Benson - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Jack Quinn scores, fights and looks like star in Sabres’ wild OT win; Buffalo loses Jiri Kulich, Josh Norris

TORONTO – It was only fitting that winger Jack Quinn capped the most dynamic outing in his NHL career by creating defenseman Owen Power’s overtime goal to cap another thrilling Sabres come-from-behind victory.

On a night Maple Leads winger Kirill Marchenko scored three times before the second period ended in Scotiabank Arena, Quinn was the best player on the ice in the Sabres’ 5-4 win, wreaking havoc from the get-go.

Quinn scored two goals, hit ... Read the full article

As Sabres struggle early, Ryan McLeod or Josh Norris could be scratched

BUFFALO – Scratching young players, as coach Lindy Ruff did Saturday, is often the first option to ignite a struggling team. As rookie Konsta Helenius and Jiri Kulich watched, the Sabres fell meekly to the Utah Mammoth.

Now, Ruff’s lineup decisions – he has 14 forwards at his disposal – for this afternoon’s game against the Florida Panthers could be a heck of a lot more interesting.

The Sabres, fresh off a 109-point season, have ... Read the full article

Sabres lose to Mammoth, still searching for identity: ‘Trying to find who we are’

BUFFALO – Hey, the Sabres finally scored their first power-play of the season on Saturday, a small bright spot in an otherwise forgettable 4-1 loss to the Utah Mammoth.

Eight minutes into the game, forward Tage Thompson scored what he called “a pretty fluky power-play goal,” carrying the puck from his own zone into Utah territory before beating goalie Karel Vejmelka at the bottom of the right circle.

Still, the Sabres, two days removed from ... Read the full article

Sabres to scratch Konsta Helenius, Jiri Kulich; Colten Ellis to start in goal

BUFFALO – Fresh off Thursday’s embarrassing 4-0 loss to the Dallas Stars, you expected the Sabres to change their lineup for tonight’s game against Utah Mammoth.

Sure enough, coach Lindy Ruff will be scratching young forwards Konsta Helenius, 20, and Jiri Kulich, 22, and inserting Sam Carrick and Tyson Kozak.

Meanwhile, goalie Colten Ellis is expected to start tonight. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, who played three of the first four games, has a ghastly .782 save percentage.... Read the full article

Sabres hear boos, get blanked by Stars in ugly loss: ‘Didn’t have our game’

BUFFALO – How’s this for a throwback to, uh, early last season? The Sabres performed so poorly in Thursday’s ugly 4-0 loss to the Dallas Stars that surly fans booed throughout night.

They booed as the Sabres frittered away three power plays. They booed when they left the ice down four goals at the end of the second period.

When the final horn sounded, what remained of what was a capacity crowd of 19,070 fans ... Read the full article

Year after waiver claim brought him to Buffalo, goalie Colten Ellis entrenched with Sabres, ready for first start

BUFFALO – It was exactly one year ago today – Oct. 6, 2025 – when the Sabres claimed a little-known goalie named Colten Ellis with no NHL experience off waivers.

These days, Ellis, who’s expected to make his first start this season tonight against the Minnesota Wild at KeyBank Center, is a big piece of the Sabres, having established himself as a strong option throughout a surprising rookie campaign.

“Looking back a year ago today, ... Read the full article

Sabres preseason: Buffalo to dress full NHL lineup versus Columbus; Jiri Kulich to keep playing

BUFFALO – With the exception of one goalie, the lineup the Sabres will dress for tonight’s preseason game against the Blue Jackets is likely the one they field for their season opener Oct. 1 in Columbus.

With only four preseason games and veterans who have played 100 NHL games now limited to just two appearances, Sabres coach Lindy Ruff figured he would put his main group together tonight against the Blue Jackets’ B team.

Among ... Read the full article

Sabres begin season confident they’re better than last year: ‘We’re not the old Sabres anymore’

BUFFALO – Confidence is powerful thing, center Tage Thompson said. Fresh off a breakout 50-win, 109-point campaign in which nearly every player improved or enjoyed a career season, the Sabres entered the summer feeling pretty darn good about themselves.

Having grinded together for nine months and enjoyed so much success, the Sabres feel like they can tackle any challenge as a group this season.

“We have a lot of that with our group right now,” ... Read the full article

Sabres GM Jarmo Kekalainen on start of season, different expectations, Connor Hellebuyck trade speculation and more

BUFFALO – In his remarks to the Sabres as training camp got underway Wednesday, general manager Jarmo Kekalainen stressed they must put last season’s breakout 50-win, 109-point season behind them.

In winning the ultra-competitive Atlantic Division and ending their NHL-record 14-year playoff drought, the Sabres morphed into a legitimate Stanley Cup contender and became the league’s darling.

While it was all a blast – the 10-game win streak, the rollicking 39-9-5 run, the first postseason ... Read the full article

Sabres send Alex Tuch to Capitals in sign-and-trade deal

ORCHARD PARK – Barely nine months ago, as he began the final season of his contract, Alex Tuch said he would love to make Buffalo his long-term home. On Wednesday, with no chance to keep him, the Sabres traded the winger to Washington Capitals.

What changed since the start of training camp?

“I think that’s a question for him,” general manager Jarmo Kekalainen said hours before the Sabres dealt Tuch. “We wanted to sign him.”... Read the full article