Okposo - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres’ Cody Eakin, Zemgus Girgensons and Kyle Okposo forming strong line

BUFFALO – There’s nothing fancy about the line. A no-frills style has made the trio of center Cody Eakin and wingers Zemgus Girgensons and Kyle Okposo highly effective since Sabres coach Don Granato recently reunited the veterans.

“We just seem to play the game the right way and do all the cliché things that you talk about, get pucks in, get pucks out and we win some battles,” Okposo said prior to Friday’s 4-3 shootout ... Read the full article

After Robert Hagg deal, Sabres could make more trades before deadline

BUFFALO – Expect a quiet deadline day for the Sabres. General manager Kevyn Adams made one trade Sunday, sending defenseman Robert Hagg to the Florida Panthers. Perhaps a few more veterans on expiring contracts will be dealt before 3 p.m.

This deadline lacks the intrigue of a year ago, when Adams was trying to trade winger Taylor Hall, a free agent bust, or in 2020, when ex-GM Jason Botterill loaded up for a playoff ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Colin Miller close to returning; Mark Jankowski clears waivers

BUFFALO – Defenseman Colin Miller, out the last 23 games after undergoing surgery, will play during the Sabres’ upcoming road trip, coach Don Granato said.

Miller, who was trying to play through an upper-body injury earlier this season, has missed the last 23 games.

The Sabres play the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday and the Calgary Flames on Friday before closing the trip against the Vancouver Canucks on Sunday.... Read the full article

Dylan Cozens, Terry Pegula and what it means for the Sabres

BUFFALO – Dylan Cozens only remembers Terry Pegula mentioned the cross-check on Rasmus Dahlin. The rest of his interaction with the Sabres owner following his ejection from the Heritage Classic is a little fuzzy.

“I’m gonna be honest, I had a lot of adrenaline going so I don’t really remember too much,” the center said following Tuesday’s practice at LECOM Harborcenter.

The maturation of a young team is often filled with seminal moments, and the ... Read the full article

The story behind the Sabres’ Semi-Pro Flint Tropics uniforms

BUFFALO – The original plan called for the Sabres to step off the bus Sunday afternoon and walk into Tim Hortons Field for the Heritage Classic wearing “Canadian tuxedos.”

Teams playing outdoors make grand entrances in costumes, and the all-denim look – a jeans jacket worn along with a pair of jeans – seemed perfect for the game in Hamilton, Ontario.

But on Feb. 26, Tampa Bay Lightning players sported a similar denim look as ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Zemgus Girgensons close to returning; Mark Jankowski waived

BUFFALO – The uncertainty Sabres winger Zemgus Girgensons experienced after he left the lineup in late January wore on him. The Latvian’s lower-body injury was related to the hamstring problem that forced him to miss all of last season.

“It was definitely mentally tough at the start where I kept going back and forth with how long I would be out,” Girgensons said following Tuesday’s practice at LECOM Harborcenter. “It brought back flashbacks from last ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Henri Jokiharju, other injured players close to returning

BUFFALO – Defenseman Henri Jokiharju and some other injured Sabres could return for tonight’s home game against Jack Eichel and the Vegas Golden Knights, coach Don Granato said.

Jokiharju, out the last six games with a lower-body injury, practiced Wednesday in his regular spot beside defenseman Rasmus Dahlin. Meanwhile, winger Zemgus Girgensons, out the last 16 games with a lower-body injury, skated on a line of extras with center Mark Jankowski and Anders Bjork inside ... Read the full article

Sabres implode against Panthers, lose big: ‘That team doesn’t stop’

BUFFALO – For 20 minutes Monday, the Florida Panthers looked uncharacteristically sloppy and slow, mustering just three shots on goal against the Sabres.

Despite outplaying the Panthers early, the Sabres trailed 1-0 after the opening period. The Sabres had an opportunity to exploit one of the NHL’s heavyweights, but they couldn’t get any of their 11 shots by Panthers goalie Spencer Knight.

“Being down 1-0, that hurts when you only give up three,” winger Kyle ... Read the full article

Sabres experience ‘playoff hockey’ in loss to Kings

BUFFALO – For one game at least, the Sabres got a small taste of playoff hockey, playing a lock-it-down, grind-it-out affair against the Los Angeles Kings.

The Kings, one of the NHL’s biggest surprises this season, stifled the Sabres all afternoon, limiting scoring chances and showcasing rigid structure. When the visitors grabbed a 1-0 lead late in the second period, they were content with sitting on it.

“They know if we keep it 1-0, we ... Read the full article

On verge of 300th win, Sabres’ Craig Anderson enjoying ‘remarkable’ career

BUFFALO – It was the late 1980s, and Craig Anderson was sitting at the end of the bench in a chilly rink in Chicago on the verge of tears.

Anderson had finally had enough of playing defense. His team was getting blown out, and he told his coach he did not want to play unless he was the goalie.

The youngster, then 7 or 8, had been rotating between defense and the net. But on ... Read the full article