Granato - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Canadiens spoil Lukas Rousek’s debut; Sabres’ Tage Thompson out with injury

BUFFALO – Sabres goalie Eric Comrie sounded somber trying to explain Monday’s 4-3 shootout loss to the Montreal Canadiens.

Their two-game winning streak had ignited hope that perhaps they could make a late-season climb toward the second wild card spot that seemed so unlikely a week ago.

A victory over the Canadiens at KeyBank Center would’ve moved the Sabres to within one point of the struggling Florida Panthers and four points of the Pittsburgh Penguins, ... Read the full article

Safety concerns keep Sabres’ Ilya Lyubushkin out of Pride Night warm-up

BUFFALO – Out of concern for his safety, Russian-born defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin did not participate in the pregame warm-up Monday when the Sabres wore Pride-themed jerseys to celebrate the LGBTQ community.

Lyubushkin, 28, did play in the Sabres’4-3 shootout loss to the Montreal Canadiens. He did not speak to the media following the team’s morning skate.

In December, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed into law a bill that makes it illegal to spread “LGBTQ propaganda.” ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Tage Thompson will likely keep gutting out injury

BUFFALO – Sabres center Tage Thompson can’t do more damage to his undisclosed injury by playing with it.

“As long as he can fight through it, tolerate any pain that there might be, the decision is his (whether to play),” coach Don Granato told reporters Saturday in New York following the Sabres’ 2-0 win over the Islanders. “With the tolerance threshold, only he knows.”

Thompson, who was injured when he collided with Timo Meier early ... Read the full article

With Tage Thompson injured, Sabres recall prospect Lukas Rousek

The Buffalo Sabres today recalled forward prospect Lukas Rousek from the Rochester Americans.

Rousek, 23, has never played in the NHL.

Sabres center Tage Thompson suffered an undisclosed injury after colliding with Timo Meier in Friday’s 5-4 win over the New Jersey Devils. While Thompson returned to the game after briefly leaving in the first period, coach Don Granato said his leading scorer is questionable for this afternoon’s road contest against the New York Islanders.... Read the full article

Alex Tuch breaks out in Sabres’ victory over Devils; Tage Thompson injured

BUFFALO – Following a fast start in his return from a two-week absence, Sabres winger Alex Tuch had endured one of his quietest stretches this season, registering just a single assist over a four-game stretch.

Meanwhile, Tage Thompson, Tuch’s center, had been uncharacteristically quiet this month, at least by his high standards, scoring only two goals in 10 outings.

Their struggles, of course, contributed heavily to the Sabres’ recent woes – a four-game losing streak ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Eric Comrie enduring ‘difficult’ season, excited to see Devon Levi play

BUFFALO – Eric Comrie sees a bright spot in his trying season. Other than a brief conditioning stint in the minors, the Sabres goalie has stayed put here.

In past seasons, he has led a nomadic existence, bouncing all over North America. Over one two-year stretch, he was claimed on waivers four times.

So while he has battled injuries, lost his starting job and recently allowed 10 goals in one game, the affable Comrie, ... Read the full article

Sabres goalie Devon Levi waiting for immigration paperwork to be finalized

BUFFALO – As the Sabres practiced Thursday morning in LECOM Harborcenter, goalie Devon Levi wheeled a cart filled with his equipment into the rink and grabbed a seat next to general manager Kevyn Adams in a suite.

Levi and Adams watched the rest of the session together before the rookie put his gear on and hopped on the ice after most of his teammates departed.

Levi’s immigration paperwork hasn’t been finalized, meaning he can’t practice ... Read the full article

As Sabres struggle, so is goalie Craig Anderson: ‘We owe him a lot more’

BUFFALO – In his two-year career with the Sabres, veteran goalie Craig Anderson had never been pulled from a game before Tuesday’s ugly 7-3 loss to the Nashville Predators.

Despite being the NHL’s oldest player, the 41-year-old’s play hasn’t declined much. Sure, he can’t handle a heavy workload anymore. Age has relegated him to backup status. Throughout his 20th season, he has started about once a week.

Anderson has performed so well at times ... Read the full article

Sabres’ defensive woes continue in loss to Predators: ‘We will get through this’

BUFFALO – Ten losses in their last 12 games. A ghastly 59 goals allowed during that wretched stretch, the NHL’s worst figure. Four defeats by at least four goals.

Right now, the Sabres are a disaster. A month that began with so much promise – legitimate playoff hopes, a rarity in these parts – has become a nightmare.

Tuesday’s ugly 7-3 loss to the Nashville Predators before a crowd of 13,043 fans at KeyBank Center ... Read the full article

Extra forwards, not performance, led to Sabres’ Tyson Jost getting scratched

BUFFALO – When coach Don Granato scratched Tyson Jost last week, he said he told the center the Sabres hadn’t lost their belief in him.

Of course, it would be understandable if Jost, a waiver claim in November, thought the worst. The Sabres are his third team since late last season. He knows what it’s like to lose a coach’s trust.

But Granato said he wanted “to reassure him that this decision is not rooted ... Read the full article