Ruotsalainen | Buffalo Hockey Beat

After slow start, Sabres prospect Arttu Ruotsalainen on tear with Amerks

For five weeks this season, Sabres prospect Arttu Ruotsalainen played short minutes as Buffalo’s fourth-line center, mustering just two goals.

Finally, after the Sabres scratched Ruotsalainen four times over a five-game stretch in November, they sent him back to the AHL, where he began last season.

When Ruotsalainen, 24, arrived in Rochester, Americans coach Seth Appert was surprised at what he saw.

Ruotsalainen had performed like one of the AHL’s elite talents last season, recording ... Read the full article

Sabres relieved as no one enters NHL’s COVID-19 protocol

BUFFALO – Coach Don Granato breathed a sigh of relief Wednesday, as zero Sabres entered the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol.

Henri Jokiharju, who was held out of Tuesday’s practice as the team awaited test results, skated in Wednesday’s session, giving the Sabres a full defense corps.

“It was a relief on many fronts, just even to run a better practice with six full D,” Granato said of no one entering protocol. “But … they go into ... Read the full article

Sabres coach Don Granato, two players return from NHL’s COVID-19 protocol

Buffalo Sabres coach Don Granato has left the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol and will be behind the bench for this afternoon’s road game against the Boston Bruins.

In addition, wingers Vinnie Hinostroza and Jeff Skinner will return to the lineup after leaving protocol Friday and practicing.

Granato, who missed two games after testing positive Sunday, said he feels “really good.”

... Read the full article

COVID-19 keeps hitting Sabres; Ethan Prow could make NHL debut

BUFFALO – Make that four. In addition to forwards Peyton Krebs, JJ Peterka and Alex Tuch, it appears another player, defenseman Ethan Prow, will be making his Sabres debut tonight.

Like Peterka, Prow, 29, has never played in the NHL. Ironically, Peterka and Prow were teammates last season with Red Bull Munich, a Deutsche Eishockey Liga team.

The Sabres this morning recalled Prow to the taxi squad and Casey Fitzgerald to the active roster because ... Read the full article

Debuts of Peyton Krebs, JJ Peterka and Alex Tuch offer Sabres some hope

BUFFALO – In the Sabres’ recent history, games as significant as tonight’s can be counted on one hand. How often have three highly regarded young players – in this case, forwards Peyton Krebs, JJ Peterka and Alex Tuch – all made their debuts together?

Their presence illustrates that after a decade of futility, maybe – just maybe – a franchise known for dysfunction is starting to get things rights.

In less than a year, the ... Read the full article

Sabres in NHL’s COVID-19 protocol likely unavailable Wednesday

BUFFALO – Sabres coach Don Granato and the five players in the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol will likely be unavailable for Wednesday’s home game against the New Jersey Devils, assistant coach Matt Ellis said.

“I believe our list is our list and we will not have anyone available from that tomorrow,” Ellis, who’s subbing for Granato, said following this morning’s practice inside KeyBank Center.

In addition to Granato, forwards Dylan Cozens, Zemgus Girgensons, Vinnie Hinostroza, Mark ... Read the full article

Sabres to showcase glimpse of future in prospects Peyton Krebs, JJ Peterka

BUFFALO – Sabres prospect JJ Peterka was grocery shopping with Linus Weissbach on Monday in Rochester when his teammate’s phone rang.

Peterka’s phone wasn’t working, so to relay some special news, Rochester Americans coach Seth Appert called Weissbach, one of the German’s roommates.

“That was kind of weird but then I got the phone and Appert told me I got called up, so it was amazing,” said a smiling Peterka, who was officially recalled this ... Read the full article

Sabres recall Peyton Krebs, JJ Peterka and Arttu Ruotsalainen from Amerks

BUFFALO – The Sabres this morning added reinforcements for their depleted lineup, recalling forward prospects Peyton Krebs, JJ Peterka and Arttu Ruotsalainen from the Rochester Americans.

The Sabres, who have five forwards in the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol, practiced with just 10 forwards Monday.

Krebs, 20, played 13 games for the Vegas Golden Knights over the past two seasons. Peterka, 19, has never played in the NHL. Ruotsalainen, 24, started the season with the Sabres.

... Read the full article

Sabres move forward without Don Granato, five players: ‘I feel for the guys’

BUFFALO – Following the Sabres’ first practice in eight days, winger Kyle Okposo acknowledged that, yes, at times he recently wondered if they would ever skate together again.

On Sunday, Okposo arrived at the KeyBank Center excited the NHL’s Christmas/COVID-19 break had ended. But after coach Don Granato and forwards Dylan Cozens and Mark Jankowski tested positive for the virus, the Sabres canceled their scheduled afternoon practice.

“I was ready to go yesterday,” Okposo said ... Read the full article

Sabres prospect Peyton Krebs on tear with Amerks, piling up points

ROCHESTER – At the end, after adding two more assists, Buffalo Sabres prospect Peyton Krebs showcased his underutilized shot, one-timing Sean Malone’s pass to secure the Americans’ fourth consecutive victory.

Wednesday’s overtime goal was just Krebs’ third shot on goal in the last four games. The winger, however, had recorded a whopping seven points in the last three contests entering Friday, six of them assists.

Amerks assistant coach Michael Peca, who subbed for coach ... Read the full article