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Archives for February 2, 2021

It seems like Casey Mittelstadt will get more looks in Sabres’ lineup

‘”He just seems more confident and more assertive,” said winger Kyle Okposo. “He seems to know the play that he’s going to make before he gets the puck and when he gets it, he’s really confident with it. Really like what he’s brought in when got in the lineup and he got on the power play against Washington. He definitely seems to have taken some steps, which is great.”‘

Travis Yost’s Sabre Metrics: Taylor Hall’s scoring rates are down; too soon to worry?

‘One of the biggest questions surrounding Hall in recent years has concerned his environment. Hall’s offensive production has slowed, but that slowing has been collinear with the teams he has played with. Neither the New Jersey Devils nor Arizona Coyotes offered much in terms of supporting cast, and he was traded midseason before the Covid-19 stoppage. So yes, it’s a bit challenging to tease out how much Hall’s game has eroded versus how much he’s been dragged down by poor offensive teams.’

Sabres send Jack Quinn to Amerks, recall two players to taxi squad

‘The Sabres drafted Quinn eighth overall last year. In a normal year, he would likely be playing with his junior team, the Ontario Hockey League’s Ottawa 67s. Junior-age players can play in the AHL because their leagues are paused right now because of the COVID-19 pandemic.’

Mittelstadt taking in everything he can this season in Buffalo

‘“Watching some of the games before has been helping me be able to see things from up-top a little bit at least. Obviously nothing replaces playing, but getting to see the game and see the time and the space you have in certain areas and different things, especially after a while, I think has helped me in my first couple of games,” Mittelstadt said after Monday’s practice at KeyBank Center. “I think the first period in Washington was going a little fast, but after that I kind of settled in and started feeling the puck a little bit and making a couple of good plays. I felt comfortable out there. I thought I was better last night than I was the first game, so I’m just trying to keep building on it.”’

Sabres call up C.J. Smith, J.S. Dea to taxi squad

‘This is the first time that Smith and Dea have been called up to the Sabres’ taxi squad this season, as both players have spent the past couple of weeks preparing for the Amerks’ season in Rochester. Smith was in Buffalo to take part in training camp before the 2020-21 season got started, while Dea was placed on waivers just before training camp and he did not take part in the two-week period.’