Eric Staal
A goalie mask belonging to Team China sits on a work bench following a preliminary round men's hockey game between China and Germany at the 2022 Winter Olympics, Saturday, Feb. 12, 2022, in Beijing. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Beijing Olympics a step up for those in NHL playoff bubbles

By Stephen Whyno Feb. 13, 2022 03:36 AM EST

FILE - Russia's Vyacheslav Voynov (27) celebrates with his teammates after scoring his side's second goal during the Channel One Cup ice hockey match between Russia and Finland in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021. Former Los Angeles Kings defenseman Slava Voynov and the Russians are favored once again at the Olympics without NHL players. Voynov was part of the “Olympic Athletes from Russia” team that won gold in 2018 in Pyeongchang. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko, File)
Russians expect a 'gold medal, nothing else' at Olympics

By Stephen Whyno Feb. 07, 2022 06:03 AM EST

FILE- Russian Vadim Shipachyov is in action during the exhibition ice hockey match between Russia and Belarus in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2018. Shipachyov dressed for only one game for the Russians when they won gold at the 2018 Olympics without NHL players. Now he's their captain for the 2022 Beijing Olympics and leads the KHL in scoring with 67 points in 48 games. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko, File)
Krejci, Staal, Power among Olympic hockey players to watch

By Stephen Whyno Feb. 07, 2022 02:26 AM EST

FILE - Montreal Canadiens center Eric Staal (21) skates on the ice during the first period of Game 5 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup finals series against the Tampa Bay Lightning, Wednesday, July 7, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. Longtime NHL forward Eric Staal and 2021 top draft pick Owen Power are among the players named Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2022, to Canada’s roster for the Beijing Olympics.(AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack, File)
Montreal Canadiens at Tampa Bay Lightning 7/7/2021

Jan. 25, 2022 11:42 AM EST

Canada's Mason McTavish (23) and Czech Republic's Jiri Kulich (27) battle for the puck during third-period IIHF world junior hockey championship game action in Edmonton, Alberta, Sunday, Dec. 26, 2021. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)
Staal, Power and Levi headline Canada's Olympic roster

By Stephen Whyno Jan. 25, 2022 11:40 AM EST

United States' Jake Sanderson (8), Tanner Dickinson (71) and Chaz Lucius (28) celebrate a goal against Finland during the first period of an exhibition game in Edmonton, Alberta, Thursday, Dec. 23, 2021, before the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship tournament. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)
No NHL boosts Russian hopes for Olympic gold in men's hockey

By Stephen Whyno Jan. 12, 2022 01:41 PM EST

Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Alex Pietrangelo (7) and Montreal Canadiens right wing Brendan Gallagher (11) tussle during the first period in Game 5 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup semifinal playoff series Tuesday, June 22, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
With 3-2 series lead, Canadiens frustrating Golden Knights

By John Wawrow Jun. 23, 2021 04:59 PM EDT

Vegas Golden Knights' Nicolas Roy (10) moves in aagainst Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price as Canadiens' Jeff Petry defends during first-period Game 4 NHL Stanley Cup playoff hockey semifinal action in Montreal, Sunday, June 20, 2021. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vegas Golden Knights at Montreal Canadiens 6/20/2021

Jun. 21, 2021 12:52 AM EDT

Ottawa Senators' Evgenii Dadonov (63) celebrates with Artem Anisimov after scoring against the Montreal Canadiens during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Montreal, Saturday, April 3, 2021. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP)
Senators beat Montreal 6-3, snap Habs' 3-game win streak

Apr. 03, 2021 10:26 PM EDT

Winnipeg Jets' Pierre-Luc Dubois (13) holds his head after getting hit by a shot by Montreal Canadiens' Brendan Gallagher (11) during the second period of an NHL hockey Game, Wednesday, March 17, 2021 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. (John Woods/The Canadian Press via AP)
Canadian government OK's reduced quarantine for NHL players

Mar. 26, 2021 09:05 PM EDT

Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Casey DeSmith, center, stops Buffalo Sabres' Eric Staal (12) from scoring during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, March 25, 2021, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
Sabres begin overhaul by trading Eric Staal to Canadiens

By John Wawrow Mar. 26, 2021 04:56 PM EDT

Buffalo Sabres goalie Linus Ullmark makes a glove save during the first period of the team's NHL hockey game against the New Jersey Devils, Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)
Zacha scores 1:17 into OT in Devils' 4-3 win win over Sabres

By John Wawrow Feb. 25, 2021 11:02 PM EST

Buffalo Sabres center Sam Reinhart (23) reacts after he scores on New Jersey Devils goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood (29) for a second time in the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Sabres snap 4-game losing streak, end Devils 3-game run

Feb. 20, 2021 04:55 PM EST

Washington Capitals' Connor McMichael (24) battles for the puck with Buffalo Sabres goaltender Linus Ullmark (35) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, Jan. 24, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Linus Ullmark perfect in shootout, Sabres beat Capitals

By Stephen Whyno Jan. 24, 2021 06:05 PM EST

Washington Capitals left wing Jakub Vrana (13) celebrates his goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Buffalo Sabres, Friday, Jan. 22, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Short-handed Capitals beat Sabres 4-3 in SO in home opener

By Stephen Whyno Jan. 22, 2021 09:58 PM EST

Washington Capitals forward Nicklas Backstrom (19) celebrates his goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Buffalo Sabres, Thursday, Jan. 14, 2021, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)
Oshie has 3 points, Capitals open with 6-4 win at Buffalo

By John Wawrow Jan. 14, 2021 09:54 PM EST

Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Alex Pietrangelo controls the puck during a scrimmage during NHL hockey training camp in Las Vegas, Monday, Jan. 4, 2021. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal via AP)
NHL offseason moves influenced by coronavirus' impact on cap

By John Wawrow Jan. 12, 2021 02:34 AM EST

FILE - In this Feb. 27, 2020, file photo, Minnesota Wild center Eric Staal (12) skates against the Detroit Red Wings in the first period of an NHL hockey game in Detroit. Buffalo Sabres coach Ralph Krueger prefers viewing the start of the 2021 shortened season as a continuation of the last one. If that's the case, the new-look Sabres, with the addition of Taylor Hall and Eric Staal, have plenty of unfinished business in attempting to snap a nine-year playoff drought, the NHL's longest active streak. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File)
Sabres have unfinished business after last season cut short

By John Wawrow Jan. 05, 2021 03:38 PM EST

Buffalo Sabres forward Jack Eichel (9) is greeted by fans prior to the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Tampa Bay Lightning, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2019, in Buffalo, N.Y. The Sabres front office and roster have undergone numerous changes in the seven months since captain Jack Eichel said he was fed up with losing after Buffalo missed the playoffs for a ninth consecutive year. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)
Eichel draws on NFL Bills' success to motivate NHL Sabres

By John Wawrow Dec. 30, 2020 05:26 PM EST

FILE - In this Nov. 24, 2019, file photo, Buffalo Sabres goaltender Linus Ullmark (35) is congratulated by center Sam Reinhart (23) after the Sabres defeated the Florida Panthers 5-2 in an NHL hockey game in Sunrise, Fla. On Sunday, Oct 25, 2020, Buffalo signed Reinhart to a one-year, $5.2 million contract, and Ullmark to a one-year $2.6 million deal. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File)
Sabres sign Victor Olofsson to 2-year, $6.1 million contract

By John Wawrow Oct. 29, 2020 01:29 PM EDT