WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
Draft Week Edition
Buffalo goalie Eric Comrie tries to stop Florida’s Evan Rodrigues on Thursday.
BUFFALO – Remember that recent seven-goal outburst by the Sabres? As suspected, it turned out to be an anomaly.
On Thursday, they reverted back to their regular form, generating plenty of offense but showcasing a stunning lack of finish in their 4-0 loss to the heavyweight Florida Panthers before a crowd of 14,277 fans in KeyBank Center.
Fresh off Tuesday’s 7-0 triumph over the Los Angeles Kings, the Sabres pumped 45 shots on Anthony Stolarz, ... Read the full article
Jacob Bryson sat out as a healthy scratch earlier this season. ©2024, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – When the Sabres sent defenseman Jacob Bryson to the minors for the first time in almost three years, he knew the assignment would be temporary.
Playing in the AHL could help Bryson, 26, find a groove after sitting out 29 of the first 32 games as a healthy scratch, and return to Buffalo ready to contribute.
“That was the plan,” he said prior to Thursday’s 4-0 loss to the Florida Panthers in KeyBank ... Read the full article
Buffalo’s Jordan Greenway (12) and his teammates celebrate his first Tuesday. ©2024, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Perhaps the most of emphatic of the Sabres’ 23 victories this disappointing season served as another reminder of just how dynamically they’re capable of performing.
On Tuesday, the Sabres annihilated the reeling Los Angeles Kings before an excited crowd of 13,292 fans in KeyBank Center, pouncing on them early and never letting up.
They imposed their will on the Kings, embarrassing them all night.... Read the full article
Zach Benson has scored four goals this season. ©2024, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Zach Benson, the new left winger on the Sabres’ second line alongside center Dylan Cozens and JJ Peterka, hasn’t recorded a point in his last 11 outings. The rookie scored his last goal back on Dec. 15, 18 games ago.
Benson, 18, has compiled four goals in 38 games this season, one less than Jack Quinn, the player he’s replacing, has scored in 17 contests.
Still, after Quinn suffered a lower-body injury Jan. ... Read the full article
Mattias Samuelsson was injured Jan. 23. ©2024, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Losing defenseman Mattias Samuelsson to a season-ending injury and winger Jack Quinn for six to eight weeks could extinguish the Sabres’ faint playoff hopes.
The Sabres, who practiced Sunday in KeyBank Center following their bye week and NHL All-Star break, must erase a 10-point deficit without two of their top talents.
But forget, for a moment, about their on-ice contributions. Suddenly losing two popular teammates could rattle the Sabres’ psyche.
Watching Quinn, 22, ... Read the full article
Dylan Cozens scored Buffalo’s only goal Saturday. ©2024, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – When their six-game home stand began, the Sabres had an opportunity to ignite a run and roar into playoff contention. Instead, they blew perhaps their best chance to make up ground against their Eastern Conference foes.
The Sabres finished their longest stint at KeyBank Center this season 3-3-0. Kind of meh.
Overall, having gone 5-3-0 in their last eight outings, they’ve showcased improvement, most notably defensively. Still, they must make up seven points ... Read the full article
Zach Benson has played just 34 NHL games. ©2024, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Early in Monday afternoon’s 3-0 win, Sabres coach Don Granato shuffled his lines to give them more directness.
Most notably, he shifted Casey Mittelstadt from left wing on the top line, where he had been subbing for Jeff Skinner, to center, his natural position, between Jordan Greenway and captain Kyle Okposo.
To replace Mittelstadt alongside center Tage Thompson and Alex Tuch, he promoted 18-year-old rookie Zach Benson, who began the game playing with ... Read the full article
Tage Thompson left Thursday’s game late. ©2024, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – In the past, coach Don Granato said, the Sabres have experienced similar situations in which they wondered if center Tage Thompson would be able to play.
“You don’t know and, boom, he’s ready to go,” Granato said of other injuries Thompson has endured. “So he’s ultra-competitive. He’s played lots of games not at 100 percent and below.”
Granato there’s a “possibility” Thompson, 26, can play in this afternoon’s game against the Vancouver Canucks ... Read the full article
Jeff Skinner has scored six of Buffalo’s 16 power-play goals. ©2024, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – In a best-case scenario, the Sabres will be without winger Jeff Skinner, their leading goal scorer, for about three or four games.
Skinner, 31, is week to week after suffering an upper-body injury in Tuesday’s 5-2 loss to the Seattle Kraken. Coach Don Granato said the veteran will be re-evaluated in a week.
So perhaps Skinner, who has rarely been injured during his six seasons in Buffalo, will be back soon.
Still, the ... Read the full article
Zach Benson has played 25 NHL games. ©2023, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Earlier this month, having likely secured a spot with the Sabres for the rest of the season, rookie Zach Benson moved out of a hotel and into the basement of the spacious suburban home defenseman Rasmus Dahlin recently purchased.
“I have room and he needed a place to stay,” Dahlin said following Friday’s practice in KeyBank Center. “I just figured he’s such a great guy and he brings such a positive attitude, so ... Read the full article