Rochester Americans - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres prospect Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen named ECHL goalie of week

Posting two shutouts in two games for the Cincinnati Cyclones helped Buffalo Sabres prospect Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen earn ECHL Goaltender of the Week honors, the league announced today.

Luukkonen made 22 saves in a 1-0 win over the Allen Americans on Thursday and stopped 23 shots in a 5-0 victory against the Fort Wayne Komets on Saturday.

Overall, the Finn, 20, has compiled a 3-2-0 record with a 1.79 goals-against average and a .925 save percentage ... Read the full article

Sabres to use John Gilmour up front, scratch Marco Scandella

BUFFALO – In the end, instead of recalling a forward or trading for one, the Sabres will simply utilize defenseman John Gilmour as a winger.

So for the first time since he was 15 or 16, Gilmour will skate up front tonight against the Minnesota Wild. He could also move back to the blue line, Sabres coach Ralph Krueger said.

Krueger, who has five injured forwards, said Monday the Sabres could dress seven defensemen and ... Read the full article

Reeling, injury-plagued Sabres need to replenish lineup

BUFFALO – Having lost five forwards in the last five games, a stunning run of injuries, the reeling Sabres have two options for tonight’s game against the Minnesota Wild.

The Sabres can either dress seven defensemen and only 11 forwards, coach Ralph Krueger said, or they can recall a forward from the Rochester Americans.

They stayed remarkably healthy over the first month of the season, utilizing the same lineup most games. But the injuries have ... Read the full article

Sabres recall Tage Thompson from Amerks

Prospect Tage Thompson is back with the Buffalo Sabres.

The Sabres recalled Thompson, a winger who spent most of last season in the NHL, from the Rochester Americans this morning.

Having lost winger Kyle Okposo to an undisclosed injury in Saturday’s 4-2 win over the Ottawa Senators, the Sabres needed to summon another forward.... Read the full article

NHL debut will be emotional for Sabres rookie Rasmus Asplund

BUFFALO – Rasmus Asplund knows it will be difficult to keep his emotions in check today. Not only is the Sabres center set to make his NHL debut, it’s also Hockey Fights Cancer Night at KeyBank Center.

“Cancer is something that’s close to my heart,” Asplund said this morning after the Sabres prepared for the Ottawa Senators.

Both of Asplund’s grandparents on his father’s side passed away from cancer.

“It’s going to be hard,” said ... Read the full article

Sabres summon Rasmus Asplund; Johan Larsson ‘possibility’ for Saturday

BUFFALO – When the Sabres sent center Rasmus Asplund to the Rochester Americans following an impressive training camp, it felt like he would return to the NHL soon.

Asplund, 21, turned heads during the preseason, earning a long look from the Sabres. The Swedish prospect figured to be in line for his first recall.

Sure enough, with center Johan Larsson nursing an upper-body injury, the Sabres summoned Asplund this morning.

Larsson is day-to-day, according to ... Read the full article

Sabres recall prospect Rasmus Asplund from Amerks

BUFFALO – The reeling Sabres, losers of six straight games, recalled center Rasmus Asplund from the Rochester Americans this morning.

The 5-foot-11, 190-pound Asplund, 21, could make his NHL debut Saturday against the Ottawa Senators at KeyBank Center.

The Sabres, having gone 1-5-2 following their scorching 8-1-1 start, need any spark they can get. They’re 0-4-2 in their last six outings.

Asplund, a second-round pick in 2016, 33rd overall, is one of the Sabres’ top ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Curtis Lazar enjoys short trip to Buffalo

BUFFALO – The 70- or so mile drive from Rochester to KeyBank Center sure beats trying to get from Stockton, Calif., to Calgary. Just ask Sabres winger Curtis Lazar.

When the Flames would recall Lazar, 24, from the Heat, their AHL affiliate about 1,300 miles away, he would have to fly out of the San Francisco airport.

Stockton is about 83 miles from that airport.

Lazar enjoyed a much easier trip to Buffalo on ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Zach Bogosian set to practice; Vladimir Sobotka out four to six weeks

BUFFALO – More than six months after undergoing hip surgery, defenseman Zach Bogosian will return to practice today, the Sabres announced this morning.

Bogosian, who’s week-to-week, will be joined by defenseman Marco Scandella, who has missed the last six games with a lower-body injury.

That doesn’t mean the Sabres are healthy.

They announced this morning a lower-body injury will sideline winger Vladimir Sobotka four to six weeks. Tampa Bay Lightning star Nikita Kucherov hit Sobotka ... Read the full article

Sabres send Lawrence Pilut back to Amerks

The Buffalo Sabres sent defenseman Lawrence Pilut back to the Rochester Americans today.

The Sabres recalled Pilut, 23, last week to serve as a spare defenseman during their two-game trip to Sweden.

He was one of six Swedes on Buffalo’s roster.

Pilut played 33 NHL games as a rookie in 2018-19. He has scored one goal and six points in eight AHL games this season.... Read the full article