Buffalo Hockey Beat - WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage

Injury news on Sabres’ Alex Lyon, Zach Benson, Jiri Kulich and Conor Timmins

BUFFALO – Hey, considering the adversity they battled, the Sabres enjoyed a pretty solid opening month.

Was it up the lofty standard they set last season? Hardly. But a team that kept falling behind multiple goals seemingly each night and had 11 players miss time with injuries finished October with a 7-4-3 record and has points in eight of its last nine games.

Last week, the Sabres finally found a groove, closing their four-game road ... Read the full article

Sabres unveil ‘Hometown Remix’ jersey that honors Buffalo

The design elements in the Sabres’ blue “Hometown Remix” jersey the NHL unveiled today honor Buffalo’s history as “The City of Light.”

In addition to the classic “Goathead” crest, the jersey features the ‘B’ shoulder logo used on past uniforms with an electrified sabre going through it.

Debossed lightning bolts and stars with metallic gold stripes accentuate the sleeves. The custom numbers are also inspired by the Buffalo’s electric history.... Read the full article

Sabres assign defenseman to Rochester

The Buffalo Sabres today sent defenseman Dennis Gilbert back to the Rochester Americans.

The Buffalo native played five games during his recall, compiling one goal, two points and six penalty minutes.

He played four contests with the Amerks earlier this season, registering zero points and six penalty minutes.... Read the full article

Torrid start for Rochester Amerks could help Williamsville’s Trevor Kuntar earn another recall to Sabres

ROCHESTER – For one night, Trevor Kuntar struggled. Forget that the ultra-competitive Americans winger recorded a couple of points. He lost battles and looked off his game.

Normally, the Williamsville native is the guy dragging his teammates into the fray alongside him.

So following last Wednesday’s 5-3 home loss to the Utica Comets, coach Mike Leone told Kuntar he needed to raise his standard.... Read the full article

Injury will force Sabres rookie Konsta Helenius to miss rest of road trip

Rookie forward Konsta Helenius will return to Buffalo to be evaluated for an upper-body injury and will miss the rest of the Sabres’ road trip, coach Lindy Ruff told reporters prior to tonight’s game against the Anaheim Ducks.

Helenius, 20, was injured when he absorbed an open-ice hit from Jacob Trouba in the second period of Tuesday’s 2-0 win over the San Jose Sharks.

Forward Sam Carrick, who has missed four games with a mid-body ... Read the full article

Yes, goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen can be a lot better, but don’t blame all of the Sabres’ problems on him

Goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen will likely earn a breather this week and take a backseat to Colten Ellis for one of the Buffalo Sabres’ three games in California.

Coach Lindy Ruff hinted at it last week, saying once Luukkonen, who has started five straight games and played in the last six contests, reaches a certain threshold, someone else must take his turn.

The Finn, 27, has morphed into the Sabres’ workhorse, playing nine of their first ... Read the full article

Connor Hellebuyck is in New Jersey, but Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen knows he can still be traded

BUFFALO – Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen knows all about the trade rumors involving his name. Not that the Sabres goalie goes out of his way to read them. But these days, he knows you can’t escape the outside noise.

If he stays off social media, a friend will inevitably inform him.

“I think anybody who says that they don’t see it or they don’t read it, they’re lying,” said Luukkonen, whose name has been bandied about for ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Jiri Kulich injured in practice, status for road trip uncertain

BUFFALO – Sabres center Jiri Kulich was seeing the doctor this afternoon after a puck hit him in the face during a power-play drill early in today’s practice, coach Lindy Ruff said.

“It didn’t look good, but I don’t have an update,” Ruff said following the session in KeyBank Center.

Kulich, 22, left a pool of blood in the slot after staying down for several moments and being helped off the ice.... Read the full article

Sabres fall to Flyers in Jason Zucker’s return; Owen Power loses cool after phantom high-stick

BUFFALO – Forget that the Philadelphia Flyers entered the night on a two-game win streak and advanced to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs last season.

Having started the season a stunning 0-6-3 before finally notching a win in their 10th try, they’ve endured a brutal three-week stretch.

Prior to Wednesday’s 3-1 win over the Sabres in KeyBank Center, the Flyers were 0-4-1 on the road.

At home before a capacity crowd of ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Josh Norris scoring after slow start, showcasing grit

BUFFALO – Following a freak collision with Maple Leafs defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson in overtime last Thursday, Sabres center Josh Norris said he did not want to leave the game.

But Norris, 27, had no choice. So as his teammates finished off their come-from-behind 5-4 victory in Toronto, he was in concussion protocol.

“It was just a small thing,” Norris told the Times Herald prior to Wednesday’s 3-1 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers in KeyBank Center. ... Read the full article