Bill Hoppe - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres’ JJ Peterka struggling to score; Rasmus Dahlin leaves practice early

BUFFALO – With about 80 seconds remaining in Wednesday’s 1-0 loss to the Minnesota Wild and the Sabres pressing for the tying goal, winger Alex Tuch created a juicy rebound by tipping center Tage Thompson’s shot on net.

Winger JJ Peterka, who was lurking nearby, quickly pounced on the loose puck between the left circle and crease and narrowly missed tying the game.

“Just jumped there, tried to hit the net and I just missed ... Read the full article

Sabres outplay Wild, still lose in Tage Thompson’s return from injury

BUFFALO – The final outcome, a 1-0 loss to the Minnesota Wild that ended their three-game winning streak, did not discourage the Sabres.

Why should it? They outplayed the Wild from the get-go Wednesday, outshooting them 16-4 in the first period and 39-29 overall. They attempted a whopping 87 shots, 32 more than their opponent.

As Wild goalie Filip Gustavsson stymied every scoring chance, the Sabres plowed forward, refusing to deviate from their game plan ... Read the full article

In midst of slump, Sabres’ Jack Quinn looks like scoring threat again

BUFFALO – For one of the few times this season, you couldn’t miss Jack Quinn. The Sabres winger dazzled throughout the night, aggressively creating offense.

Quinn, 23, was often the best player on the ice.

While he did not score, similar efforts will almost certainly produce the goals that have been so difficult to come by this season.

“I thought it was my best game by far,” Quinn said of Friday’s 3-2 overtime road ... Read the full article

OT goal, faceoff ability illustrate rookie Jiri Kulich could stick with Sabres

BUFFALO – In just days following his recall, Sabres rookie Jiri Kulich morphed from a raw but talented neophyte into a huge contributor and trusted asset coach Lindy Ruff utilized in critical situations.

On Friday in Anaheim, Kulich’s 12th NHL outing and second as a center, his natural position, he scored in overtime to clinch the Sabres’ 3-2 win against the Ducks.

“To be honest, I was always dreaming about this moment,” Kulich said following ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Tage Thompson says he’s ready to return from lower-body injury

BUFFALO – In Tage Thompson’s absence, the Sabres have done well, going 4-1-0 and winning all three stops last week in California without their top center.

By the end of the trip, Thompson, who said he’s “ready to go” for tonight’s home game against the Minnesota Wild, told the Sabres he would play if they needed him.

Still, they held him out of Friday’s 3-2 overtime win against the Anaheim Ducks and Saturday’s 4-2 victory ... Read the full article

After terrific debut, highlight-reel save, Sabres goalie James Reimer could play again this weekend

BUFFALO – Following his splendid 31-save effort in Saturday’s 4-2 win over the San Jose Sharks, Sabres goalie James Reimer will likely take a back seat behind Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen again.

Luukkonen has performed dynamically this month, compiling a 5-0-0 record with a 1.72 goals-against average and a .935 save percentage in his last six games. Those numbers include a 40-minute appearance Nov. 11 in which he allowed four goals before getting yanked because of a ... Read the full article

After mistake, Sabres prospect Konsta Helenius dazzles for Rochester

ROCHESTER – Before Americans coach Mike Leone talked about how center Konsta Helenius’ soft hands and terrific vision created the tying goal, he brought up a mistake the rookie made early in Friday’s 4-3 overtime loss to the Hershey Bears.

“Yeah, there were some things, though,” Leone said following the game in Blue Cross Arena.

Just 4:40 into the contest, Helenius’ turnover helped Hershey open the scoring. When the Buffalo Sabres prospect returned to the ... Read the full article

As Sabres prospect Ryan Johnson waits for next chance in Buffalo, he continues to develop in Rochester

ROCHESTER – Right now, Ryan Johnson, the defenseman who played 41 games for the Buffalo Sabres as a rookie last season, ranks eighth or ninth on their depth chart.

Last month, Johnson, 23, returned to Rochester, where he has quietly been gobbling up minutes alongside Jack Rathbone on the Americans’ top defense tandem.

If the Sabres lose another defenseman to injury – after beginning the season with eight, Mattias Samuelsson recently went down – ... Read the full article

Sabres prospect Anton Wahlberg using size, skill to make impact as rookie in Rochester

ROCHESTER – Americans rookie Anton Wahlberg’s ability to impact games without scoring makes him a unique prospect for the Buffalo Sabres.

To wit: in the third period of Sunday afternoon’s 2-1 overtime loss, coach Mike Leone said the 6-foot-4, 198-pound winger leveled one of the Toronto Marlies and generated three or four scoring chances simply by “playing to his identity and his strengths.”

“With his physical tools, he’s able to get in on the forecheck, ... Read the full article

Devon Levi matured as Sabres’ backup goalie, excited to play for Rochester: ‘Happy to be here’

ROCHESTER – As goalie Devon Levi watched game after game, sometimes for more than a week at a time, he embraced the unique experience and lessons serving as the Buffalo Sabres’ backup offered him.

Levi, who on Monday was assigned to the Americans, had never been a No. 2 in his life. So he used the last month or so to learn what he called “a new kind of process.”

“Not playing as much ... Read the full article