Buffalo News

'Zemgus Girgensons scored the tying goal for the Sabres, and Linus Ullmark made 27 saves in goal. Pageau broke a scoreless tie late in the first period, and Brady Tkachuk was credited with an empty-net goal. Ottawa (16-18-4) has earned points in eight of its last 11 games.' … [Read more...] about The Wraparound: Senators 3, Sabres 1

'"What Risto’s done is he’s bought in big time to what the entire staff is selling," said Sabres assistant coach Steve Smith, who works with the team's defensemen. "He has come in with an incredible attitude this year. No one ever questioned his work ethic and it’s even at a new level where I think mentally he’s working harder."' … [Read more...] about Rasmus Ristolainen using lessons from the past to improve with Sabres

'“I think our forwards are really working two ways," Ristolainen said. "It’s really easy to trust them, they’re coming back. I saw maybe one forward was changing there, so I felt a little chance to go down to the net and the puck got to me and I put it in.”' … [Read more...] about Sabres defensemen continue to ignite offense in come-from-behind win

'Job one for Botterill might be to do what the Devils did to Cory Schneider earlier this month and put Hutton on waivers to get him some work in Rochester. Or he could simply call up Amerks standout Andrew Hammond and go with three goalies. Hammond would play and give Ullmark some respite and Hutton would keep working in practice and off-ice with goalie coach Mike Bales.' … [Read more...] about After Sabres’ holiday break, GM should start takin’ care of business

'The Sabres (17-13-7) snapped a three-game losing streak and won their fifth consecutive game at home to keep pace in the Atlantic Division. Victor Olofsson scored an empty-net goal with 1:33 remaining for his 24th point in 22 games.' … [Read more...] about The Wraparound: Buffalo Sabres 3, Los Angeles Kings 2

'"I still have a long way to go to get to where I usually am, and where I know I can be. But I feel like it’s been a little bit better," Johansson said. " ... You always want to be at your best and help the team win. You want to get better every day, too. I come in every day and work hard to do that. I haven't felt like myself pretty much all year."' … [Read more...] about With Sabres centers on the mend, Marcus Johansson still trying to ‘feel like myself’

'However, Eichel's status for Saturday against the Los Angeles Kings won't be determined until hours before puck drop in Buffalo. Neither Eichel nor coach Ralph Krueger would reveal more details about the ailment, other than the Sabres' top center is "day to day" and had been playing through whatever forced him to miss his first game of the season.' … [Read more...] about Jack Eichel joins Sabres for practice, uncertain whether he’ll play against Kings

'It was a normal day that had a chance to be historic for the Buffalo Sabres. And then, to quote coach Ralph Krueger, everything suddenly "slid off the rails." That's for sure.' … [Read more...] about Stunned by Eichel’s streak-ending injury, Sabres offer no resistance to Flyers

'"For me sometimes, I know you'll have ups and downs through a season and I understand that," Skinner told The Buffalo News after his team's pregame skate ahead of its game against the Philadelphia Flyers. "But it's not something I'm trying to look at as a seven-game stretch. I try to go game to game see what I can do to get better.' … [Read more...] about Sabres’ Jeff Skinner shoulders blame for scoring slump

'It was ugliness unmatched in Ralph Krueger's first 36 games as coach.' … [Read more...] about The Wraparound: Philadelphia Flyers 6, Buffalo Sabres 1

'The Sabres gave Skinner an eight-year, $72-million deal last spring after he gave them a contract-year, 40-goal season. He has 11 goals this season but seven of them came in October. For those scoring at home, that means just four goals in the last 22 games.' … [Read more...] about Jeff Skinner’s slide is a real head-scratcher for Sabres’ offense

'Eichel has 16 goals, 15 assists and 31 points during his current 17-game streak, which ties a pair of 17-gamers put up by Hall of Famer Dave Andreychuk during the 1991-92 and 1992-93 seasons. Perreault's totals were 10-21-31 during his 18-game run.' … [Read more...] about If Jack Eichel gets a point Thursday, he’ll tie Gilbert Perreault for franchise record

'An uncharacteristically bad two periods prevented the Sabres (16-12-7) from creating distance between them and the Leafs (17-14-4) in the Atlantic Division, and illustrated a problem that's plagued Buffalo since Eichel was drafted second overall in 2015: a lack of supplementary scoring.' … [Read more...] about Jack Eichel stretches point streak to 17 games, but slow start dooms Sabres

'Now he's one of the favorites for the Calder Trophy. The Sabres showed incredible patience with him in the face of outside views (raising hand) that he should have been in the NHL far sooner last year in place of Tage Thompson. They're able to enjoy the told-ya-so phase.' … [Read more...] about Sabres waited on Victor Olofsson and are getting their rewards

'The Sabres looked over-matched for 40 minutes of the two teams' third meeting of the season, though. Jack Eichel extended his point streak to 17 games, one off the franchise record, and the Sabres scored three goals in the third period, but Auston Matthews' two goals held up in a 5-3 win for the Toronto Maple Leafs in Scotiabank Arena on Tuesday.' … [Read more...] about The Wraparound: Maple Leafs 5, Sabres 3