Surging Sabres show signs of blossoming in late-season run
One year and one day later, Sabres coach Don Granato still reflects on the encouraging text message forward Kyle Okposo sent following what stands as one of the lowest moments in franchise history. “We will win,” Granato said, recalling Okposo’s text shortly after Buffalo squandered a 3-0 third-period lead in a 4-3 overtime loss to Philadelphia that extended the Sabres' losing streak to 0-15-3, matching the NHL’s 18th-longest skid. “That message will stick with me forever,” Granato said Wednesday.
news.yahoo.comNHL admits it made wrong call in disallowing Sabres' goal
The NHL announced it made the wrong call in disallowing what would have been the Buffalo Sabres’ tying goal in the final minute of a 2-1 loss to the New York Rangers. In a statement released by the league on Saturday, senior executive VP Colin Campbell said Victor Olofsson’s goal scored with 57 seconds remaining Friday night should have stood because video replays could not “definitively determine” whether the Sabres were offside entering the zone. Sabres coach Don Granato shrugged off the NHL’s admission when speaking prior to Saturday night’s game against the Washington Capitals.
news.yahoo.comOffseason of dysfunction has Sabres seeking a fresh start
Jack Eichel, now stripped of his captaincy, has likely played his final game for the Sabres because of a rift with the team over how to treat a herniated disk. Forward Sam Reinhart and defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen got their wish to escape Buffalo after being traded in July. Despite another offseason of headaches and negative headlines, veteran forward Kyle Okposo chose his words carefully in assessing why he believes the Sabres might be finally pointed in the right direction after spending the past decade dwelling mostly in dysfunction.
news.yahoo.comSabres end 18-game skid with 6-1 win over Flyers
Buffalo Sabres celebrate a goal by center Curtis Lazar (27) during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Philadelphia Flyers in Buffalo, N.Y., Wednesday, March 31, 2021. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)BUFFALO, N.Y. – Embarrassment for Brandon Montour and the Buffalo Sabres turned into relief on Wednesday night. The Sabres ended their 18-game skid — the NHL’s longest in 17 years — with a resounding 6-1 win over the Philadelphia Flyers. AdThe Sabres also snapped a 0-9-2 home skid, one short of matching a franchise record set during the 1990-91 season. After Philadelphia’s Ivan Provorov scored 3:50 into the second period, Buffalo responded by closing the period with goals from Fogarty and Casey Mittelstadt.
The Latest: Sabres to have limited number of fans at 4 games
The Sabres added another option of proof of a negative antigen COVID-19 test within six hours of the doors opening. The Sabres had fans in attendance only once this season. No other players or coaches were affected by the coach’s positive test. ___Buffalo Sabres interim coach Don Granato and assistant Matt Ellis are headed back to work after being cleared from the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol. Ad___The Michigan Wolverines are out of the NCAA Division I men's hockey tournament because of positive COVID-19 test results within the team's Tier 1 testing group.
The Latest: Sabres coaches placed in NHL COVID protocol
(AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world:___Buffalo Sabres interim coach Don Granato and assistant Matt Ellis have been placed in the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol. The development leaves general manager Kevyn Adams taking over behind the bench for Buffalo’s game at Pittsburgh on Thursday night. This marks the second time the Sabres have been hit by COVID-19 in two months. Buffalo’s season was paused for two weeks in early February after nine players and then-coach Ralph Krueger were placed in the protocol. The university said the team went through seven rounds of testing in the seven days leading up to its departure for Albany on Wednesday.
Girgensons, Eichel lead Sabres over Panthers, 5-2
SUNRISE – Zemgus Girgensons and Linus Ullmark ended the Buffalo Sabres’ three-game losing streak. Girgensons scored twice, Ullmark made 43 saves and the Sabres beat the Florida Panthers 5-2 on Sunday night to snap a three-game losing streak. “I thought (Ullmark) played an outstanding game today staying on the initial shots,” Sabres coach Ralph Krueger said. We’re really, really happy with his performance.”Brett Connolly and Noel Acciari scored for the Panthers, and Samuel Montembeault stopped 20 shots. Notes: Sabres C Evan Rodrigues left after 40 seconds of the first with an undisclosed injury and did not return.