Buffalo News

'"It was like a heavyweight bout going back and forth and there's lots of stuff we can learn from," goalie Carter Hutton said after practice here Thursday. "They'll make high-risk plays and they're very talented. It's one of those games you have to have fun with because you know they'll get their chances no matter how hard you work. They're built for that."' … [Read more...] about Sabres Notebook: A second chance at Caps, Hutton rues Panthers’ penalty shot goal

'Berglund's play improved some as a winger on the team's fourth line, but he was scratched again for wins earlier this month over Los Angeles and Arizona and apparently decided in stunning fashion that his days in Buffalo were done by no-showing practice and the team flight.' … [Read more...] about Sabres waive Patrik Berglund with intent of contract termination

'We still believe a big part of our push in the second half can come from our younger players developing and what our fans haven't seen yet in players we can bring up from Rochester that can contribute. It's tough to put a player from the AHL into the lineup in Buffalo and think they will be a go-to player but the fact is that we have, especially at forward, a few players that … [Read more...] about Sabres GM Jason Botterill talks Skinner, Dahlin, Eichel and more

'"Obviously, it’s not acceptable, but [we need] more desperation in our game," Skinner said afterward. "I think that’s what we want to get to. We have to stick with it and keep on it. It’s tough. You can talk about it, but you have to go out there to do it. You have to find a way late in games to get big plays."' … [Read more...] about Sabres’ third-period meltdown ends with another loss to last-place Panthers

'Berglund has put nothing into this rebuild. Forget about the fact he was acquired for Ryan O'Reilly. He was largely a money balancer on the salary cap. That trade was all about getting Tage Thompson and a first-round draft pick, not a 30-year-old who proved inside of a month that he was no longer capable of being a reliable center in the speedier NHL.' … [Read more...] about Mike Harrington: If Berglund doesn’t want to be here, Sabres should accommodate

'McCabe, who has missed the past nine games with an upper-body injury, joined the Sabres for Tuesday's morning skate and has participated in on-ice workouts with Dennis Miller, the Sabres' rehab and development coach, for eight of the past nine days. Pilut, meanwhile, has missed the past three games with a lower-body injury but did not skate with the team Tuesday.' … [Read more...] about Phil Housley: Jake McCabe, Lawrence Pilut, could return to Sabres’ lineup this weekend

'The Sabres, 20-10-5 with 45 points, led 2-1 after two periods with goals by Jeff Skinner and Ristolainen. However, Barkov scored a power-play goal, Dadonov capitalized on a penalty shot and Vatrano backhanded a shot past Carter Hutton after Marco Scandella lost contain in front of the net. Those three goals were scored 3:44 apart, and Dadonov added an empty netter to cap the … [Read more...] about The Wraparound: Panthers 5, Sabres 2

'"He’s been huge," Skinner said of Girgensons. "I think the last few games he’s made big plays at big times. ... The last few games he’s worked really hard. He’s beaten out some icings that led to goals. Obviously that block at the end is huge."' … [Read more...] about Girgensons playing ‘desperate’ with blocked shots, hits to help Sabres

'"For one, I think we’ve obviously been through a lot of adversity together, and I think we’re probably sick of it," said Eichel, who grew up a 40-minute drive from the Bruins' home ice and starred during his one season at Boston University. "The last few years it’s not been easy. With the way our season started this year, I think we have a lot of confidence in each other and … [Read more...] about Jack Eichel ‘brought his game to another level,’ scores twice in Sabres’ win over Bruins

'Guhle, a second-round draft pick in 2015, struggled in Rochester early this season; however, his play improved over the past 10 days, according to coach Phil Housley. Guhle scored a power-play 17:12 into the second period Saturday night -- his third goal of the season -- and found out moments later he was joining the Sabres.' … [Read more...] about Sabres recall Guhle from Rochester, Pilut placed on injured reserve

'With a 400th consecutive sellout crowd watching from inside TD Garden, the Buffalo Sabres illustrated how far they have come since they were shut out by Boston back on opening night Oct. 4.' … [Read more...] about The Wraparound: Sabres 4, Bruins 2

'Patrik Berglund, a 30-year-old forward acquired from St. Louis as part of the Ryan O'Reilly trade in July, was suspended indefinitely by the team Saturday morning for "failure to report." It's unknown when or if Berglund will return, and it's unclear why he even left.' … [Read more...] about Sabres’ strong showing in loss to Capitals overshadowed by Berglund suspension

'Ovechkin, Brett Connolly and Jakub Vrana also scored for Washington, which benefited from Buffalo losing defenseman Nathan Beaulieu to an injury in the second period. The Sabres were backed by two goals from Jack Eichel — his 11th and 12th of the season — while Dahlin's goal on a rebound 7:21 into the second period gave them the lead.' … [Read more...] about The Wraparound: Capitals 4, Sabres 3, SO

'“We noticed the skating right away,” Steve Spott, an assistant coach for the Sharks who was Skinner's coach with the Kitchener Rangers of the Ontario Hockey League, told The Buffalo News while San Jose was in Buffalo. “He had a God-given ability to score and took it personally when he didn’t. ... He scored goals other players couldn’t score.”' … [Read more...] about Jeff Skinner using lessons from family, figure skating to succeed with Sabres

'New owner Tom Dundon and new coach Rod Brind'Amour are not distinguishing themselves this season. Same for General Manager Don Waddell. The Canes' playoff drought stretches to 2009, the longest in the NHL, and shows no signs of stopping. Especially when you trade players like Jeff Skinner, Elias Lindholm and Noah Hanifin.' … [Read more...] about Inside the NHL: Skinner trade tops bizarre string of moves by Hurricanes’ new sheriffs