Bill Hoppe - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres recall rookie Zach Metsa from Rochester Amerks

The Buffalo Sabres this afternoon recalled rookie defenseman Zach Metsa following a three-game weekend stint with the Rochester Americans.

Metsa, Rochester’s captain, registered zero points as the Amerks compiled a 2-1-0 mark.

The Sabres on Thursday assigned Metsa to the AHL so he could play big minutes instead of sitting out in Buffalo as a healthy scratch.... Read the full article

Shootout exploits by Jack Quinn, UPL, cap Sabres’ exciting come-from-behind win over Kraken

BUFFALO – A few years ago, Sabres winger Jack Quinn retired the slick shootout move – a nifty fake in the slot that freezes the goalie – he often utilized early in his pro career.

Goalies study their opponents and assemble a book on their tendencies, so Quinn has developed into one of the NHL’s premier shooters by evolving and showcasing other dazzling moves.

But a move that good shouldn’t be mothballed, right?

After dusting ... Read the full article

Sabres rookie Noah Ostlund could miss more time with injury

BUFFALO – The upper-body injury that has sidelined Sabres rookie Noah Ostlund the last two games “may take a little bit of time” to heal, coach Lindy Ruff said.

“You really can’t put a timetable on it,” Ruff said prior to Saturday’s game 3-2 shootout win over the Seattle Kraken in KeyBank Center. “He could come in tomorrow or skate tomorrow or Monday and say, ‘Boy, I’m feeling good. I’m ready to go.’”

With Ostlund ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Jordan Greenway skating with ‘zero pain,’ says he can play again this season

BUFFALO – Sabres winger Jordan Greenway can’t explain why his latest rehab regimen has worked so well when the others he tried failed to alleviate his pain.

These days, Greenway, who said he played through “terrible pain” after undergoing two sports hernia surgeries, feels the best he has in years. He sounds happy and relieved as he nears his return to the lineup after missing the last 23 games.

“I’m skating with zero pain, really, ... Read the full article

Sabres fall behind early to Red Wings, lose third straight: ‘Unacceptable’

BUFFALO – Sooner or later, this was bound to happen. Over a 41-game stretch before the Sabres stumbled this week, they won a stunning 80 percent of their contests.

That they hadn’t endured a three-game losing streak since early December illustrates the dominance they’ve showcased for nearly four months.

Even heavyweights fall into slumps, and right now, the Sabres, who on Friday lost 5-2 to the Detroit Red Wings, are struggling a bit.... Read the full article

Why did the Sabres send Zach Metsa back to the Rochester Amerks?

BUFFALO – The Sabres had the option to send rookie Zach Metsa back to the minors, so they figured what the heck, why not take it?

Instead of scratching the defenseman, by assigning him to the Rochester Americans as they did Thursday, he can play big minutes this weekend.

“He’ll play 20-plus minutes, which will be great for him,” Ruff said this morning in KeyBank Center, where the Sabres host the Detroit Red Wings tonight.... Read the full article

The Sabres have had a loaded roster since the trade deadline. How can Lindy Ruff utilize that depth?

BUFFALO – In the coaches’ room each day, the Sabres’ depth dominates the discussion.

“It’s the main topic,” Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said earlier this week.

Inside those walls, Ruff and his staff deliberate how to best utilize that depth and keep everyone involved.

The Sabres, having compiled a 33-6-4 record in their last 43 games entering tonight’s contest against the Detroit Red Wings at KeyBank Center, have a pretty darn good thing going.... Read the full article

Sabres’ Noah Ostlund misses practice with injury; Zach Metsa sent to AHL

BUFFALO – Sabres rookie Noah Ostlund missed today’s practice and is being evaluated for an upper-body injury, according to the team.

Ostlund, 22, stayed in Wednesday’s 4-3 overtime loss to the Boston Bruins after absorbing a hit from Andrew Peek along the boards in the third period.

After beginning the year in the minors, Ostlund has enjoyed a strong season, registering 11 goals, 27 points and a plus-11 rating in 60 games while moving between ... Read the full article

As he waits for another chance, Sabres’ Michael Kesselring trying to make most of time as healthy scratch

BUFFALO – Long after most of his Sabres teammates had departed the dressing room Wednesday morning, a sweaty Michael Kesselring walked in and sat down on a plastic chair.

A surplus of healthy bodies – Kesselring is one of nine defensemen – has forced the Sabres to create a new dressing area in the middle of the room.

So Kesselring, having lost his spot on the arguably the NHL’s deepest blue line, doesn’t have a ... Read the full article

Sabres grab late lead after shaky start, lose to Bruins in OT: ‘I don’t think we were very good’

BUFFALO – Since the Sabres began their torrid run up the Eastern Conference standings in early December, they’ve played 143 periods. The first two in Wednesday’s 4-3 overtime loss to the Boston Bruins rank as their worst of the memorable stretch.

“Those first two periods are probably our poorest periods of the last three months,” coach Lindy Ruff said following the Sabres’ second consecutive overtime loss.

Fresh off a four-game road trip in which they ... Read the full article