Scandella - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres rookie Rasmus Dahlin has new partner; Tage Thompson to play again

BUFFALO – If you’re counting, Sabres veteran Rasmus Ristolainen will become rookie Rasmus Dahlin’s third defense partner in just his 12th NHL appearance.

Dahlin, 18, started with Jake McCabe before moving beside Casey Nelson, acquitting himself well with both.

So why move Dahlin for tonight’s tilt against the Calgary Flames? Wouldn’t some stability benefit the first overall pick?

Sabres coach Phil Housley said he partnered Dahlin with Ristolainen to give the talented neophyte “more of ... Read the full article

Sabres beat Golden Knights, go over .500 for first time since 2013

BUFFALO – The last time the Sabres were above .500, their captain, center Jack Eichel, was a junior in high school. Phil Housley hadn’t entered the pro coaching ranks yet. Their top draft pick, defenseman Rasmus Dahlin, was 12.

You get the idea.

Only one player, winger Jason Pominville, is around from the last time the Sabres sported a winning record. Of course, Pominville spent more than four seasons with the Minnesota Wild before ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Tage Thompson seizes early opportunity

BUFFALO – Sabres winger Tage Thompson knows everything he just earned – one of 23 coveted roster spots and a place on a scoring line – can vanish in a hurry.

As a rookie a year ago, Thompson cracked St. Louis’ opening-night lineup just months after leaving college. The former first-round pick lasted four games before the Blues demoted him to the San Antonio Rampage.

“You never want to feel comfortable,” Thompson said prior to ... Read the full article

New-look Sabres excited to open season: ‘A lot of enthusiasm’

BUFFALO – The first glimpse of the new-look Sabres comes tonight, 180 days after they ended perhaps the worst season in franchise history.

Seven new faces will dress against the Boston Bruins, including first overall pick Rasmus Dahlin and winger Jeff Skinner, a two-time 30-goal scorer. The optimism surrounding the Sabres is well-deserved.

They’re a much different team than the dreadful one that finished in 31st place six months ago.

“They’re excited,” Sabres coach ... Read the full article

Sabres lose Scott Wilson as Conor Sheary returns

BUFFALO – Just as one Sabres winger, Conor Sheary, returned from an injury Sunday, they lost another one.

Toward of the end of practice, Scott Wilson got tangled with defensemen Rasmus Ristolainen and appeared to injure his right leg. Wilson stayed on the HarborCenter ice for a couple of minutes before being helped off. He couldn’t put any pressure on his right foot.... Read the full article

Sabres’ Conor Sheary practices; Scott Wilson leaves with injury

BUFFALO – Just as one Sabres winger, Conor Sheary, returned from an injury today, they lost another one.

Toward of the end of practice inside HarborCenter, Scott Wilson got tangled with defensemen Rasmus Ristolainen and appeared to injure his right leg. Wilson stayed on the ice for a couple of minutes before being helped off. He couldn’t put any pressure on his right foot.... Read the full article

Matt Tennyson, Lawrence Pilut battling for spot on Sabres’ defense

BUFFALO – One training camp earlier in his career, Sabres defenseman Matt Tennyson said he knew he was locked into the sixth spot on the San Jose Sharks’ blue line.

“Other than that, I’ve just been grinding away, just trying to make it,” Tennyson said Thursday inside KeyBank Center after the Sabres prepared for tonight’s preseason finale.

Tennyson, 28, is the typical journeymen defensemen. He usually ranks anywhere from sixth to 10th on the depth ... Read the full article

Jack Eichel, Rasmus Ristolainen and other Sabres day-to-day

BUFFALO – Seven Sabres, including center Jack Eichel and defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen, sat out today’s practice with “minor ailments” and will miss Friday’s preseason finale, coach Phil Housley said.

Housley said the players are all day-to-day. Center Johan Larsson, winger Conor Sheary and defensemen Zach Bogosian, Brandon Hickey and Marco Scandella also missed the session inside HarborCenter.... Read the full article

Sabres’ Zach Bogosian day-to-day with lower-body injury

BUFFALO – Oft-injured Sabres defenseman Zach Bogosian, who played only 18 games last season, is day-to-day after suffering a lower-body injury Tuesday, coach Phil Housley said.

Housley said Bogosian, 28, will be reevaluated later today after leaving the Sabres’ 4-2 preseason loss to Columbus early.

Injuries, of course, have ravaged Bogosian. The Massena native has missed 114 games – a whopping 42 percent of Buffalo’s outings – since he joined the Sabres on Feb. ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Tage Thompson promoted; Zach Bogosian, Sam Reinhart to debut

BUFFALO – Instead of utilizing Sam Reinhart or Kyle Okposo at right wing on the No. 1 line tonight, Sabres coach Phil Housley will give youngster Tage Thompson a look beside center Jack Eichel and Jeff Skinner.

Thompson, 20, scored a nifty goal in Friday’s 5-3 loss in Toronto, carrying the puck into the zone before toe-dragging and unleashing a wicked wrist shot from the right circle.

“I really liked what he brought to ... Read the full article