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A18 SPORTS
Tuesday 27 November 2018
Buffalo Sabres vs Pittsburgh Penguins

By JOHN WAWROW Botterill followed by over-
AP Hockey Writer hauling the lineup through
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — The a series of trades that in-
Buffalo Sabres are on such cluded sending O’Reilly to
a roll, captain Jack Eichel St. Louis. He also acquired
was having difficulty recall- Conor Sheary from Pitts-
ing the last time they lost. burgh and Jeff Skinner from
“Um, was it Calgary?” Carolina, and upgraded
Eichel said Monday, be- his goaltending by signing
fore being reminded the Carter Hutton in free agen-
2-1 overtime defeat to the cy.
Flames was three losses Skinner’s 18 goals rank sec-
ago. ond in the league, while
“Yeah, Rangers, in New Hutton is third with 11 wins.
York,” he said, finally recall- And then came the addi-
ing a 3-1 loss on Nov. 4 that tion of rookie No. 1 draft
dropped Buffalo’s record pick Rasmus Dahlin , whose
to 7-6-2. effortless skating and deft
Nine games — and nine playmaking ability have
wins — later, the Sabres are energized what had been
the NHL’s biggest surprise a plodding group of defen-
two months into the sea- semen.
son. Dahlin’s two goals and 13
A year after going 25-45- In this Nov. 19, 2018, file photo, Buffalo Sabres head coach Phil Housley, top, talks with Zach points are tied for second
12 and becoming the Bogosian (4) during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Pittsburgh Penguins in among NHL rookies. And
league’s first team to finish Pittsburgh. he’s part of a defensive
31st following the addition Associated Press group that has already
of the expansion Vegas is the NHL’s longest since dation that is being built players to air their differ- contributed 12 goals after
Golden Knights, the surg- Columbus won 10 straight and look forward to see- ences and raise concerns. managing just 19 last sea-
ing Sabres (16-6-2) have 34 in March, and it’s one short ing the development con- “I’ve said it once and I’ll son.
points and sit one back of of matching the Sabres’ tinue.” say it again, I think the guys The 18-year-old shrugs off
league-leading Tampa Bay franchise record set twice Buffalo’s turnaround is the made a huge commitment the Sabres’ hot start.
and Nashville. and most recently when result of a series of moves in the summer. We talked “Of course it’s awesome
Even Phil Housley could they opened the 2006-07 and soul-searching sessions about change,” Housley to lead the league, but for
crack a smile when asked on a 10-0 run. The Sabres that took place over the said. “It started with our me, I like to win, and I’m
to reflect on the troubles would match that if they summer in a bid to spur a leadership group leading in pretty used to it,” Dahlin
he and his underachieving beat San Jose on Tuesday team that was the worst in the right way.” said. “I’m so happy that
team endured last season, night. the league in three of the Forward Kyle Okposo cred- everyone is so glad in the
his first as coach. “Extremely proud of this past five seasons. ited everyone for buying in. locker room.”
“I try to tend to forget last team,” Sabres co-owner It began with Housley, who “It’s pretty powerful what One major change has
year,” Housley said. Kim Pegula wrote in a text took action at the end of you can do if you get ev- been the Sabres’ perfor-
The Sabres were so bad a to The Associated Press. last season after center erybody on the same mance in close games. Buf-
year ago, they didn’t reg- “Everyone is contributing in Ryan O’Reilly went public page, and people are falo has a league-best 9-0-
ister their 16th victory until multiple ways, and when in saying a losing mentality willing to admit what they 2 record in games decided
Feb. 10, and won consecu- that happens anything had crept into the locker have to do to be better by one goal, a year after
tive games four times, in- is possible,” she added. room. Housley challenged and then actually do it,” going 11-11-12. The Sabres
cluding a season-best 3-0 “There’s still plenty of hock- his leadership group with a Okposo said. “It feels like a are also 9-6-1 when tied or
run in late January. ey left to play, but we are summer-long series of frank team. It’s pretty amazing.” trailing after two periods, a
Buffalo’s nine-game streak encouraged by the foun- discussions that allowed General manager Jason year after going 9-44-7. q

Yankees claim Bridwell, drop

Torreyes from big-league roster

Associated Press because of right elbow ular players in the Yankees
NEW YORK (AP) — Right- inflammation. He was 1-0 clubhouse, a 5-foot-8 back-
hander Parker Bridwell was with a 17.55 ERA in one start up often hoisted into the air
claimed off waivers from and four relief appearanc- by teammates to high-five
the Los Angeles Angels es over 6 2/3 innings for the 6-foot-7 Aaron Judge. Tor-
by the New York Yankees, Angels and 1-1 with an 8.68 reyes hit .292 with 36 RBIs in
who opened a roster spot ERA at Triple-A Salt Lake. 315 at-bats over 108 games
by designating infielder Bridwell is 11-3 with a 4.60 in 2017, but spent much of
Ronald Torreyes for assign- ERA for Baltimore and the this year at Triple-A Scran-
ment. Angels in 28 games over ton/Wilkes-Barre and bat-
Bridwell, 27, was 10-3 with three seasons. He was des- ted .280 with seven RBIs in
a 3.64 ERA in 20 starts and ignated for assignment last 100 at-bats over 41 games
In this Sept. 10, 2017, file photo, Los Angeles Angels starting one relief appearance for week by the Angels. for the Yankees.
pitcher Parker Bridwell throws in the first inning of a baseball the Angels in 2017, then The 26-year-old Torreyes New York announced the
game against the Seattle Mariners in Seattle. missed much of this year was among the most pop-
Associated Press moves on Monday.q