Calgary Flames - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres rookie Rasmus Dahlin has new partner; Tage Thompson to play again

BUFFALO – If you’re counting, Sabres veteran Rasmus Ristolainen will become rookie Rasmus Dahlin’s third defense partner in just his 12th NHL appearance.

Dahlin, 18, started with Jake McCabe before moving beside Casey Nelson, acquitting himself well with both.

So why move Dahlin for tonight’s tilt against the Calgary Flames? Wouldn’t some stability benefit the first overall pick?

Sabres coach Phil Housley said he partnered Dahlin with Ristolainen to give the talented neophyte “more of ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Kyle Okposo producing offense with limited minutes

BUFFALO – In his 12-year career, Kyle Okposo has never played so little over a four-game stretch. The Sabres winger hasn’t even cracked the 12-minute mark.

Okposo, 30, received more minutes as a teenage rookie in 2007-08 and in 2012-13, when he struggled so badly he scored just four goals in the lockout-shortened season.

Of course, Okposo’s recent ice time hasn’t hurt his production. In fact, he’s producing more.

Despite averaging only 11 minutes, 13 ... Read the full article

Sabres fall behind early, lose to Flames

BUFFALO – Eight hours before the Calgary Flames throttled his team 5-1, coach Phil Housley talked about the Sabres’ need to match their opponent’s desperation.

The Flames came into town reeling, losers of four straight games and seven of the last nine. Without injured No. 1 goalie Mike Smith, they’ve fallen out of a playoff spot.

“They’re three points out of a playoff spot, they’re talking about this as their season, these next two games ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Seth Griffith moves in, Danny O’Regan scratched

BUFFALO – In the AHL, Seth Griffith morphs into a different player. Over the past three seasons, the Sabres winger has been one of the league’s most lethal scorers, compiling 47 goals and 155 points in 131 outings.

During Griffith’s early-season NHL run, he mustered only two goals and three points in 18 games. Then, not surprisingly, he went on a tear with the Rochester Americans, scoring 13 goals and 34 points in 36 ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Seth Griffith confident after stint with Amerks

Sabres recall Danny O’Regan; Benoit Pouliot moves to center

BUFFALO – Nine days after the Sabres acquired Danny O’Regan from the San Jose Sharks, they recalled the forward from the Rochester Americans this morning.

So, O’Regan will play tonight against the Calgary Flames, right? Well, not exactly.

Winger Seth Griffith will return after a one-game absence. Meanwhile, with center Kyle Criscuolo (upper body) out, Benoit Pouliot, a winger all season, will skate in the middle.... Read the full article

Sabres’ Chad Johnson one of NHL’s hottest goalies

BUFFALO – When Chad Johnson hit free agency last summer, the goalie said he could’ve pursued opportunities to join teams much better than the Sabres.

Ultimately, Johnson said his heart led to him re-signing here as a backup following a season with his hometown Calgary Flames, tonight’s opponent at KeyBank Center.

Johnson, 31, said he trusted new Sabres general manager Jason Botterill and the organization.... Read the full article

Report: Sabres to make uniform changes next season

The Buffalo Sabres are one of 12 NHL teams that will make changes to their uniform next season, according to sportslogos.net.

Don’t, however, expect a big overhaul. The changes could be as small as a few tweaks. The Sabres will keep their primary logo.

The changes will come with the NHL’s switch from Reebok to Adidas as their jersey manufacturer in 2017-18.

The Sabres have worn their current blue home jersey with the charging ... Read the full article

Patrick Kaleta excited for off-ice job with Sabres, not retired yet

BUFFALO – For the last “crazy” little while, Patrick Kaleta said, when fans spot him around town, they greet the former Sabres agitator with the same questions.

“People see me, they say, ‘What are you doing here? Your team is practicing. Your team is playing,’” Kaleta told the Times Herald on Monday.

The affable Kaleta, who played 348 games with the Sabres, said he smiles and tells them he has a new job with ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Ryan O’Reilly out against Flames; Goalie Robin Lehner to start

BUFFALO – If the Sabres were participating in the playoffs right now, then, yes, Ryan O’Reilly would be playing. But the center wants to be smart handling his recovery from an oblique injury.

That means O’Reilly, who skated with his teammates this morning, will miss his fifth straight game tonight against the Calgary Flames.

“If it was the playoffs, it would be a different situation,” a sweaty O’Reilly said this morning after leaving the KeyBank ... Read the full article