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Flyers add depth in goal, sign LaBarbera

By Dhiren MahibanJul 2, 2015, 6:00 PM EDT
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The Philadelphia Flyers have signed goaltender Jason LaBarbera to a one-year, two-way deal, the club announced.

The 35-year-old split the 2014-15 season between the Anaheim Ducks and Norfolk Admirals of the American Hockey League.

In five appearances with the Ducks, LaBarbera went 2-0-1 while posting a 2.61 G.A.A. and a .909 save percentage. He was 9-16-7 in 34 games with the Admirals to go along with a 2.62 G.A.A. and a .912 save percentage.

LaBarbera became expendable in Anaheim after the Ducks signed Matt Hackett.

With the signing of LaBarbera, Rob Zepp’s time in the Philadelphia organization is likely over. The 33-year-old is currently an unrestricted free agent.

LaBarbera will likely be tasked with helping Anthony Stolarz develop with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. LaBarbera would be the Flyers’ first call up should an injury occur to Steve Mason or backup Michal Neuvirth.

Goalie Nods: The Hamburglar starts for the Sens

By Dhiren MahibanMar 21, 2015, 4:05 PM EDT
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Hammond looks to remain unbeaten in regulation

Andrew Hammond and the Ottawa Senators will look for a sixth straight win tonight when they play host to the lowly Toronto Maple Leafs. Hammond enters the game with a 12-0-1 record to go along with a 1.55 goals-against average since getting called up from Binghamton.

The Sens enter tonight’s action two points back of the Boston Bruins for the second wild card spot in the Eastern Conference. Since the last meeting between the Leafs and Senators (Jan. 21), Ottawa is 17-6-2 while Toronto has gone 5-17-3.

James Reimer gets the nod for the Leafs.

Elsewhere…

Blue Jackets at Flames: Sergei Bobrovsky vs. Karri Ramo

Canucks at Kings: Eddie Lack vs. Jonathan Quick

Capitals at Jets: Braden Holtby vs. Ondrej Pavelec

Rangers at Hurricanes: Cam Talbot vs. Anton Khudobin

Islanders at Devils: Jaroslav Halak vs. Cory Schneider

Bruins at Panthers: Tuukka Rask vs. Roberto Luongo

Sharks at Canadiens: Antti Niemi vs. Carey Price

Sabres at Predators: Matt Hackett vs. Pekka Rinne

Blackhawks at Stars: Corey Crawford vs. Kari Lehtonen

Penguins at Coyotes: Marc-Andre Fleury vs. Mike Smith

Flyers at Oilers: Steve Mason vs. Ben Scrivens

Get your game notes: Sabres at Bruins

By Mike HalfordMar 17, 2015, 6:00 PM EDT
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Tonight on NBCSN, it’s the Boston Bruins hosting the Buffalo Sabres at 7:30 p.m. ET. Following are some game notes, as compiled by the NHL on NBC research team:

TOP STORYLINES

• Last game (Sunday): WSH def. BOS 2-0 – BOS shut out for just the 4th time this season, second time vs. WSH.

• Both season-high 5-game winning streak and 11 straight games scoring first streak snapped.

• Despite the loss, the Bruins have been playing better hockey since Feb. 22. They are 8-2-1 in their last 11 games, and have closed the gap between themselves and teams just ahead.

• Bruins need this game: Of the Bruins 13 remaining games, 6 are against teams currently in playoff position. Another 4 are against teams in the playoff hunt, including Thursday’s matchup at OTT.

• Sabres slumping continues: Last game (Monday): WSH def. BUF 4-3 SO.

• Surrendered two 1-goal leads; allowed 2 PP goals.

• BUF has lost 7 straight games (0-5-2 record), while scoring 9 goals in their 6 games this month.

• If BUF finishes last overall, they will have a 20.0% chance of landing the first pick in the NHL draft.

• Scoring woes continue: Last season, BUF set an NHL record for the fewest goals in the expansion era of hockey dating to back to 1967 (150 goals; 1.83 g/gm). This season, Buffalo’s scoring is occurring at an even worse rate: 1.81 goals/gm (last in NHL).

SABRES TEAM/PLAYER NOTES

• Lone All-Star and number-one center Zemgus Girgensons was placed on IR on February 26 after blocking a shot by CBJ defenseman James Wisniewski (since traded to ANA) off his right foot two days prior. Whether or not he will return this season is still to be determined.

• Girgensons’ injury, combined with the trade of veteran center Torrey Mitchell (to MTL), have left Buffalo without much depth (or production) amongst its 4 centers, though both Larsson (5 points in last 4 games) and Hodgson scored last night. With a PP goal Monday vs. WSH, Tyler Ennis now has 5 points (3G-2A) in his last 6 games since returning from a groin injury. He leads the team in goals (18), power-play goals (6), and points (38).

• Since Feb. 19, Matt Moulson has been the team’s most consistent scorer. He logged an assist vs. WSH, giving him 11 points (2G-9A) in the last 12 games.

• Chad Johnson (lower-body) was injured before he could make an appearance with the Sabres after being acquired at the trade deadline from NYI.

• This has made Anders Lindback the everyday goalie – he has started 5 of the 6 games in March, posting an 0-3-2 record, 2.70 GAA, and a .924 SV% in the month.

• Lindback has not won a game in which he has started this season (b/w DAL and BUF). In those 12 starts, he has a record of 0-10-2.

