WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
2026-27 Season Edition
Sabres goalie Linus Ullmark stops Mark Stone’s breakaway Saturday afternoon. ©2018, Hickling Images
BUFFALO – Watching your teammates throttle an opponent and pile up goal can be a negative and positive experience, Sabres goalie Linus Ullmark said.
“It’s both boring and really fun,” Ullmark said after making 27 saves in Saturday afternoon’s 9-2 win against the Ottawa Senators. “We had some really good goals today and guys battling up front, so that’s a lot of fun for me when I’m seeing that. …
“I’m happy as long as ... Read the full article
Linus Ullmark has started three games this season. ©2018, Hickling Images
BUFFALO – Sabres goalie Linus Ullmark will start this afternoon’s tilt against the Ottawa Senators, his first nod at home this season.
In three appearances, Ullmark is 2-0-1 with a 2.00 goals against average, a .935 save percentage and one shutout. The Swede hasn’t played since making 32 saves in last Saturday’s 5-4 road loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets.
“I think he’s just been very comfortable in the net,” Sabres coach Phil Housley said ... Read the full article
Jason Pominville has been skating on the first line. ©2018, Hickling Images
BUFFALO – Shortly before winger Jason Pominville started his milestone 1,000th NHL game Thursday, coach Phil Housley finished addressing the Sabres and briefly left the dressing room.
“Phil did his pregame speech and he’s like, ‘Wait, I forgot something,’” Pominville said Friday inside KeyBank Center.
When Housley returned, he brought Pominville’s wife, Kim, and two children, Jayden and Kaylee Rose, with him.
“When I saw them in the room, I almost had tears in my ... Read the full article
Tage Thompson has played eight games with the Sabres. ©2018, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Through 13 games this season, Sabres winger Tage Thompson has made nine appearances, sitting out the other four as a healthy scratch.
While Thompson, 20, possesses notable talent – look at the nifty preseason goal he scored after toe-dragging – he hasn’t done much so far with the Sabres, registering just one assist.
Sabres coach Phil Housley said Thompson will also sit out Saturday afternoon’s home tilt against the Ottawa Senators.... Read the full article
Jason Pominville celebrates a goal last week. ©2018, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Of all the places it could’ve been played, it turns out Jason Pominville will hit the prestigious 1,000-game mark tonight in Ottawa, the site of the winger’s signature moment, the dynamic short-handed overtime goal against the powerhouse Senators that pushed the underdog Sabres into the 2006 Eastern Conference final.
“(I) had some great, great moments there, probably my best moment as a player there,” Pominville said earlier this week inside KeyBank Center. “The ... Read the full article
Phil Housley’s team went 6-4-2 in October. ©2018, Hickling Images
BUFFALO – If you had told Phil Housley prior to the season the Sabres would finish October a solid 6-4-2, the second-year coach said he would’ve been pretty happy.
The Sabres, of course, hardly enjoyed a perfect month. They suffered some blowout losses. Right now, they’ve lost two straight games in overtime.
Still, the Sabres have a five-game point streak (3-0-2) entering Thursday’s tilt in Ottawa. They’re clearly a much better team than last season, ... Read the full article
Carter Hutton watches the play Tuesday. ©2018, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Carter Hutton’s grip on the starting job isn’t exactly firm. Following a strong start, the Sabres goalie had cooled off a bit in recent outings before Tuesday’s stellar effort in a 2-1 overtime loss to the Calgary Flames.
While Hutton, 32, has handled the load early, playing nine of the first 12 games, he has competition from backup Linus Ullmark, who has looked impressive in limited action.
Hutton began Tuesday sporting an ... Read the full article
Nathan Beaulieu has showcased a calmer style. ©2018, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – The sample size was small – just seven games before Nathan Beaulieu left the Sabres lineup. Still, in the first two weeks of 2018-19, the defenseman looked rejuvenated following a miserable season, showcasing a much calmer style.
“When I was playing, I thought I was playing with a lot more confidence,” Beaulieu said prior to returning for Tuesday’s 2-1 overtime loss to the Calgary Flames. “I wasn’t really worried about making mistakes. I ... Read the full article
Rasmus Dahlin has already had a few defense partners. ©2018, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – If you’re counting, Sabres veteran Rasmus Ristolainen will become rookie Rasmus Dahlin’s third defense partner in just his 12th NHL appearance.
Dahlin, 18, started with Jake McCabe before moving beside Casey Nelson, acquitting himself well with both.
So why move Dahlin for tonight’s tilt against the Calgary Flames? Wouldn’t some stability benefit the first overall pick?
Sabres coach Phil Housley said he partnered Dahlin with Ristolainen to give the talented neophyte “more of ... Read the full article
Kyle Okposo has scored a goal in three straight games. ©2018, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – In his 12-year career, Kyle Okposo has never played so little over a four-game stretch. The Sabres winger hasn’t even cracked the 12-minute mark.
Okposo, 30, received more minutes as a teenage rookie in 2007-08 and in 2012-13, when he struggled so badly he scored just four goals in the lockout-shortened season.
Of course, Okposo’s recent ice time hasn’t hurt his production. In fact, he’s producing more.
Despite averaging only 11 minutes, 13 ... Read the full article