Okposo - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres notes: Carter Hutton, Johan Larsson expected to face Senators

BUFFALO – Sabres coach Ralph Krueger expects goalie Carter Hutton and center Johan Larsson to play against the Ottawa Senators despite their absence from Monday’s practice for maintenance.

Meanwhile, the Sabres announced illness will keep winger Michael Frolik from playing tonight. The Czech did not travel with the team to Ottawa. He also missed Sunday’s 5-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs.

“We’re not worried about any of these injuries,” Sabres coach Ralph Krueger said ... Read the full article

Jack Eichel tells Maple Leafs fans to sit down after scoring in Sabres win

BUFFALO – Jack Eichel smirked when he heard the question. The captain had just scored the game-winning goal, igniting a late outburst that cemented a critical victory against the Sabres’ fiercest rival, the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Clearly, Eichel revels in beating the Leafs and sending their legions of loud fans – they comprised at least 60% of Sunday’s capacity crowd inside KeyBank Center – home unhappy.

“I enjoy it,” was all Eichel would say following ... Read the full article

Former Sabres captain Jason Pominville not retired, would like to play again

BUFFALO – Popular former Sabres captain Jason Pominville recently told some friends he would love to help out their beer league team if they ever needed a player to fill in.

“They’re like, ‘You’re in full time!’” Pominville said prior to Thursday’s 4-3 overtime win against the Columbus Blue Jackets inside KeyBank Center.

So Pominville, who scored 16 goals in 73 games for the Sabres last season, plays hockey once a week at the ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Victor Olofsson, Kyle Okposo to return against Blue Jackets

BUFFALO – Sabres wingers Victor Olofsson and Kyle Okposo will return from their injuries tonight against the Columbus Blue Jackets, coach Ralph Krueger said.

A lower-body injury has sidelined Olofsson, one of the NHL’s top rookies, the last 15 games. Meanwhile, an upper-body injury has shelved Okposo the past six games.

In other lineup news, an upper-body injury will sideline forward Marcus Johansson tonight. Krueger said Johansson is day-to-day.... Read the full article

Sabres’ Victor Olofsson, Kyle Okposo could return from injuries Thursday

BUFFALO – When Sabres winger Victor Olofsson started practicing again Saturday, coach Ralph Krueger said the rookie might need another week before he could play.

But Olofsson went full tilt this afternoon, taking reps in his normal spots beside captain Jack Eichel and Sam Reinhart and down low on the power play.

Meanwhile, Kyle Okposo, who returned for Tuesday’s morning skate, practiced in his regular spot at right wing with center Johan Larsson and ... Read the full article

Simple style helping Sabres’ Scott Wilson thrive following recall

BUFFALO – Earlier in his career, Sabres winger Scott Wilson said he would often run around on the ice, a style that sapped his energy and took him out of plays.

Wilson, 27, realized he needed to embrace a simpler way.

“Being physical when I can but not running around like an idiot,” Wilson said after the turnover he helped create led to center Johan Larsson’s goal in Sunday afternoon’s 3-2 loss to the Anaheim ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Kyle Okposo nearing return from ‘painful’ upper-body injury

BUFFALO – On Feb. 1, winger Kyle Okposo was cross-checked during his first shift in the Sabres’ 2-1 overtime win against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

“Something broke,” Okposo said after skating with his teammates this morning for the first time since leaving the lineup.

Still, Okposo, 31, tried gutting out what he called “a freak injury” for the rest of the period.

“I knew it wasn’t good,” he said of the upper-body injury. “I tried ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Ralph Krueger believes Jack Eichel equipped to handle big ice time

BUFFALO – After skating a career-high 28 minutes, 22 seconds in Sunday afternoon’s 3-2 loss to the Anaheim Ducks, Sabres captain Jack Eichel ranks second among NHL forwards in ice time, trailing only Edmonton Oilers superstar Leon Draisaitl.

Through 55 appearances, Eichel has averaged a whopping 22:08 – 18 seconds less than Draisaitl.

With very few scoring options at his disposal, Sabres coach Ralph Krueger has been running Eichel ragged, skating him at least 20 ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Rasmus Dahlin, Johan Larsson miss practice

BUFFALO – Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin and center Johan Larsson had maintenance days today and will be evaluated prior to Tuesday’s home game against the Colorado Avalanche, coach Ralph Krueger said.

Meanwhile, defenseman Brandon Montour, a late scratch with a lower-body injury for Saturday afternoon’s 2-1 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets, practiced today.

“Montour, we gave it a good shot today, and he’s just being assessed right now,” Krueger said inside KeyBank Center. “But ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Nathan Gerbe enjoying regular duty with Blue Jackets

BUFFALO – At first, learning the Columbus Blue Jackets had recalled him upset Nathan Gerbe a little. The former Sabres winger had just arrived home in Michigan for a short Christmas break from the Cleveland Monsters.

The affable Gerbe, 32, wanted to see his family. Instead, on Dec. 22 he hurried to Long Island for the Blue Jackets’ game the next day against the New York Islanders.

“I hadn’t seen them in a while,” Gerbe ... Read the full article