Anderson - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Craig Anderson, Dustin Tokarski giving Sabres some of NHL’s best goaltending

BUFFALO – Fresh off a scintillating, career-best effort, Sabres goalie Dustin Tokarski will likely earn another start tonight, his sixth nod in the last seven games.

Tokarski, 32, has performed superbly handling the load for injured goalie Craig Anderson, helping the Sabres emerge from a five-game winless skid.

The 13-year pro has won two straight starts entering tonight’s game against the Calgary Flames at KeyBank Center, posting a 1.50 goals-against average and a .963 ... Read the full article

Sabres goalie Dustin Tokarski performs brilliantly in win: ‘It was Ticker’s show’

PITTSBURGH – When the Buffalo Sabres signed Dustin Tokarski last year, he was expected to offer them depth, most likely in the minors. He hadn’t played an NHL game since a brief relief appearance in 2016. He hadn’t earned a win since 2015.

Few figured Tokarski, a decorated AHL netminder, would receive significant action with the Sabres, let alone become one of their most important players. But incredibly, Tokarski, 32, is starting to emerge as ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Casey Mittelstadt progressing from injury; Victor Olofsson still hurt

BUFFALO – Center Casey Mittelstadt is the closest of the four injured Sabres to returning to game action, coach Don Granato said.

Mittelstadt, 22, has missed the last 13 contests recovering from an upper-body injury he suffered Oct. 14, opening night.

“With Mittsy, it’s still progressing, which is good news,” Granato said following this morning’s practice inside KeyBank Center. “That might mean it’s less than a couple weeks or around there (until he returns) if ... Read the full article

Sabres could turn to goalie Aaron Dell against Maple Leafs

BUFFALO – A few days into training camp, Sabres coach Don Granato acknowledged that if the season started tomorrow, goalies Craig Anderson and Aaron Dell would rank first and second on the depth chart.

Dell, who might start tonight against the Toronto Maple Leafs, had a leg up in the competition with Dustin Tokarski for the backup job. But in the preseason, Dell posted ghastly numbers – a 5.57 goals-against average and an .838 save ... Read the full article

Victor Olofsson to miss another game; Aaron Dell could face Maple Leafs

BUFFALO – Winger Victor Olofsson’s soft tissue injury will likely sideline him for the fifth consecutive game Friday against the Edmonton Oilers, Sabres coach Don Granato said.

Olofsson, 26, did not practice Wednesday. When the Swede missed his first game Oct. 28 against the San Jose Sharks, the Sabres believed his absence would be short.

Granato said when the Sabres returned from their four-game western road trip, imaging told them Olofsson is still considered day ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Arttu Ruotsalainen developing into different type of scoring threat

BUFFALO – In trying to evolve and score more goals, Sabres center Arttu Ruotsalainen has embraced a saying from his native Finland.

Ruotsalainen, 24, understands he can’t simply rely on his lethal shot from the perimeter. What worked in Europe and during his brief stint in the AHL won’t translate to success in the NHL.

To consistently score, the 5-foot-9, 187-pound rookie knows he must go to the net and battle for “dirty goals.”

“We ... Read the full article

Sabres make roster moves; Victor Olofsson close to return

BUFFALO – Goalie Craig Anderson is day to day with an upper-body injury, so the Sabres this morning recalled Aaron Dell from the Rochester Americans.

So, does that mean Dustin Tokarski, who has performed splendidly in his four starts this season, will play tonight against the Detroit Red Wings at KeyBank Center? Sabres coach Don Granato said this morning he hasn’t decided on his starting goalie.

Update: Tokarski is starting tonight.

So far, Tokarski has ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Victor Olofsson questionable for Sharks game

Leading scorer Victor Olofsson is questionable for the Buffalo Sabres’ road game tonight against the San Jose Sharks.

Olofsson, 26, has been battling a soft tissue injury. The Sabres held the Swede out of their game day skate at SAP Center.

“He had an injury or an aggravation in a spot we just don’t want to aggravate it, so we’re doing a little bit more on it,” Sabres coach Don Granato said on a Zoom ... Read the full article

Sabres start fast but lose to Kings; Don Granato makes changes

Buffalo Sabres winger Victor Olofsson’s second-period goal Sunday afternoon felt like a back-breaker against the Los Angeles Kings.

Barely four minutes after winger Rasmus Asplund’s short-handed score, Olofsson capitalized on Jacob Bryson’s blocked shot, beating goalie Jonathan Quick from the slot after the defenseman poked the puck to him.

At the 7:39 mark, the Sabres led 2-0. The Kings, having won the previous afternoon, should’ve had less energy than the Sabres.

But Olofsson’s third goal ... Read the full article

Overtime win against Ducks shows Sabres might be special group

In the waning seconds of Thursday’s overtime, Buffalo Sabres winger Rasmus Asplund looked up ice, saw Victor Olofsson had room to maneuver at the blue line and fed his best friend a stretch pass.

As Asplund skated to the right circle, Olofsson cut left into the slot, splitting two Anaheim Ducks defenders before reaching the bottom of the left circle. The dizzying moves forced goalie Anthony Stolarz to overcommit, and as Olofsson fell to the ... Read the full article