Bill Hoppe - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres organization makes two minor trades with Penguins

The Buffalo Sabres organization on Friday made two trades, acquiring two forwards for the Rochester Americans.

The Sabres obtained Bennett MacArthur, who has spent all season with the ECHL’s Wheeling Nailers, in exchange for defenseman Colton Poolman.

Not exactly the type of deal that will improve the struggling Sabres.

In an AHL trade, the Amerks acquired Jagger Joshua, who has spent this season with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and the Nailers, in exchange for future considerations.... Read the full article

Sabres prospect Devon Levi evolving in Rochester, sparking surging Amerks

ROCHESTER – On Tuesday, goalie Devon Levi arrived at Paul Louis Arena, a 70-year-old rink the Americans occasionally use to practice, and found Carl Hirner, the team’s equipment manager, had put a winter hat around the top of his mask.

The antiquated single-pad facility is less than a mile from Blue Cross Arena, the Amerks’ regular home, and, for lack of a better term, absolutely freezing.

It was New Year’s Eve, and the Amerks had ... Read the full article

After long slump, confident Jack Quinn scoring again, helping Sabres win

BUFFALO – The confidence Sabres winger Jack Quinn has recently recaptured is evident as he moves around the ice with authority and shoots and distributes the puck.

Early in Friday’s 6-2 home win over the Chicago Blackhawks, Quinn carried the puck into the offensive zone before dropping it to a trailing Dylan Cozens. As Cozens grabbed it, Quinn kept moving forward, pushing his defender back and creating extra room for his linemate to unleash the ... Read the full article

Rasmus Dahlin’s standout play quickly transforms Sabres into stronger team

BUFFALO – A healthy and confident Rasmus Dahlin has quickly transformed a Sabres team that completely unraveled in his absence.

It can be argued Dahlin’s value was never more evident than last week, when his return after battling back spasms helped the Sabres end their 13-game winless skid and throttle two opponents, outscoring them 13-3.

The Sabres, who open a four-game road trip this afternoon against the St. Louis Blues, began free-falling down the standings ... Read the full article

Sabres ride hot start, Alex Tuch’s hat trick to win over Blackhawks

BUFFALO – Alex Tuch’s estimate was just a bit off. Following his slick three-goal performance in Friday’s 6-2 annihilation of the Chicago Blackhawks, the Sabres winger said scoring his first goal at home in “several months” took a monkey off his back.

In reality, Tuch had last scored Nov. 29 in KeyBank Center. Given the Sabres’ recent 13-game winless skid and his own struggles, that probably feels like months ago.

“Doing it in front of ... Read the full article

Nifty goal illustrates Sabres rookie Jiri Kulich becoming two-way player

BUFFALO – The genesis of Sabres center Jiri Kulich’s second goal in Monday’s 7-1 win illustrates how much the rookie has matured over the past three months.

The Czech, 20, put the finishing touches on the Sabres’ first victory in one month by utilizing his lethal shot to beat New York Islanders goalie Ilya Sorokin from the left circle.

But 10 seconds earlier in his own zone, Kulich knocked the puck away from Mat Barzal ... Read the full article

Sabres need Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen to recapture dynamic form of last season

BUFFALO – The goal outburst that helped the Sabres end their 13-game winless skid overshadowed goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen’s stellar performance heading into the Christmas break.

Luukkonen, 25, quietly enjoyed one of his strongest outings this season in Monday’s 7-1 road win against the New York Islanders, stopping 27 shots and allowing one goal or less for just the fifth time in 24 games.

If the Sabres make an unlikely climb up the standings – they ... Read the full article

Rasmus Dahlin’s dynamic game helps Sabres end winless skid

The Buffalo Sabres’ season changed the instant their captain, Rasmus Dahlin, began battling back spasms.

After Dahlin, 24, departed in the third period Dec. 3, the Sabres quickly unraveled, blowing a three-goal lead to the Colorado Avalanche and suffering the fourth loss in what would stretch into a shocking 13-game winless skid.

Counting the Colorado game, the Sabres went 0-7-2 without Dahlin, their most dynamic defensemen.... Read the full article

Sabres send prospects Konsta Helenius, Anton Wahlberg from Amerks to World Junior Championship

The Buffalo Sabres on Monday assigned two of their top forward prospects – AHL rookies Konsta Helenius and Anton Wahlberg – from the Rochester Americans to their respective countries for the upcoming World Junior Championship.

Helenius, 18, will be representing Team Finland, while Wahlberg, 19, will be representing Team Sweden.

Both youngsters played in the tournament last year.... Read the full article

Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin ready to play after being scratched Saturday

Buffalo Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin will play tonight against the Islanders after sitting out Saturday’s 3-1 loss to the Boston Bruins, coach Lindy Ruff told reporters in New York.

Dahlin, the Sabres’ top defenseman, returned for Friday’s 6-3 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs after missing seven games with back spasms.

“The plan all along way that he wouldn’t play the back to back,” Sabres coach Lindy Ruff told reporters.... Read the full article