Sabres News

Wings shut out Sabres
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October 6
Buffalo News
 
"Giving up all three goals in the final 18 minutes, the Buffalo Sabres closed the preseason with a 3-0 loss to the Detroit Red Wings on Sunday night before 15,983 in Joe Louis Arena. The Sabres finished 2-4-1 in exhibition play — scoring just 17 goals in the seven games — while the Wings went 6-1-2. The Sabres open the regular season Friday night against Montreal in HSBC Arena. Detroit begins defense of its Stanley Cup on Thursday night at home against Toronto. Johan Franzen scored twice for the Wings, including an empty-netter with one second left. Nicklas Lidstrom assisted on all three goals. Ville Leino also scored for the Wings. The Sabres were 0 for 10 on the power play, getting just ..."
Wings win preseason finale; Hossa out with groin injury
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October 6
Detroit Free Press
 
"Pavel Datsyuk and Tomas Holmstrom returned to the lineup for the Red Wings' final exhibition game Sunday, but linemate Marian Hossa was out with a slight groin injury. With Hossa out, Finnish rookie Ville Leino got a chance to play. He scored one goal and Johan Franzen twoto give the Wings a 3-0 victory over the Buffalo Sabres at Joe Louis Arena. The Wings ended the exhibition season 6-1-2. Hossa, Datsyuk and Holmstrom are expected to make up the Wings' top line, but they have played together only once, in the exhibition opener, a 3-2 shoot-out loss to Montreal. "I would guess it's day-to-day," Hossa said Sunday morning. "It felt tight the last game I played, and there's no reason to ..."
Wings win exhibition finale but 'aren't quite ready' yet according to Babcock
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October 6
Detroit Free Press
 
"Coach Mike Babcock said after the Detroit Red Wings' last dress rehearsal that they aren't quite ready for the regular season. This despite Ty Conklin's 21 saves and Johan Franzen's two goals in Detroit's 3-0 win over the Buffalo Sabres Sunday night. It was the final exhibition game for each team. "We're not ready yet, but we will be," Babcock said. "The first 20 games is so vital in the National Hockey League. You get your confidence." The Stanley Cup champion Red Wings open the regular season Thursday against Toronto at Joe Louis Arena. Ville Leino also scored for Detroit (6-1-2) and Nicklas Lidstrom assisted on all three goals. Pavel Datsyuk and Tomas Holmstrom returned to the lineup ..."
Connolly expects to be ready for opener
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October 5
Buffalo News
 
"Center Tim Connolly is expected to miss his fifth straight preseason game tonight because of a sore back when the Buffalo Sabres play in Detroit. But he defiantly said Saturday he fully expects to play in Friday’s season opener against Montreal. “[It’s] 100 percent. Absolutely,” Connolly said after practice when asked if he hoped to play in the opener. “I played one preseason game last year and got off to the best start of my career [seven points in the first five games]. If you can play, you can play. I feel great. I’m ready to go out there and compete.” Connolly skated on his own the last couple of days but participated fully in Saturday’s practice and, in fact, was one of the last ..."
Captain situation unsettled
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October 5
Buffalo News
 
"There hasn’t been much suspense with the Buffalo Sabres’ roster during the preseason. After tonight’s exhibition finale in Detroit (5 p. m., MSG, Radio 550 AM), there might only be one more cut to make prior to Friday’s opener against Montreal. What figures to be a much more interesting decision by coach Lindy Ruff is who will be named captain of this team. And will that player get the “C” for only a month on a rotation basis like last year or will someone get the call for whole season? “My initial thoughts would be to rotate it again,” Ruff said after Saturday’s practice in HSBC Arena. “We’ve discussed it as a staff but still haven’t come to a conclusion. I think the guys liked it. Each ..."
Sabres send out 8, get close to limit
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October 4
Buffalo News
 
"The young guys and roster long shots walked out of HSBC Arena on Friday, a trip to Portland and the American Hockey League on their agenda. Ales Kotalik surveyed the 25 players who remained in the Buffalo Sabres’ dressing room. He wasn’t surprised by whom he saw. “This is the team we kind of expected it was going to be,” the forward said. “It was tough for young guys. Some of them had a really good training camp, and it’s good to know for the organization that they have guys playing in Portland that can immediately step in, and as well it’s a good feeling for the future of the organization. “I think the team is strong whoever stays here. We just have to prove it starting next Friday.” The ..."
Balancing act leads Sabres to victory
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October 3
Buffalo News
 
"Five different players scored for the Buffalo Sabres as they won, 5-2, over the Columbus Blue Jackets in a preseason game at Nationwide Arena on Thursday night. Ales Kotalik and Teppo Numminen each scored power-play goals for the Sabres, who snapped a two-game losing streak. “We forechecked good. We were really patient,” Jochen Hecht said. “I think it was really good teamwork. Every line got a goal and everyone contributed.” Columbus had taken a 1-0 lead before Hecht pulled Buffalo even. He skated down the right wing and snapped a shot from the right dot inside the near post that went over Blue Jackets goalie Fredrik Norrena’s glove at 17:40 of the first. An even-strength tally by Thomas ..."
Harding's eye injury gives Wild a scare in win vs. Sabres
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October 2
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"Wednesday night, Brent Burns and Pierre-Marc Bouchard, two of the Wild's most integral players, returned from injury to create two goals and supply a boost of energy and exuberance during the Wild's 3-2 exhibition victory against the Buffalo Sabres. But an exciting night ended in scary fashion when goalie Josh Harding suffered an eye injury early in the third period. It appeared as if the blade of Wild defenseman Martin Skoula's stick entered the cat eyehole of Harding's mask as Skoula cut through the crease in a battle with Sabres forward Dylan Hunter. Harding fell, threw off his helmet and covered his head as trainer Don Fuller raced to his aid. "It was stick battle in front of the net," ..."
Sabres drop second in row to Minnesota
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October 2
Buffalo News
 
"Scoring three goals on its first five