Buffalo Hockey Beat - WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage

Sabres’ Ryan McLeod practices, ready to return from injury

Buffalo Sabres center Ryan McLeod, who has missed the last three games with an upper-body injury, is expected to return for this afternoon’s contest against the Oilers, coach Lindy Ruff told reporters in Edmonton.

“I’m confident he’ll play,” Ruff told reporters after McLeod participated in Friday’s practice.

McLeod, 25, played four seasons for the Oilers before they traded him to Buffalo during the offseason. He was injured in practice Jan. 16, a day ... Read the full article

Sabres send goalie Devon Levi back to Rochester, recall prospect

Goalie Devon Levi’s latest stint with the Buffalo Sabres lasted one game.

The Sabres this afternoon sent Levi back to the Rochester Americans and recalled center prospect Tyson Kozak from their AHL affiliate.

Levi played in Monday afternoon’s 6-4 road loss to the Seattle Kraken, allowing five goals and making 28 saves.

Assigning Levi, 23, to Rochester likely means Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, who has been banged up, is healthy enough to at least dress ... Read the full article

Sabres activate Jiri Kulich from injured reserve, send prospect to Rochester

The Buffalo Sabres this afternoon created a roster spot to activate center Jiri Kulich from injured reserve by sending center Tyson Kozak to the Rochester Americans.

Kulich missed four games with a lower-body injury before returning for this afternoon’s contest against the Seattle Kraken, the start of a four-game road trip. The rookie began the game on the top line pivoting Tage Thompson and Jason Zucker.... Read the full article

Sabres recall goalie Devon Levi, place Ryan McLeod on injured reserve

The Buffalo Sabres on Saturday recalled goalie Devon Levi from the Rochester Americans and created a roster spot by placing center Ryan McLeod on injured reserved.

McLeod, who fell awkwardly in Thursday’s practice, played in Friday’s 5-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins. He registered his first NHL hat trick in Wednesday’s 4-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes.

The Sabres have used McLeod, who has scored 10 goals this season, up and down the lineup. He ... Read the full article

Penguins goalie Alex Nedeljkovic seals win over Sabres by scoring goal

BUFFALO – Long before he stopped a puck behind his net and flung it down the ice toward the Sabres’ open net late in Friday’s 5-2 win, Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Alex Nedeljkovic was enjoying one heck of a game.

Nedeljkovic stymied the Sabres all night, outplaying his his counterpart, Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. In the second period, the American recorded the secondary assist on Cody Glass’ power-play goal that would prove to be the winner.... Read the full article

Jiri Kulich’s return from injury will force Sabres to make lineup changes

BUFFALO – In rookie Jiri Kulich’s absence, the Sabres have filled some of the void by moving forwards around and recalling Tyson Kozak.

Kulich, who has been recovering from a lower-body injury, missed his fourth game Friday, a 5-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins.

When the Czech center is ready to play – he’s on track to return Monday afternoon against the Seattle Kraken, the start of a four-game road trip – Sabres coach Lindy ... Read the full article

Injury gave Sabres’ Mattias Samuelsson chance to reset mentally, find game

BUFFALO – Looking back on it, Sabres defenseman Mattias Samuelsson considers the lower-body injury he suffered earlier this season to be a blessing in disguise.

A few months ago, Samuelsson, 24, acknowledged he was “just in my head about a lot of things.”

“Worrying about things we can’t control,” he told the Times Herald following Thursday’s practice in KeyBank Center. “When you’re like that, you’re obviously not playing your best and not playing free.”... Read the full article

Ryan McLeod’s three goals help Sabres beat Hurricanes; Buffalo records zero shots in odd third period

BUFFALO – In these parts, there are rarely normal games. The Sabres, you see, often make things interesting. They like to do things differently.

In beating the Carolina Hurricanes 4-2 on Wednesday, they took a 3-0 lead into the third period before gutting out a much-needed win despite recording zero shots on goal in the final 20 minutes.

How did the Sabres score late without the benefit of a shot? Well, as center Ryan McLeod ... Read the full article

Former Sabres goalie Dustin Tokarski thriving with Hurricanes

BUFFALO – About to turn 35, an advanced age for a goalie, and coming off a season in which he played just 24 games for the Rochester Americans, Dustin Tokarski found few suitors on the open market.

Finally, in September, Tokarski signed a tryout to attend the Ottawa Senators’ training camp.

When the Senators released the former Sabres backup at the end of camp, he went home to Saskatchewan.

“Just waiting for an opportunity, and ... Read the full article

Injured Sabres rookie Jiri Kulich close to playing

BUFFALO – Sabres winger Jiri Kulich, who has missed the last two games with a lower-body injury, participated in this morning’s optional pregame skate and could play as soon as Friday, coach Lindy Ruff said.

“Friday’s a longshot but should be good to go after that,” Ruff said of the Sabres’ home game against the Pittsburgh Penguins. “But I wouldn’t rule out Friday, either.”

If Kulich, 20, doesn’t play Friday, he could return for ... Read the full article