‘“You don’t want to go chance-for-chance with the teams that we’re playing here,” Bylsma said in KeyBank Center. “You don’t want to go offense-for-offense or run-and-gun. You do have to limit what they get by how you play with the puck. That’s a focus for us in the next two games.”’
Archives for January 3, 2017
Sabres Notebook: Larsson done for year; Gorges back
‘Larsson has been one of the Sabres’ top two-way centers for the past two seasons. He also put up six goals and 11 points in 36 games this year.’
Sabres’ offense struggling to score after hot stretch
‘Eichel and O’Reilly, the team’s top centers, have only played together 12 times this season. They’ve missed 30 combined games.’
Sabres’ Johan Larsson out indefinitely after surgery for dislocated elbow, wrist
‘The Swede’s absence leaves the Sabres woefully thin down the middle. With Ryan O’Reilly out after having an appendectomy last week, the Sabres are down two of their top three centers. Larsson, a tenacious and versatile presence, usually centers the third line, a strong checking trio.’
Tuesday’s New York Coverage
Sabres, Eichel try to stop backsliding against Rangers (AP)
Preview: Sabres at Rangers (NHL.com)
Rangers Return Home To Face Sabres (NewYorkRangers.com)
Rangers vs. Sabres 1.3.17: Pregame Notes (NewYorkRangers.com)
Sabres’ Carrier’s hand is improving
‘Carrier has played 24 games with the Sabres and had a good stretch with Ryan O’Reilly. Despite all that, he has two NHL points. Carrier still believes he can produce points at this level, “Yes, I’ve had a lot of chances, a lot of shots and passes and some Grade A chances and I’m just not burring it right now, but I think once one goes in, then the rest of them will go in too.”’
Report: Sabres’ Johan Larsson done for the year
‘The bad news — Larsson is a center, and the Sabres don’t have a ton of talent down the middle in Rochester. Cal O’Reilly seems like a viable option with Larsson out for an extender period of time, unless the Sabres opt to do some more roster shuffling. Without Larsson and Ryan O’Reilly the Sabres find themselves without two of their top three centers.’
With injuries at center, Sabres matchups to change
‘Sam Reinhart has moved to center in O’Reilly’s absence and the roles of Zemgus Girgensons and Derek Grant have elevated. Bylsma said that Girgensons will take on the defensive zone responsibilities once primarily held by Larsson. Eichel, meanwhile, will have to contend with whatever the opposition throws at him, especially because the Rangers and Blackhawks will have the last change.’