• His two wins this season both came in relief appearances with the Stars.

• In his last 2 starts combined, Lindback has stopped 66 of 70 shots faced (vs. NYR & vs. WSH).

• Should Matt Hackett be named the starter of this 2nd game of a back-to-back, he would be making just his 3rd start of the season.

• He was pulled after allowing 4 goals on 23 shots at WSH on March 7.

• This season: 0-2-0 record, 5.19 GAA, and a .867 SV%.

• In his only career start vs. BOS last season, he allowed 3 goals on 23 shots in the 4-1 loss.

BRUINS TEAM/PLAYER NOTES

• David Krejci took part in the team’s morning skate today. This is the first time he has skated with the team since suffering a partially torn MCL at STL on Feb. 20. Krejci is in the 4th week of a 4-6 week timetable that was originally given.

• Boston’s recent winning ways can be attributed to the team’s newfound production out of young forwards Ryan Spooner (3rd-year) and David Pastrnak (rookie).

• After being recalled on Feb. 21, Spooner has 9 points (3G-6A) in the last 11 games.

• Pastrnak now has 8 points (3G-5A) in the last 9 games. See chart below that shows his scoring outburst.

• 2014 1st-round pick (25th overall) and the youngest player in the NHL (May, 25, 1996 – 18 years old).

• Team-leading scorer Patrice Bergeron has also picked up the scoring load for BOS during this surge, logging 9 points (3G-6A), +4 rating in the last 11 games.

• Career vs. BUF: 32 points (9G, 23A) in 54 games.

• 3rd- year defenseman Dougie Hamilton is enjoying a career-year for BOS. For the second consecutive season, he has topped his previous amount of goals, assists, and points.

• Leads all BOS defensemen in points this season (40).

• Career vs. BUF: 9 points (5G-4A) in 11 games.

• Tuukka Rask’s strong goaltending of late has helped the Bruins stay in playoff position. In his last 9 starts, he has gone 6-2-1, with a 1.64 GAA, and a .949 SV%.

• Niklas Svedberg is expected to get the start in net vs. BUF.

• This season: 7-5-0 record, 2.43 GAA, and a .918 SV%.

• He’s won his last 2 starts (2.44 GAA, .929 SV%) at NJ (Feb. 27) and vs. DET (March 8).

NHL on NBCSN: Caps look to add to wild card lead

By Dhiren MahibanMar 16, 2015, 10:15 AM EDT
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NBCSN will continue its coverage of the 2014-15 campaign when the Buffalo Sabres host the Waahington Capitals at First Niagara Center at 7:00 p.m. ET tonight. In addition to NBCSN, you can also watch the game and pre-show online.

The Washington Capitals regained the top wild card seed in the Eastern Conference with a 2-0 win over the Boston Bruins on Sunday night and will look to open a three-game road trip on a winning note tonight in Buffalo.

The Caps lead the Bruins by two points in the race for the first wild card spot, but Boston has a game in hand entering Monday’s action.

The Sabres have lost six straight (0-5-1) including a 6-1 loss to the Washington Capitals on March 7. The Sabres won the other meeting between the two clubs 2-1 in Washington on Nov. 22.

Buffalo has only eight non-shootout wins since beating the Capitals in November.

Tonight marks the third and final meeting between the two clubs this season.

Washington went 3-6-0 from Feb. 22-March 13, but following a players-only meeting after Friday night’s 4-2 loss to Dallas, saw an immediate result last night.

Nicklas Backstrom picked up a pair of assists in Sunday’s win and now leads the league with 53.

Alex Ovechkin, who has four goals in his last four trips to Buffalo, has failed to score in two straight games matching his longest drought since late December.

Braden Holtby has made 13 consecutive starts for the Capitals.

Washington recalled goaltender Philipp Grubauer from the AHL’s Hershey Bears on Sunday. Grubauer has made one appearance for the Caps this season making 23 saves in a 3-2 shootout victory over the Anaheim Ducks on Feb. 6.

Buffalo’s Matt Hackett has a 5.19 G.A.A. in two starts this season and allowed four goals against Washington on March 7.

Anders Lindback has a career-worst 3.36 G.A.A. this season, but has a .925 save percentage in five games since joining the Sabres.

Miller sends ex-Buffalo mates to 14th straight loss

By Dhiren MahibanJan 31, 2015, 1:15 AM EDT
15 Comments

After being shutout in back-to-back home games the Vancouver Canucks exploded for five goals Friday night defeating the lowly Buffalo Sabres 5-2.

With the win, the Canucks avoided losing a third straight game.

Buffalo has now lost 14 straight overall and 14 consecutive road contests.

Bo Horvat, Yannick Weber and Nick Bonino gave Vancouver a 3-1 lead.

Chris Stewart had both Buffalo goals.

Chris Higgins and Radim Vrbata added third period markers.

Ryan Miller made 20 saves for his first career win against Buffalo. He has now beaten all 30 teams.

Matt Hackett, who was making his first NHL appearance since April 12, 2014, stopped 33 shots in the loss.

Buffalo concluded the month of January with an 0-12-0 record. They have not won since a 4-3 shootout victory over the New York Islanders on Dec. 27. The Sabres last regulation win came on Dec. 11 against the Calgary Flames.

The Sabres last win away from home came Nov. 29 in Montreal. Buffalo’s next game is in Montreal on Tuesday.