt about that. But we’ve said all along guys have to step up, take that opportunity and fill that void. It has been tough here but by no means are we going to sit and make excuses about that.”‘
Archives for December 28, 2016
Bylsma says Rex’s firing is ‘just the culmination of the disappointment’
‘”I just heard it five minutes ago before I stepped here,” Bylsma said when asked during his standard pregame media briefing. “It’s disappointment really. There was anticipation of winning football games and being a good football team and this is just the culmination of the disappointment of that not being the case.”‘
Sabres notebook: Red Wings honor ’97 Cup champs
‘”We had as solid a team as you could have,” said Bowman, the 83-year-old Williamsville resident who works as a consultant for his son and Chicago Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman. “This is a team that’s for the ages. It’s a team that meshed together.”‘http://buffalonews.com/2016/12/27/sabres-notebook-red-wings-honor-97-cup-champs/
Quick Hits: Sabres 4, Red Wings 3
‘The win was the 300th of Bylsma’s NHL career as the Sabres snapped an 0-2-2 skid. Bylsma becomes the 47th coach in NHL history to record 300 regular-season wins. By getting there in his 517th game, Bylsma is the third-fastest in history to hit 300, behind only Bruce Boudreau (496 games) and Todd McLellan (515).’
Sabres’ Ryan O’Reilly out indefinitely after appendectomy
‘The absence of O’Reilly, the Sabres’ top all-around forward and lone NHL All-Star last season, could doom a team dangerously close to falling out of the playoff hunt. The Sabres have lost four straight games (0-2-2) entering tonight’s road tilt against the Detroit Red Wings.’
Wednesday’s Detroit Coverage
Wings fall into last place in division after loss to Sabres (Detroit News)
Scotty Bowman: Red Wings lack key ingredients (Detroit News)
Red Wings’ Brendan Smith is back (Detroit News)
Photo gallery (Detroit News)
Red Wings lose to Sabres, 4-3, fall into last-place tie in division (Detroit Free Press)
1997 Wings sad to see Joe go, but excited for Little Caesars Arena (Detroit Free Press)
New Red Wings Jared Coreau, Nick Jensen adjusting to NHL life (Detroit Free Press)
Red Wings’ struggles at home continue in loss to Sabres (Ann Arbor News)
Petr Mrazek’s malaise continues as Red Wings drop to Atlantic basement (Ann Arbor News)
Red Wings notes: Nick Jensen’s puck management keeps him in lineup (Ann Arbor News)
Photo gallery (Ann Arbor News)
Trending: Wings’ rally falls short despite 43 shots (DetroitRedWings.com)
Photo gallery (NHL.com)
Sabres beat Red Wings 4-3 for Bylsma’s 300th victory
‘The Wings rallied from 2-0 and 3-1 deficits and thought they had tied it late when Frans Nielsen appeared the score, but the whistle had already been blown because goalie Robin Lehner was hurt after being struck in the throat by teammate Zach Bogosian’s stick.’
Sabres center O’Reilly out after having appendectomy
‘O’Reilly’s seven goals are tied for second on the team, and his 18 points in 27 games rank fourth. He’s Buffalo’s top two-way forward and ranks second on the team in averaging 21 1/2 minutes of ice time per game behind only defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen.’
Lehner, Sabres hold off Red Wings
‘”That’s a great milestone for a coach, and I’m glad we could get it for him in the same rink where he won a Stanley Cup,” said Sabres center Jack Eichel, who had a goal and an assist. “Now we need to get him No. 301.”‘
Sabres C O’Reilly sidelined after appendectomy
‘O’Reilly has collected seven goals and 11 assists in 27 games this season. The 25-year-old’s 18 points are fourth-best on the Sabres (12-13-8), who are mustering an NHL third-worst 2.1 goals per game.’