2021 Season Edition
Dylan Cozens sat out Sunday afternoon’s 3-0 loss to Philadelphia. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
The Sabres have performed downright awful in Buffalo this season, compiling a wretched 2-7-2 record that ranks 29th in the NHL.
On the road, however, they have often looked like a different team, showcasing a calmer style while scoring more goals. They’re 4-3-1 away from KeyBank Center.
“The bubble lifestyle on the road actually is easier than the bubble we’re attempting to live in at home,” said coach Ralph Krueger, whose Sabres begin a five-game ... Read the full article
Jack Eichel has scored just two goals in 17 games this season. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Three weeks ago, Sabres captain Jack Eichel felt confident he would shake off his underwhelming start and, in his words, begin to “take off.”
Eichel, understandably, had trouble adjusting to the dizzying pace of the schedule earlier this season.
An upper-body injury sidelined him the first five days of an abbreviated training camp. Then he played 10 games in 18 days following barely a week of practice.
So the COVID-19 pause that began ... Read the full article
Rasmus Dahlin is frustrated by Buffalo’s struggles. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin looked and sounded disgusted following another dispirited shutout loss.
The hapless Sabres endured a brutal weekend, losing by scores of 3-0 to the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday and Sunday afternoon at KeyBank Center.
They’ve looked downright awful since their COVID-19 pause ended two weeks ago, losing seven of their nine outings.
At this point, 19 games into another dreary season, simply scoring a goal would be an accomplishment for ... Read the full article
Jonas Johansson made 35 saves Sunday afternoon. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – If the Sabres want to add an established goalie they can utilize as Linus Ullmark recovers from his lower-body injury, Alex Stalock is available.
The Minnesota Wild waived Stalock, who has been recovering from an upper-body injury all season, on Sunday.
Stalock, 33, has played 151 NHL games, including a career-high 38 last season. The veteran could be an intriguing option for the Sabres.
Ullmark will be sidelined at least one month, coach ... Read the full article
Jack Eichel has missed the last two games. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Sabres captain Jack Eichel will skate in this afternoon’s warm-up and be a game-time decision, coach Ralph Krueger said.
A lower-body injury has sidelined Eichel the last two games. Krueger said 13 forwards will warm up before the Sabres play the Philadelphia Flyers at KeyBank Center.
Update: Eichel will play this afternoon. Rookie winger Dylan Cozen will be scratched.
In other lineup news, Krueger said Jonas Johansson will start in goal, his first ... Read the full article
Philadelphia’s Scott Laughton scores on Buffalo goalie Carter Hutton on Saturday afternoon. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – The Sabres’ grueling schedule doesn’t let up for weeks. Fresh off Saturday afternoon’s ugly 3-0 loss to Philadelphia, they play the Flyers again today, their ninth game in 14 days since their COVID-19 pause ended.
The Sabres, incredibly, don’t have two consecutive days off until the first week of April. They have four more games next week. The jam-packed slate doesn’t offer them an opportunity to reset and enjoy any quality practice time.... Read the full article
Rasmus Ristolainen missed seven games before returning Saturday afternoon. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Instead of easing defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen into the lineup, Sabres coach Ralph Krueger threw him into the fray Saturday afternoon, skating him a game-high 8 minutes, 22 seconds in the first period.
Ristolainen, 26, showcased remarkable energy considering he had missed seven games while recovering from a nasty battle with COVID-19.
The 6-foot-4, 221-pound Ristolainen played a team-high 22 minutes, 17 seconds in the Sabres’ 3-0 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers. The Finn ... Read the full article
Linus Ullmark has played 12 games this season. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – A lower-body injury will sideline Sabres goalie Linus Ullmark at least one month, coach Ralph Krueger said.
Ullmark, who has started 12 of the Sabres’ 17 games, left Thursday’s 4-3 overtime loss to the New Jersey Devils after the first period.
“It’s a hard hit, it’s a heavy hit,” Sabres coach Ralph Krueger said on a Zoom call this morning. “The best case we’ll get him back in a month. So a huge ... Read the full article
Jeff Skinner practiced on a regular line again. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – A day after getting jettisoned to the taxi squad, winger Jeff Skinner practiced in his regular fourth-line spot with the Sabres’ main group Friday, a sign his three-game benching could end this afternoon.
“I just want to underline again that we are not going to reveal any lines or roster until tomorrow morning,” coach Ralph Krueger said on a Zoom call after the Sabres prepared for this afternoon’s game against the Philadelphia Flyers ... Read the full article
Jack Eichel is questionable for this weekend. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Sabres goalie Linus Ullmark will likely miss this weekend’s two-game series against the Philadelphia Flyers, coach Ralph Krueger said. Meanwhile, captain Jack Eichel is questionable for the home contests.
Both players have lower-body injuries and did not practice today inside KeyBank Center.
Ullmark, the Sabres’ No. 1 goalie, left Thursday’s 4-3 overtime loss to the New Jersey Devils after the first period. Kruger said Ullmark was having X-rays done this afternoon.
“We’re not ... Read the full article
