Anderson - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres goalie Craig Anderson could be nearing return from upper-body injury

BUFFALO – Craig Anderson has never had a timetable for his recovery from an upper-body injury. The Sabres goalie has experienced good days and bad ones and starts and stops over the past 11 weeks.

Anderson, 40, said he’s still working through the injury, believed to be around the head or neck area, that has sidelined him the last 30 games.

But Anderson might’ve turned a corner Friday when he practiced for the first time ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Jack Quinn suffers lower-body injury; Craig Anderson practices

BUFFALO – If Jack Quinn hadn’t suffered a lower-body injury in Thursday’s 5-4 loss to the Dallas Stars, he likely would’ve kept playing for the Sabres in the coming weeks.

The Sabres, of course, won’t simply award their prospects a spot. But given their rash of injuries and that Quinn, 20, had performed so well – he scored his first NHL goal and assisted on another Thursday – he almost certainly would’ve earned a long ... Read the full article

Sabres goalie Michael Houser beats long odds to return to NHL

BUFFALO – Sabres goalie Michael Houser never stopped preparing for a promotion that seemed less and less likely as the years passed.

Tonight against the Detroit Red Wings, Houser, 29, will likely back up goalie Aaron Dell for the second straight game. The Sabres play four times in a six-day stretch next week, including a back-to-back set, so Houser could be awarded his fifth NHL start.

By last season, his ninth as a pro, it ... Read the full article

Injuries put struggling Sabres in goalie crisis: ‘It is shocking’

BUFFALO – Suddenly, having lost Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Malcolm Subban to injuries in the same game, the reeling Sabres find themselves in a goalie crisis.

Luukkonen, the Sabres’ backbone during his nine recent outings, will likely be sidelined at least a few weeks with a lower-body injury he suffered early in Tuesday’s 6-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning, according to general manager Kevyn Adams.

His replacement, Subban, sustained an upper-body injury – Adams said ... Read the full article

Sabres lose Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Malcolm Subban to injuries, add goalies

BUFFALO – Right now, the Sabres’ net belongs to goalies Aaron Dell and Michael Houser.

Goalies Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Malcolm Subban are both sidelined after suffering injuries in Tuesday’s 6-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Luukkonen, who suffered a lower-body injury, is listed as week to week on the team’s injury report. Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams said Luukkonen will likely miss at least a few weeks. The Finn underwent an MRI this morning.... Read the full article

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen entrenching himself as Sabres’ starting goalie

BUFFALO – In starting seven of the last nine games, goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has quickly established himself as the Sabres’ backbone, instilling confidence in his teammates and keeping them in every contest.

Luukkonen, 22, was the Sabres’ best player in Saturday afternoon’ 4-3 overtime loss to the Boston Bruins, helping them earn a point despite blowing a two-goal, third-period lead.

“In Boston, I was on my game from the start and felt like I was ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Craig Anderson starting ‘to turn a corner’ in recovery from injury

Over the last six games, the Buffalo Sabres have received terrific goaltending, with rookie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and newcomer Malcolm Subban filling the void created by veteran Craig Anderson’s absence.

Still, the Sabres sorely need Anderson, who compiled a 4-2-0 record with a 2.50 goals-against average and a .921 save percentage while starting six of the first nine games this season.

The American, 40, hasn’t played since suffering an upper-body injury Nov. 2. On the ... Read the full article

Alex Tuch set to make Sabres debut; Tage Thompson misses practice

BUFFALO – The date Sabres winger Alex Tuch underwent shoulder surgery is seared in his mind.

“Two days less than five months since surgery,” Tuch said following this morning’s practice inside KeyBank Center. “It’s been a long road.”

That road is about to end. Coach Don Granato said today that Tuch will play his first game with the Sabres, the team he adored growing up in Baldwinsville, on Monday against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

“He’s ... Read the full article

Sabres offer Malcolm Subban chance to earn more playing time

PITTSBURGH – After spending four straight years in the NHL, Buffalo Sabres goalie Malcolm Subban suddenly found himself in the minors again this season.

The Chicago Blackhawks’ acquisition of Marc-Andre Fleury dropped Subban, 27, to the AHL, where he shared the net with Collin Delia and Arvid Soderblom.

Playing time, of course, was limited, and Subban only made only five appearances with the Rockford IceHogs before the Sabres acquired him Dec. 2.

So Subban, who’s ... Read the full article

Ducks score ‘Michigan’ goal in win over Sabres; Casey Mittelstadt injured

BUFFALO – After an 11-day layoff, goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen looked sharp against the Anaheim Ducks in his first NHL action this season. The rest of the Sabres, meanwhile, clamped down, limiting chances following a slew of dreadful defensive efforts.

The end result, however, was their fifth consecutive loss. The Sabres, who have consistently been scoring goals, generated little offense for the first 40 minutes of Tuesday’s 2-0 loss.

The Ducks only needed Sonny Milano’s goal ... Read the full article