Matt Hunwick has missed 31 games this season. ©2018, Hickling Images

Sabres notes: Matt Hunwick to begin injury rehab assignment with Amerks

BUFFALO – On April 1, defenseman Matt Hunwick made his 521st NHL appearance, skating just over 12 minutes in Pittsburgh’s 3-1 loss in Washington.

More than eight months later, Hunwick, 33, hasn’t played another game. That should, however, change tonight for the Sabres newcomer, who has missed the first 31 contests this season recovering from a neck injury.

The Sabres plan to have Hunwick start an AHL rehab assignment with the Rochester Americans, Sabres coach ... Read the full article

Linus Ullmark will make his third straight start tonight. ©2018, Hickling Images

Sabres goalie Carter Hutton to back up Linus Ullmark against Kings

BUFFALO – Since goalie Carter Hutton is healthy enough to back up Linus Ullmark tonight against the Los Angeles Kings, the Sabres sent Scott Wedgewood to the AHL this morning.

Hutton, who played 21 times this season, missed Saturday afternoon’s 6-2 loss to Philadelphia.

“He had a really good day yesterday,” Sabres coach Phil Housley said this morning inside KeyBank Center. “I just want to get him in one more practice before he plays.”... Read the full article

Carter Hutton has missed one game. ©2018, Hickling Images

Sabres goalie Carter Hutton practices, should play this week

BUFFALO – After an upper-body injury forced him to miss Saturday afternoon’s 6-2 home loss to Philadelphia, Sabres goalie Carter Hutton was back practicing this morning inside HarborCenter.

Coach Phil Housley said he “definitely” expects his No. 1 netminder to return this week. The Sabres host Los Angeles on Tuesday and Arizona on Thursday before playing road games Saturday and Sunday.

“It was good to see him back battling,” Housley said inside KeyBank Center. “He ... Read the full article

Scott Wedgewood has played 24 NHL games. ©2018, Hickling Images

Sabres goalie Carter Hutton out Saturday; Scott Wedgewood recalled

BUFFALO – With Sabres goalie Carter Hutton day-to-day with an upper-body injury and out for Saturday afternoon’s tilt, according to coach Phil Housley, they recalled Scott Wedgewood this morning.

What happened to Hutton? The starter finished Monday’s 2-1 loss in Nashville and backed up Linus Ullmark for Tuesday’s 4-3 overtime loss here to Toronto.

Housley said Hutton had a maintenance day Thursday.

“It was sort of formed the last three or four days,” Housley said ... Read the full article

Matt Tennyson just returned to Rochester. ©2018, Hickling Images

Sabres recall Scott Wedgewood, Matt Tennyson from Amerks

BUFFALO – The Sabres recalled goalie Scott Wedgewood and defenseman Matt Tennyson from the Rochester Americans this morning.

Stay tuned for more details. The Sabres practice at 11 a.m.

Goalie Carter Hutton missed Thursday’s practice for maintenance, Sabres coach Phil Housley said.... Read the full article

Rasmus Ristolaine (55) battles Arizona’s Jordan Martinook on March 22. ©2018, Hickling Images

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

Zach Bogosian has battled injuries in recent seasons. ©2018, Hickling Images

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

Fans packed Clinton Arena on Tuesday. ©2018, Olean Times Herald

Clinton had hockey history long before Sabres arrived for Hockeyville

CLINTON – This village of about 1,900 has some hockey history, you know.

In the late 1950s and 1960s, long before Tuesday’s Kraft Hockeyville NHL preseason tilt between the Buffalo Sabres and Columbus Blue Jackets, the 2,000-seat Clinton Arena housed a pro team in the Eastern Hockey League called the Clinton Comets.

Eddie Giacomin, a Hall of Fame goalie, played for the Comets prior to his days starring for the New York Rangers.... Read the full article

The Sabres stretch earlier today inside Clinton Arena. ©2018, Olean Times Herald

Hockeyville in Clinton provides unique experience for Sabres

CLINTON – When center Casey Mittelstadt told some of his teammates skating this morning inside tiny Clinton Arena this felt like high school, he said they starting making fun of him.

But Mittelstadt, 19, is less than two years removed from playing high school hockey. Memories of skating in old rinks like the 65-year-old barn where the Sabres will face the Columbus Blue Jackets in tonight are fresh.... Read the full article

Sam Reinhart ended his holdout Wednesday. ©2018, Hickling Images

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