Okposo - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Upper-body injury to sideline Sabres Kyle Okposo ‘weeks’

BUFFALO – An upper-body injury will likely sideline Sabres winger Kyle Okposo “weeks,” coach Ralph Krueger said.

Krueger said while the Sabres don’t have an exact time period for Okposo, “we don’t expect him back here for a while.”

“I’d say it’s more in the weeks category,” Krueger said prior to this afternoon’s game against the Columbus Blue Jackets inside KeyBank Center. “We’ll probably be confirming that later today after the game. I don’t just ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Kyle Okposo, Zach Bogosian out against Blue Jackets

BUFFALO – With winger Kyle Okposo out for this afternoon’s home game against the Columbus Blue Jackets, the Sabres recalled forward Jean-Sebastien Dea from the Rochester Americans on Friday.

Dea, 25, has compiled 13 goals and 30 points, both team highs, in 41 AHL games this season.

Okposo left Thursday’s 3-1 loss to the Montreal Canadiens early with an upper-body injury.

Coach Ralph Krueger said Okposo was being evaluated Friday and the Sabres wouldn’t give ... Read the full article

With Kyle Okposo injured, Sabres recall Jean-Sebastien Dea from Amerks

BUFFALO – The Sabres recalled forward Jean-Sebastien Dea, the Rochester Americans’ leading scorer, this morning.

Dea, 25, has compiled 13 goals and 30 points in 41 AHL games this season.

The Sabres summoned Dea because winger Kyle Okposo left Thursday’s 3-1 loss to the Montreal Canadiens early with an upper-body injury. Sabres coach Ralph Krueger said Okposo will likely miss Saturday afternoon’s game against the Columbus Blue Jackets.... Read the full article

Sabres lose again, fall behind Canadiens: ‘We’ve let ourselves down’

BUFFALO – For about the opening nine minutes of Thursday’s 3-1 loss to Montreal Canadiens, it appeared some desperation had finally kicked in and the Sabres grasped they’re playing for their season right now.

They pummeled their Atlantic Division rival early, taking a 1-0 lead on Jack Eichel’s power-play goal at 7:11, his 30th this season.

When the Canadiens finally mustered their first shot on goalie Carter Hutton at 10:29, the Sabres had already pumped ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Marco Scandella living dream with hometown Canadiens

BUFFALO – Marco Scandella saw the end here coming. Not only did the Sabres have a surfeit of defensemen, he had an expiring contract.

Scandella, 29, knew he was a goner.

Still, when the Sabres traded him to his hometown Montreal Canadiens on Jan. 2 in exchange for a fourth-round pick this year, he was stunned.

“You’re always in shock when you get traded,” Scandella said prior to Thursday’s 3-1 win over the Sabres, ... Read the full article

Goalie Linus Ullmark thriving in new role as Sabres’ starter

BUFFALO – Goalie Linus Ullmark’s second full NHL season has quickly become a blur. The Swede has started 32 of the Sabres’ 49 games, putting him on pace to play a career-high 54 times entering tonight’s contest against the Ottawa Senators.

The loquacious Ullmark, 26, has enjoyed a massive workload since Nov. 19, starting 24 of the last 29 games. During his emergence as the Sabres’ No. 1 goalie, he has played more games and ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Kyle Okposo hit hard by Kobe Bryant’s death: ‘He was a titan’

BUFFALO – Kyle Okposo grew up a rabid basketball fan in the 1990s and said he played the sport “way before” he took up hockey. The Sabres winger still loves talking about the NBA of his youth and its stars.

So the death of 41-year-old basketball legend Kobe Bryant has impacted Okposo. He sounded emotional this afternoon discussing Bryant, who died in helicopter crash Sunday in Los Angeles with his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, and seven ... Read the full article

Curtis Lazar earning keep with Sabres: ‘I am an NHL player’

BUFFALO – In the waning minutes of Tuesday’s 4-2 win over the Vegas Golden Knights, Sabres center Curtis Lazar couldn’t get off the ice.

Lazar’s marathon shift began with 2:18 left in the third period and the Sabres clinging to a one-goal lead. Following an icing and a timeout, the play kept going and going as the Golden Knights pressed with the extra attacker.

“We knew what we had to do,” Lazar said following Wednesday’s ... Read the full article

Jack Eichel’s ‘moment of brilliance’ helps Sabres beat Golden Knights

BUFFALO – For two periods, the Vegas Golden Knights stymied Sabres captain Jack Eichel, keeping one of the NHL’s most dynamic stars in check.

In the opening 40 minutes Tuesday, Eichel registered zero shots on goal and committed an uncharacteristic gaffe, telegraphing an ill-advised pass from deep in his own.

“I definitely made some bad turnovers,” Eichel said after scoring a scintillating game-winning goal late in the Sabres’ 4-2 victory inside KeyBank Center.

While the ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Zemgus Girgensons scoring goals, feeling confident on top line

BUFFALO – Sabres winger Zemgus Girgensons occasionally flashes some of the skills that helped make him the 14th overall pick in 2012.

In Sunday’s 5-1 win against the Detroit Red Wings, Girgensons utilized his soft hands to score on a short-handed breakaway. In Saturday’s 6-3 loss to the Vancouver Canucks, he tipped linemate Kyle Okposo’s laser in, briefly tying the game.

In 46 games this season, Girgensons has compiled eight goals, his highest total since ... Read the full article