Buffalo News

'But there's a legitimate sense of growth creeping in with this club. Monday's Winter Classic at frigid Citi Field started out exactly like the disaster NBC and the NHL had to be fearing all month by having a bottom feeder in the game for the first time.' … [Read more...] about Mike Harrington: On ice, you can see a Process too

'"Maybe not getting rewarded in the points he wants, but I think he's doing a lot of good things," center Jack Eichel said. "It was great to see him get a goal. He goes to the net hard, and it was nice to see the power play get another goal. We'll keep working on it."' … [Read more...] about Sabres Notebook: Reinhart ends slump; Ristolainen gets his moment

'The Sabres had to rally again to earn a point. They fell into a 3-1 hole Friday in New Jersey, but they overcame that two-goal deficit to win, 4-3, in overtime. They couldn't recapture the overtime magic after Jacob Josefson went to the box for tripping in the extra session, giving the Rangers their winning chance.' … [Read more...] about Winter Classic Wraparound: Rangers 3, Sabres 2 (OT)

'It was hard to blame them. Buffalo is 10-20-8, last in the Eastern Conference and 30th in the 31-team NHL.' … [Read more...] about Sabres eager to prove they belong in Winter Classic spotlight

'"Anybody that knows Lindy knows not only the hockey person that he is, but that he's a great individual," Vigneault said after practice Sunday at Citi Field. "No ego at all. It's all about the team, all about the group. It was a real good decision on our part to bring him on board. He's a big asset. He's got a great personality that really helps everybody, coaches, players and … [Read more...] about Ruff has been a solid addition to Rangers’ staff

'"You can just see it," linemate Zemgus Girgensons said. "When he's playing a certain way, he's unstoppable. You're on a line with him, it makes hockey fun. He's a fast skater and keeping up with him is definitely a thing. It makes me faster, gets me going more."' … [Read more...] about Mike Harrington: In Winter Classic spotlight, Eichel looks to stay hot out in the cold

'The snow. The crowd. A TV spectacle unlike anything the NHL had ever seen. Crosby vs. Miller in the shootout. The stories of the day are frozen in Sabres annals as one of the most inconic games in the club's history. The game went so well it became the forerunner of one of the NHL's most notable annual traditions.' … [Read more...] about Winter Classic memories: A roll call of the previous New Year’s games outdoors

'He has a .935 save percentage in his last nine games, putting up a 4-2-3 record despite spotty goal support. His .928 save percentage in December ranked fifth among NHL goalies heading into New Year's Eve. He's stopped 234 of the last 246 shots at five-on-five, an impressive .951 save percentage. That includes three goals that were technically six-on-five since the opponent … [Read more...] about Sabres Notebook: Lehner is hot; Kane is witty; Johnson is popular

'"Just being able to share the whole experience with my family and friends will be cool," said Eichel, who has a group of 25 in the Big Apple. "That's one of the best parts about it probably. The Sabres have done such a great job of giving us so many opportunities to bring so many people here and really make them a part of the event."' … [Read more...] about Sabres intent on enjoying their time on Winter Classic stage

'"It's great to go in with a win. I'm not going to lie," Housley said after returning to the Devils' rink in Newark, N.J., for a brief practice. "The vibe on the team is really good right now, and we're looking forward to it."' … [Read more...] about Sabres Notebook: Housley has fresh outlook; outdoor experience

'Getting the Sabres back into the game for the second time is nice and staging it in New York City for the first time is also cool. Putting the Chicago Blackhawks into the affair for the fourth time next year and the Boston Bruins into it thrice is not cool.' … [Read more...] about Inside the NHL: Better balance still needed for Winter Classic sites, teams

'"I was planning the first one to happen Monday afternoon," Ristolainen said, "but I'll take it one game earlier."' … [Read more...] about Ristolainen’s flair for the dramatic comes one game early

'Mittelstadt is the MVP of this event over the first four days – and it's not even close.' … [Read more...] about Mike Harrington: How soon can Mittelstadt come to Buffalo and stay?

'"I was here for a long time, so of course it's a lot of memories," Josefson said. "I had a really good time playing here and had a lot of friends."' … [Read more...] about Sabres Notebook: Josefson fondly recalls Devils; Girgensons hitting

'The Devils were 16-0-1 when leading after 40 minutes. The Sabres were just 1-17-2 when trailing. The numbers didn't matter, including the Sabres' 1-8 overtime record entering the extra session. They moved it to 2-8 while ending the Devils' five-game winning streak.' … [Read more...] about The Wraparound: Sabres 4, Devils 3 (OT)