Buffalo Hockey Beat - WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage

After return from concussion, Sabres’ Jiri Kulich could be healthy scratch

BUFFALO – Six weeks into the season, Jiri Kulich hasn’t found any rhythm. Following nearly a year on the sideline recovering from a blood clot, the Sabres forward has suffered some early setbacks, most notably a concussion that forced him to miss five games.

In two appearances since returning, Kulich has struggled a bit, so it appears he will be a healthy scratch for Wednesday’s game against the Tampa Bay Lightning at KeyBank Center.

The ... Read the full article

Sabres’ power play costs them in loss to Golden Knights: ‘Took the wind right out of our sails’

BUFFALO – Just over halfway through Sunday afternoon’s 4-1 loss, winger Tage Thompson gave the puck away again inside the Vegas Golden Knights blue line as the Sabres enjoyed a power play, this time to Mitch Marner.

With the game tied at 0 earlier in the period, Sabres goalie Colten Ellis stymied two shots on William Karlsson’s short-handed breakaway attempt after Thompson committed a similar gaffe on the man advantage.

“That should have been motivation ... Read the full article

Flashback: 15 years ago, Rick Jeanneret and Dale Hawerchuk were inducted into the Sabres Hall of Fame

I’ve been lucky to cover many Sabres Hall of Fame inductions. Looking back, the 2011 ceremony, which took place 15 years ago today, might’ve been the most special.

Sadly, both of the inductees – legendary play-by-play man Rick Jeanneret and high-scoring center Dale Hawerchuk – have since passed away.

Jeanneret, as you can read below, finally accepted the honor so his mother could enjoy it with him.

Hawerchuk, one of the most underrated players in ... Read the full article

In tough times, Sabres’ Jiri Kulich leans on teammates; Injured Matt Grzelcyk in ‘holding pattern’

BUFFALO – After a puck hit Sabres forward Jiri Kulich in the face during a practice late last month, forcing him to miss five games with a concussion, he joked he wondered if he had wronged someone.

“I was telling myself, ‘What I did (do) to someone with my luck?’” Kulich told the Times Herald prior to Friday’s 5-2 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets in KeyBank Center, his first game since going down Oct. ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Josh Norris breaks out of slump, scores two goals in much-needed home win over Blue Jackets

BUFFALO – When the topic turned to the struggling Josh Norris prior to Friday’s 5-2 victory, Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said he had been working with the talented center and a better version of him would materialize.

Norris had mostly been a non-factor for five weeks, registering just two goals and three points in 15 games despite skating on scoring lines and the power play.

Ruff scratched another underperforming forward, Ryan McLeod, on Friday. If ... Read the full article

Sabres to make Ryan McLeod healthy scratch, change defense

BUFFALO – With the Sabres clinging to a 1-0 lead in Wednesday’s third period, forward Ryan McLeod lost a defensive-zone faceoff and allowed his man, center Shane Pinto, to get free in front of goalie Colten Ellis.

Pinto quickly swept in a rebound, the first of two late goals the Ottawa Senators scored in their 2-1 victory.

McLeod has struggled all season, mustering just one goal and three points while compiling a team-worst ... Read the full article

Sabres prospect Jake Richard excelling in first weeks with Rochester Amerks

ROCHESTER – The first goal of Buffalo Sabres prospect Jake Richard’s pro career created some confusion.

At first, Richard figured the goal would be credited to the shooter, Americans defenseman Gavin McCarthy, his close friend and a fellow rookie. But teammates told Richard the goal belonged to him.

When he watched a replay, Richard, 22, realized the puck hit him as he battled one of the Toronto Marlies for positioning in front of the net.... Read the full article

Sabres implode late, waste strong effort from Colten Ellis in loss to Senators

BUFFALO – Well, at least the Sabres didn’t chase Wednesday’s contest until late. But make no mistake, like so many of their home games this season, they could’ve easily fallen behind early to the Ottawa Senators.

The Senators generated a point-blank scoring opportunity 11 seconds into the game. Barely 90 seconds in, goalie Colten Ellis bailed the Sabres out again, using his right pad to stymie Michael Amadio’s backdoor chance from the bottom of the ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Sam Carrick took ‘scenic route’ to 400 NHL games, still feeling injury suffered in fight

BUFFALO – Sabres forward Sam Carrick joked that he took the scenic route to reaching the 400-game milestone in the NHL.

Carrick, 34, began his pro career 14 years ago in Boise, Idaho, playing 50 games for the ECHL’s Steelheads before graduating to the AHL, where he spent most of the next eight seasons.

While he occasionally earned recalls to the big leagues – he amassed 47 appearances in his first nine seasons – he ... Read the full article

Colten Ellis expected to start as Sabres begin goalie rotation; Jiri Kulich, Conor Timmins available to play

BUFFALO – In the opening month of the season, Sabres coach Lindy Ruff utilized the hot hand in net. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen started five straight games. Colten Ellis twice earned two consecutive nods.

But with tonight’s contest against the Ottawa Senators kicking off a stretch of six games in 11 days, Ruff said he plans to start rotating his goalies.

Ellis, who earned two road wins last week, is expected to play tonight.... Read the full article