Archives for February 17, 2019

‘”We’re in, obviously, a stretch where every game is in important,” center Evan Rodrigues said. “But at the end of the day, you can’t dwell on a game like yesterday, because it’s not going to do anything for you. You have to learn from it, take a step forward from it, build off of it, just get ready for the next game. I think when you get a little too emotional and you worry too much about a bad game, I think that’s when you start to get down on yourself, confidence kind of goes out the window and that’s when things start to snowball.”‘

‘While Okposo will join the Sabres for their three-game road trip, Marco Scandella was evaluated by team doctors Saturday and did not board the team charter to Newark, N.J. Defensemen Zach Bogosian and goalie Linus Ullmark did not practice for “maintenance.”‘

‘”It’s something we talked about,” Jason Pominville, 36, told The News following a recent practice. “I don’t think it was a problem for us last year, but it’s the way the world is right now. Everyone is on their phone. You want to make sure you keep the conversations going within the group. You’re eating for 20 minutes. You can wait to answer your calls or whatever.”‘

‘The 6-foot-2 Coyle, who can also play right wing, probably can still be had at a cost and you wonder if it might mean one of the Sabres’ three first-round draft picks. A major retooling appears imminent in Minny, which has made the playoffs for six consecutive seasons but has combined to win just four games in getting blitzed out of the first round the last three seasons.’

‘“We need to be there for each other for a shoulder to lean on, just to get the feelings out,” said Phil Housley, his fingers interlocked behind his head as he looked at the ceiling. “‘What’s bothering you?’” he asked, rhetorically. “We talk it out, and we feel much better after we’re done with that.”’