New Jersey Devils - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres excited to give prospect Jacob Bryson opportunity: ‘It just felt right’

Buffalo Sabres coach Ralph Krueger figured defenseman Will Borgen couldn’t have broken his arm.

After the rookie blocked a shot late in the first period of Saturday afternoon’s 3-2 win against the New Jersey Devils, he stayed in the game, taking a regular shift over the final 40 minutes.

So when Krueger learned another evaluation had revealed Borgen, 24, fractured his right forearm, he said he felt “absolute shock.”

Borgen underwent surgery Tuesday and will ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Jeff Skinner sits out second straight game as healthy scratch

Instead of inserting winger Jeff Skinner into the lineup for the injured Tobias Rieder, the Sabres recalled Rasmus Asplund from the taxi squad to play in Tuesday’s road game against the New Jersey Devils.

Why did the Sabres choose Asplund, who has 32 games of NHL experience, over Skinner?

“We are working in a constructive way here hoping that watching a couple games will free him and allow him to bring his tools and his ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Will Borgen undergoes surgery on forearm, out six to eight weeks

Buffalo Sabres defenseman Will Borgen will be sidelined six to eight weeks after undergoing surgery to repair a fracture in his right forearm, the team announced this afternoon.

Borgen blocked a shot in Saturday afternoon’s 3-2 win over the New Jersey Devils. Sabres coach Ralph Krueger sounded optimistic before Monday’s 3-2 loss to the New York Islanders that Borgen, 24, could miss one game and return for tonight’s contest against the Devils.

But further evaluation ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Buffalo’s early goal buoys win; Taylor Hall honored by Devils

When defenseman Colin Miller converted winger Taylor Hall’s pass early in Saturday afternoon’s 3-2 win, coach Ralph Krueger said joy swept over the Buffalo Sabres’ bench.

For the first time in more than 259 minutes of play, Buffalo had finally seized the lead.

“Guys were just like, ‘Wow, when was the last time this happened?’” Krueger said on a Zoom call after the Sabres defeated the New Jersey Devils.

It hadn’t happened since Jan. 30, ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Ralph Krueger ‘very concerned’ about Jake McCabe’s lower-body injury

Buffalo Sabres coach Ralph Krueger said he is “very concerned” about the lower-body injury defenseman Jake McCabe suffered in Saturday afternoon’s 3-2 road win over the New Jersey Devils.

While Krueger couldn’t offer a recovery time – “We don’t have a final diagnosis yet,” he said – his words painted a grim picture for McCabe, who recently recovered after testing positive for COVID-19.

McCabe, 27, left the game with 11:03 remaining after his right leg ... Read the full article

Sabres trying to generate offensive confidence: ‘Definitely some fragility’

In watching the Buffalo Sabres lose again and fail to score an even-strength goal, coach Ralph Krueger learned how fragile his team’s psychological state is right now.

Since the Sabres returned from a two-week COVID-19 pause Monday, they’ve showcased an anemic offense, recording zero even-strength goals and just two overall in their three games.

Winger Victor Olofsson has provided the Sabres’ only offense, scoring a power-play goal Monday and again in Thursday’s 3-1 road loss ... Read the full article

Why did Ralph Krueger hide Sabres’ lines from Lindy Ruff, Devils?

BUFFALO – In Sunday afternoon’s pregame warm-up, Sabres coach Ralph Krueger showcased the same lines he had utilized the previous day against the New Jersey Devils, with one exception.

Casey Mittelstadt, who was replacing Tage Thompson, skated at left wing beside top center Jack Eichel and Victor Olofsson.

Then when Sunday’s contest started, Krueger changed three of four Sabres’ lines. Only one trio from warm-ups – center Cody Eakin, left wing ... Read the full article

Three Sabres games postponed after players enter NHL’s COVID-19 protocols

The NHL late Tuesday afternoon postponed all Buffalo Sabres games through at least Monday after two players – winger Taylor Hall and defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen – were added to the league’s COVID-19 protocol-related absences list.

The team’s training facilities will stay closed until further notice.

The Sabres had road games scheduled for Thursday against the New York Islanders and Saturday and Monday versus the Boston Bruins.

The NHL said a decision on next week’s Sabres ... Read the full article

Sabres keep living dangerously, fall to Devils after comeback

BUFFALO – In winning three out of four games last week, the Sabres couldn’t buck some disturbing trends: they kept living dangerously, falling behind and often playing loosely.

Sooner or later, it was going to bite them.

The Sabres, at least by their standards, have enjoyed a decent start this season. Sunday afternoon’s 5-3 loss to the New Jersey Devils inside KeyBank Center dropped them to 4-4-2.

They’re just one point behind the Pittsburgh Penguins ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Rasmus Ristolainen wreaking havoc on power play

BUFFALO – As a defenseman, Rasmus Ristolainen understands how a big body in front of the net can be a weapon during a power play.

“If some other teams, they have some good net-front presence, I know how hard it is to play when there’s guys standing in front of the net screening (the) goalie all the time,” the Sabres veteran said after scoring a power-play goal in Sunday afternoon’s 5-3 loss to the New ... Read the full article