Andreychuk - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres captain Kyle Okposo enjoying offensive resurgence, among NHL’s hottest scorers

BUFFALO – The zero attached to Sabres captain Kyle Okposo’s name wouldn’t go away, looming larger and larger as the weeks went on.

Two weeks quickly turned into a month and then five weeks. On Thanksgiving, at the 19-game mark, nearly one-quarter of the season, Okposo hadn’t scored a goal.

“It’s not a fun feeling, for sure, that zero,” the veteran winger said following Friday’s practice in KeyBank Center.... Read the full article

Five-goal game earns Sabres’ Tage Thompson NHL Second Star honors

BUFFALO – Sabre center Tage Thompson’s dynamic five-goal, six-point outing has earned him NHL Second Star honors for the week ending Sunday.

Thompson, 25, performed dominantly in Wednesday’s 9-4 road win over the Columbus Blue Jackets, becoming just the second Sabres player to score five goals in one game. Dave Andreychuk also accomplished the feat in 1985-86.

Incredibly, Thompson scored four goals and five points in the first period, tying the NHL record for most ... Read the full article

Notes on Sabres star Tage Thompson’s dominant five-goal, six-point game

We’re going to break this down a bit because center Tage Thompson’s brilliant five-goal, six-point night ranks as one of the greatest performances in the Buffalo Sabres’ 53-year history.

Thompson, 25, was downright dominant early in Wednesday’s 9-4 annihilation of the hapless Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena, scoring four goals and five points in the first period as the Sabres opened up a stunning 6-0 lead.

Incredibly, he recorded his second hat trick ... Read the full article

Kyle Okposo scores 20th goal, sparks Sabres to comeback win on birthday

BUFFALO – Sabres center Tage Thompson had time and space, so he leaned into his shot, and when the puck hit teammate Kyle Okposo inside his right knee, he went down in a hurry.

As Okposo hobbled off the ice in pain late in Saturday’s first period, it felt like his night might’ve been finished. At that point, the Sabres trailed the Philadelphia Flyers 2-0, and Okposo, who turned 34 on Saturday, said he was ... Read the full article

As 34th birthday nears, Sabres’ Kyle Okposo having remarkable season

BUFFALO – Sabres winger Kyle Okposo’s ability to remain an impactful NHL player in his mid-30s can be traced to his willingness to keep reinventing himself and evolving.

Two seasons ago, after battling a string of scary concussions, he revived his career by embracing a new checking role and thriving in it. That comeback turned out to be a harbinger for this year.

Following an injury-riddled 2020-21 campaign, Okposo might be enjoying his most impressive ... Read the full article

Sabres at 50: Pierre Turgeon could be Buffalo’s next Hall of Famer

BUFFALO – The gaudy numbers former Sabres star Pierre Turgeon racked up during his prolific NHL career could land him in the Hockey Hall of Fame someday.

A strong argument can be made Turgeon, who retired in 2007, ranks among the best candidates still waiting for the call.

“I hear about it, a lot of people are talking,” Turgeon said of the Hall of Fame.

In 1,294 games over 19 seasons, Turgeon scored a whopping ... Read the full article

Sabres captain Jack Eichel out with upper-body injury against Flyers

Jack Eichel’s 17-game point streak ended tonight because an upper-body injury forced him to miss the Buffalo Sabres’ road contest against the Philadelphia Flyers.

After skating in the pregame warm-up, the Sabres announced their captain would miss his first game this season.

Eichel, 23, has been the NHL’s hottest scorer, compiling 16 goals and 31 points during the league’s longest point streak this season. The center was one game short of tying the franchise-record point ... Read the full article

Sabres captain Jack Eichel morphing into superstar during point streak

BUFFALO – If you ask Sabres captain Jack Eichel about his recent scoring exploits, he usually starts talking about his linemates or the rest of the team.

Eichel, 23, doesn’t want his success to overshadow the Sabres, so the ultra-talented center will heap praise on his wingers, Victor Olofsson and Sam Reinhart, and others.

“It’s tough to pinpoint one thing,” Eichel responded when asked how he has elevated his game over the last month. “The ... Read the full article

Jack Eichel extends point streak, ignites Sabres late against Maple Leafs

TORONTO – It took more than 40 minutes, but captain Jack Eichel ignited the Buffalo Sabres again Tuesday, helping them roar back late in their 5-3 loss to the Maple Leafs.

After falling behind 3-0, Eichel assisted on defenseman Rasmus Dahlin’s power-play goal 1:29 into the third period, extending his point streak to 17 games.

Then after the Leafs restored their three-goal lead, Eichel scored at 6:30, his 24th goal in only 35 games this ... Read the full article

Former Sabres captain Mike Ramsey enjoying life away from hockey

BUFFALO – Former Sabres captain Mike Ramsey usually offers the same answer when someone asks him what he’s up to these days.

“I tell people I’m writing a book, because everybody wants to know what I’m doing,” Ramsey said during Saturday’s Sabres Fan Fest at KeyBank Center, an event that celebrated the team’s 50th anniversary season. “‘What do you do with your time? I’m writing a book.’ And it stops them right away.”

So, what’s ... Read the full article