Buffalo News

'The Sabres opened their three-game road trip with a loss that was yet another disappointment in a stretch full of them. Buffalo ended its seven-game homestand at 3-3-1 after Friday's 6-2 stinker against the New York Rangers and couldn't rebound in this one despite a 34-24 advantage in shots on goal.' … [Read more...] about The Wraparound: New Jersey Devils 4, Buffalo Sabres 1

'"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 … [Read more...] about Sabres watch video, work in practice to clean up mistakes ahead of road trip

'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."' … [Read more...] about Kyle Okposo to join Sabres on road trip, Marco Scandella’s status unknown

'"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."' … [Read more...] about Inside the Sabres: Trying to prevent phones, games from impinging on team bonding

'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.' … [Read more...] about Inside the NHL: With Wild looking to retool, Sabres should be eyeing Charlie Coyle

'“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.”' … [Read more...] about A Sabres season, a Senate setback and longing by long-distance : At home with the Housleys

'Phil Housley, visibly frustrated during his postgame news conference, said his players were outworked during another poor defensive performance. "We don’t have time to wait around," the Sabres' coach lamented. "That’s what’s disappointing about this game. .. We’re soft."' … [Read more...] about ‘Soft’ Sabres cap seven-game homestand with another defensive dud

'Phil Housley, who is clearly running out of answers, spanned the globe of talking points about his team after this one. He checked off a lot of boxes with these quotes, all of which are quite damning to any hockey team.' … [Read more...] about Mike Harrington: Soft Sabres look nothing like a playoff team

'"It's tough," Mittelstadt said following the morning skate. "You never want to be watching, but I think it's a good learning experience for me. How many guys go their whole career without getting hurt? It's something to learn. Learn the whole rehab situation and getting back at it."' … [Read more...] about Sabres Notebook: Casey Mittelstadt out again but ‘close’ to return

'The Sabres allowed two goals in an eight-second span to the Rangers late in the third period, and New York added an empty-netter with 57 seconds remaining. Linus Ullmark made only 23 saves for the Sabres. Rangers goalie Alexandar Georgiev made 12 saves in the third period, including two on Tage Thompson shots from the slot.' … [Read more...] about The Wraparound: Rangers 6, Sabres 2

'“I don’t think about it at all really,” Skinner said. “For us, we have enough things to think about here. We’re in the thick of the hunt right now. As a player, you can only sort of control a small number of things in spurts, and for me I think you just try and focus on those as much as you can. For us right now, that’s moving on to (Friday’s) game and getting ready for that … [Read more...] about Sabres’ Jack Eichel on Jeff Skinner: ‘We wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for him’

'"I would say I'm quirky, unique," Ullmark said, unabashedly, in KeyBank Center following practice last week. "I would rather be unique than normal. That’s how I see it. I don’t have any issues with me being me and people seeing me as quirky or fun or whatever they say. I try to be me every day, every week. Try to enjoy life as much as possible."' … [Read more...] about Linus Ullmark: Meet the man behind the Minions mask, quirks and all

'"It’s not flashy hockey, but it’s that time of year," Jason Pominville, who scored his 13th goal of the season on one of the Sabres' 22 shots, said. "It’s that time of year you need to defend to win games. I think everyone is starting to realize that."' … [Read more...] about Sabres use patience, persistence to grind out 3-1 win over Islanders

'"That's all it was. It wasn't pretty hockey out there, that's for sure," said Kyle Okposo. "In the last three games, we've taken a good step in how we need to play defensively. Everybody on the bench knows when we get scrambly for a little bit, we're saying the right things. We're going, 'sort it out'. We stuck with it."' … [Read more...] about Mike Harrington: Sabres’ buy-in to defensive grind keeps them in the hunt

'Mittelstadt, a 20-year-old rookie center, was a game time decision because of a “little bang,” according to coach Phil Housley, and did not participate in pregame warm-up ahead of puck drop. In his place, winger C.J. Smith moved back into the lineup and Evan Rodrigues centered the second line.' … [Read more...] about Sabres Notebook: Casey Mittelstadt out with lower-body injury