WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
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Jimmy Vesey was injured Thursday. ©2019, Janet Schultz
Injuries will sideline defenseman Marco Scandella and winger Jimmy Vesey tonight against the Detroit Red Wings, the Buffalo Sabres announced this afternoon.
Scandella (lower body) and Vesey (upper) were hurt in Thursday’s 6-2 loss to the New York Rangers, the start of a two-game road trip.
The Sabres said the players will be evaluated this weekend in Buffalo.
Defenseman John Gilmour, a healthy scratch the first 11 games this season, and winger Evan Rodrigues... Read the full article
Will Borgen played four games with the Sabres last season. ©2019, Micheline Veluvolu, Rochester Americans
After losing defenseman Marco Scandella in Thursday’s 6-2 road loss to the New York Rangers, the Buffalo Sabres recalled Will Borgen from the Rochester Americans this morning.
Sabres coach Ralph Krueger told reporters in New York that Scandella is day-to-day with a lower body injury.
The Sabres play tonight in Detroit against the Red Wings.
Borgen, 22, could just be insurance for the Sabres. John Gilmour has been a healthy scratch as the seventh defenseman ... Read the full article
Zemgus Girgensons has embraced a checking role. ©2019, Hickling Images
BUFFALO – Over winger Zemgus Girgensons’ first six NHL seasons, the Sabres earned an average of only 67 points, missing the playoffs every year and finishing dead last three times.
Girgensons, 25, has endured a lot of losing over his 430-game career. His only taste of big league success before this month – a 10-game winning streak last November – was fleeting, as the Sabres quickly reverted to their hapless ways.
So the Sabres’ scorching ... Read the full article
Casey Mittelstadt’s smarts and skills helped the Sabres win Tuesday. ©2019, Micheline Veluvolu, Rochester Americans
BUFFALO – Coach Ralph Krueger said the Sabres bench “erupted” long before captain Jack Eichel scored Tuesday’s wild overtime winner.
It started getting loud about 20 seconds earlier, when center Casey Mittelstadt put his head down and pursued San Jose Sharks defenseman Erik Karlsson as he raced out of the Buffalo zone on a two-on-one.
“It was crazy,” Krueger said following Wednesday’s practice inside KeyBank Center. “I mean, I’m watching the entire bench cheering ... Read the full article
Jack Eichel celebrates his first goal Tuesday. ©2019, Hickling Images
BUFFALO – Jack Eichel’s night started ominously, with the Sabres captain passing up a glorious scoring chance in front of wonky San Jose Sharks goalie Martin Jones.
It wouldn’t be the last time Eichel did it early in Tuesday’s 4-3 overtime victory, a wild contest in which the Sabres roared back thanks to their young star’s dynamic performance.
“(I was) a little frustrated with myself more than anything,” Eichel said after scoring the overtime winner, ... Read the full article
Zach Bogosian had hip surgery in April. ©2019, Janet Schultz
BUFFALO – When the Sabres announced defenseman Zach Bogosian had undergone successful hip surgery, they said he would need five to six months to recover.
That was six months ago today.
Bogosian, who has battled injuries for years, suffered setbacks during the summer and hasn’t even started practicing yet.
But Sabres general manager Jason Botterill said prior to Tuesday’s 4-3 overtime win against the San Jose Sharks he believes Bogosian, 29, will play this season.... Read the full article
Jason Botterill brought in four new players who have contributed to the Sabres’ success. ©2019, Janet Schultz
BUFFALO – Seven wins in their first nine games have positioned the upstart Sabres among the NHL’s early-season elite.
Right now, having already earned 15 points, they’re tied for first overall and rank first in the Eastern Conference entering tonight’s game against the San Jose Sharks.
Few expected the Sabres, who earned just 16 points over their final 33 outings as they imploded last season, would turn things around so quickly.
The offseason additions – ... Read the full article
Casey Mittelstadt has scored three goals in the last two games. ©2019, Hickling Images
BUFFALO – The Sabres’ torrid start has created lineup stability not felt in these parts in a long time.
Through nine games, the 7-1-1 Sabres have dressed just 21 players, only making one change – Evan Rodrigues for winger Conor Sheary – when an injury forced them.
The lineup has essentially remained intact all season entering tonight’s home game against the San Jose Sharks, right down to the same lines and defense pairs.
Health, of ... Read the full article
Carter Hutton posted two shutouts last week. ©2019, Hickling Images
BUFFALO – How’s this for an interesting week? Sabres goalie Carter Hutton posted two shutouts, yet he didn’t even start consecutive games.
Instead of awarding Hutton another nod, Sabres coach Ralph Krueger started Linus Ullmark both games following the veteran’s dazzling performances.
But Hutton, who earned the NHL’s third star for the week ending October 20, isn’t worried about his playing time. He knows the coaching staff must make some hard decisions.
“I don’t know ... Read the full article
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen had offseason hip surgery. ©2019, Micheline Veluvolu, Rochester Americans
The Buffalo Sabres assigned top goalie prospect Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen to the Rochester Americans today, another step in his recovery from offseason hip surgery.
Sabres general manager Jason Botterill said last month he hopes Luukkonen can start playing games in early November. The Finn spent the early part of the season rehabbing in Buffalo.
When Luukkonen underwent surgery in April, the Sabres said he would need six months to recover.... Read the full article