By Bill Hoppe
Niagara Gazette
BUFFALO — The NHL lockout has finally claimed real games, with 82 from Oct. 11 through Oct. 24 – including five Sabres contests – getting canceled today.
Gone from the Sabres’ schedule are First Niagara Center tilts on Oct. 13 (Pittsburgh), Oct. 16 (Detroit), Oct. 19 (New York Rangers), a road game Oct. 20 (New York Islanders) and another home game Oct. 24 (New Jersey).
The league announced the move in a terse 51-word release this afternoon.
With recent collective bargaining agreement talks going nowhere and no new sessions scheduled, more games could be wiped out soon.
