Bill Hoppe - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres prospect Konsta Helenius ends slump with goal for Rochester

ROCHESTER – In scoring five goals in his first 10 games, Buffalo Sabres prospect Konsta Helenius sent early notice he was adapting to a different brand of hockey as an AHL rookie.

Then the Americans center endured a 10-game goal drought. After scoring again Dec. 4, he began a 17-game goalless stretch that ended 10:06 into Friday’s 4-0 win over the Belleville Senators.

Helenius spent the last two seasons playing pro hockey in Liiga, a ... Read the full article

Sabres transactions: Buffalo sends two players to Rochester Amerks

The Buffalo Sabres on Sunday sent rookie forward Tyson Kozak and goalie Felix Sandstrom back to the Rochester Americans.

Neither played in Saturday’s 6-4 road loss to the Nashville Predators, the Sabres’ final game before beginning a two-week break for the 4 Nations Face-Off. They don’t play again until Feb. 22.

Kozak, 22, played in eight games during his recall before battling the flu and leaving the lineup. Overall, he has compiled one goal and ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Tage Thompson practices, likely ready to play after suffering concussion

BUFFALO – On Monday, a day after New Jersey Devils pest Stefan Noesen hit Tage Thompson in the head, knocking him out of the Sabres’ 4-3 win, the winger said he was starting to feel the effects of the concussion he suffered.

In the dressing room following the hit and later that night at home, Thompson, who returned to practice Friday, said he felt “totally fine.”

“Then second day it kind of hit me pretty ... Read the full article

When goalie Ryan Miller joined Sabres as rookie, Rob Ray tested him

BUFFALO – The talented rookie arrived just as the graying enforcer was about to leave. For 16 games over parts of three months in 2002-03, the careers of two Sabres Hall of Famers – goalie Ryan Miller and tough guy Rob Ray – overlapped.

Miller was a 22-year-old prospect up from the Rochester Americans for his first taste of the NHL. Ray, meanwhile, was a 34-year-old tough guy on his last legs.

“He was an ... Read the full article

Rochester goalie Felix Sandstrom races from vacation in Florida to join Sabres

BUFFALO – Goalie Felix Sandstrom was relaxing with his girlfriend poolside Tuesday at his hotel in Fort Lauderdale, enjoying some sunshine during the AHL All-Star break, when his phone rang. The Sabres, having lost Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen to a minor injury, needed him to get to KeyBank Center in a hurry.

Suddenly, his vacation in Florida was over.

Sandstrom had to travel about 1,300 miles to Buffalo to back up goalie James Reimer that night against ... Read the full article

Sabres injury updates: Tage Thompson skates, Dylan Cozens misses practice

BUFFALO – Sabres winger Tage Thompson, who left Sunday afternoon’s 4-3 win injured after New Jersey Devils pest Stefan Noesen hit him in the head, skated on his own Wednesday morning, coach Lindy Ruff said.

“Had a good day,” Ruff said following Wednesday’ practice in KeyBank Center. “I mean, he’s got to go through the protocol, the testing, all that stuff. But really felt good, so encouraged.”

In other injury news, Ruff said goalie Ukko-Pekka ... Read the full article

Dennis Gilbert fights, creates goal as Sabres beat Blue Jackets

BUFFALO – Sabres defenseman Dennis Gilbert offered little insight into how his fight just three seconds into Tuesday’s 3-2 win materialized.

There’s a code, you know.

“Off the cuff,” the local kid said of his scrap with Columbus Blue Jackets winger Mathieu Olivier, one of the NHL’s emerging heavyweights, immediately after the puck dropped.

Did Gilbert know when he saw Olivier’s name in the starting lineup they would be dropping their gloves?... Read the full article

After weak response to illegal hit on Tage Thompson, Sabres hold meeting: ‘Won’t happen again’

BUFFALO – No one would reveal any details of the meeting.

But on Monday, less than a day after an illegal hit knocked Tage Thompson out of their 4-3 win, the Sabres canceled practice and instead discussed why they did not go after Stefan Noesen following his suspension-worthy check to their leading scorer’s head.

“It was dealt with yesterday. Everything,” Sabres winger Alex Tuch said prior to Tuesday’s 3-2 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets ... Read the full article

Sabres recall prospect Isak Rosen from Rochester, make other roster move

BUFFALO – The Sabres on Monday recalled winger Isak Rosen, whose 23 goals rank second in the AHL this season, from the Rochester Americans.

To create a roster spot, the Sabres placed center Tyson Kozak on injured reserve. Coach Lindy Ruff said on Saturday that Kozak was sick. He missed Sunday afternoon’s 4-3 win over the New Jersey Devils.

Kozak took a puck off the hand area in Friday’s 4-3 victory against the Nashville ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Tage Thompson named NHL’s Second Star after torrid week

BUFFALO – A torrid week in which winger Tage Thompson led the NHL with four goals, eight points and a plus-9 rating as the Sabres won three consecutive games has earned him the league’s Second Star honors for the week ending Sunday.

The American compiled all of his points at even strength.

Thompson, 27, began the week by scoring three goals and four points in last Tuesday’s 7-2 win over the Boston Bruins. He recorded ... Read the full article