Buffalo News

'The Habs made the playoffs last season by sneaking two points ahead of Columbus for the final wild-card slot in the East. They won only 40 of 82 games and had a minus-20 goal differential for the season − but a key boost to their run was a four-game sweep of the Sabres that saw them outscore Buffalo, 21-11.' … [Read more...] about Sabres Notebook: Avenging last year’s sweep is one subplot of trip to Montreal

'The Sabres harnessed the emotion of a showdown against the defending Stanley Cup champions and capitalized on it. The Sabres created a net-front presence, boosted by Josh Doan’s two goals. The Sabres finished 7 for 7 on the penalty kill, including a kill of a tripping penalty called against Zach Benson nine seconds into the game. They played with a physical edge.' … [Read more...] about ‘A lot of passion’: Sabres defeat Florida Panthers, 3-0, in game full of emotion

'Witness Saturday's 3-0 blanking of the shell-of-the-Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers. You had to love it. Tough work along the walls and in front of the net. The first two Buffalo goals from Josh Doan, the kind of nose-to-the-grindstone player the Kevyn Adams-era Sabres have not had nearly enough of. A 32-save shutout from Alex Lyon, who has run with the goaltending job … [Read more...] about Mike Harrington: Sabres’ growth comes not just in wins but in their all-around performance

'“I think we’ve all kind of decided that it’s best to just try to get some wins here,” Bartlett said. “ ... Alex is a leader on that team, both play-wise and kind of in the room. He wants to focus on that, not have it a distraction. So, we’ve wanted to just kind of let everyone know, we’re just going to put this on the back burner for a little bit. It doesn’t mean that we’re … [Read more...] about Inside the NHL: The flame is turned down on Alex Tuch talks as Sabres focus on wins over contracts

'These six games carry a little more weight for the Sabres, when it comes to the long game and the length of the season, particularly when teams start to jockey for playoff position later in the year. Points in the Atlantic Division are at a premium. Getting those points against divisional opponents could mean the difference between sneaking into the playoffs or cleaning out … [Read more...] about Sabres lean into 6-game stretch against Atlantic Division opponents

'Kevyn Adams' job status is an obvious topic but speculating about where players might get traded if the season goes south when we're just three games into it is simply irresponsible. It's a way some of these outlets connive to get attention they don't deserve.' … [Read more...] about Mike Harrington: Sabres need repeat performances like squashing of the Sens

'Give the most significant credit to the Sabres’ ability to respond to adversity – and to be amused by it. That showed the character of the Sabres, which was hiding somewhere in the background of an 0-3 start to the season.' … [Read more...] about ‘Desperate’ Sabres tackle challenges to top Ottawa, 8-4, for first win of season

'The Sabres are 30th among 32 teams in faceoff percentage at 41.6% in their first three games. Justin Danforth leads the Sabres in faceoff percentage (57.1%, 16 wins, 12 losses) and the forward has shuttled between the second, third and fourth lines in the Sabres’ first three games, at center and at wing. Thompson is at 50% (14-14), Kulich at 39% (16-25) and McLeod at 34% … [Read more...] about Sabres centers need to face facts on faceoffs after 0-3 start

'“I went and got stitches and it kind of kept blowing up on me,” said Benson, the winger who could make his season debut Wednesday in the home game against the Ottawa Senators. “It got to the point where I thought it would be best to go to the emergency room and thankfully I did. I had to get some blood removed from my face and I’m thankful for the doctors and the care I had."' … [Read more...] about Zach Benson may crack lineup as trio of injured Sabres return to practice

'Then, the third period unfolded. So did more of the Sabres’ shortcomings, in a 3-1 loss to the Avalanche at Keybank Center. Already wielding a pair of NHL All-Stars and Canadian Olympic team selections in defenseman Cale Makar and center Nathan MacKinnon, the Avalanche outshot the Sabres 15-4 in the third, two periods after the Sabres opened the game at a high tempo.' … [Read more...] about Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin, after loss to the Avalanche: ‘We gotta get out of this’

'Here's one nugget owner Terry Pegula could chew on while enjoying his suite in Atlanta at the Bills game: The Sabres are 0-3 for the fifth time in their history − and all of those seasons have come since TPeg purchased the team in 2011.' … [Read more...] about Mike Harrington: Try as they might, Sabres are getting absolutely nothing done

'The words of Ruff, the Sabres coach, were warranted. His team came out with minimal urgency to start the game, which established a dubious tone for 60 minutes against the Bruins, an Atlantic Division rival.' … [Read more...] about Sabres coach Lindy Ruff: ‘Our ‘compete’ was terrible’ in a 3-1 loss at Boston

'“He’s still being evaluated,” Ruff said Norris, acquired in March from Ottawa. “It’s upper body, but it’s nothing related to what he’s had in the past."' … [Read more...] about Sabres center Josh Norris to miss ‘significant amount of time’ with upper-body injury

'“We’re looking at long range economic models now, and how the cap can impact that,” Sabres chief operating officer Pete Guelli told The Buffalo News last week prior to the team’s home opener in KeyBank Center. “That’s the reason why we’re so focused on our business, the building, the teams and events so we can put together an economic debt model that’s going to work in the … [Read more...] about Inside the NHL: To Sabres COO Pete Guelli, rise of the cap and franchise values speaks to NHL’s health

'"This is a great hockey market and I know they're working very hard on it," Bettman said. "It's vitally important to Terry and he's committed to getting it right. I remember when he first bought the Bills initially (2014), there was a lot of criticism that it took three or four years for that team to get good. Even if this is taking longer, the commitment should never be in … [Read more...] about Gary Bettman on Sabres’ drought: ‘Team performance is something that I leave to the teams’