Boston Bruins - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres goalie Aaron Dell to start for slumping Dustin Tokarski

BUFFALO – In his last two starts, Sabres goalie Dustin Tokarski has compiled an 8.66 goals-against average and a .743 save percentage in just under 61 minutes.

Sabres coach Don Granato, of course, yanked him from both games.

In the first outing, Thursday’s 5-0 loss to the Calgary Flames, Tokarski received little help, often getting abandoned by his teammates. But in Monday’s 7-4 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets, Tokarski wasn’t his normal self, allowing ... Read the full article

Casey Mittelstadt joins Sabres on ice, finally close return: ‘A huge step’

BUFFALO – After a 17-game absence, center Casey Mittelstadt joined his teammates this morning, donning a gold non-contact jersey and skating with the Sabres as they prepared for tonight’s game against the Boston Bruins.

Now, when will Mittelstadt, who suffered an upper-body injury opening night, be able to play again? He won’t return tonight.

The Sabres also play Friday, Saturday and Monday. Practice time is limited. They’re scheduled to have Thursday off.

“We haven’t really ... Read the full article

Dylan Cozens, Sabres’ other top young players ‘starting to feel the progress’

BUFFALO – Early in Monday’s 7-4 loss, Max Domi adroitly slid the puck between Dylan Cozens’ legs to himself and quickly fed Jack Roslovic. A second later, the Columbus Blue Jackets grabbed their first lead over the Sabres.

After Domi torched him inside his own blue line, Cozens, the Sabres’ second-year center, felt obligated to make amends.

“That’s on me so I felt like I needed to try and make it up,” Cozens said ... Read the full article

Sabres can’t convert early chances, lose to Bruins: ‘Could’ve won that game’

BUFFALO – In jumping out to their best start in 13 years, the Sabres feasted on some weak teams. Yes, they deserved their 3-0 record. But they hadn’t faced an opponent the caliber of the heavyweight Boston Bruins.

The Sabres stumbled in their first significant test, falling 4-1 on Friday to old friend Linus Ullmark and the Bruins before a crowd of 7,820 fans inside KeyBank Center.

Still, they pounced on the Bruins early, outshooting ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Mattias Samuelsson nearing return, focused on sticking in NHL

BUFFALO – Sabres coach Don Granato said he can see the frustration in defenseman Mattias Samuelsson’s face and body language.

Samuelsson, who skated with his teammates Friday morning for the first time this season, hasn’t played since blocking a shot in the Prospects Challenge opener Sept. 17.

Following an impressive 12-game run late last season, the lower-body injury cost Samuelsson, 21, a chance to compete for a roster spot during training camp.

“You come into ... Read the full article

Bruins goalie Linus Ullmark left mark with Sabres: ‘Like an older brother’

BUFFALO – When defenseman Rasmus Dahlin joined the Sabres three years ago, goalie Linus Ullmark took a special interest in helping his fellow Swede acclimate to the rigors of NHL life.

Ullmark mentored Dahlin, a first overall pick under intense pressure to perform well. Over the years, they grew close, developing a special friendship.

“He was like an older brother, he was great,” Dahlin said Thursday after the Sabres prepared to face Ullmark’s Boston Bruins ... Read the full article

Sabres lose Cody Eakin to injury; Mattias Samuelsson nearing return

BUFFALO – Sabres center Cody Eakin, who crashed feet-first into the net during Wednesday’s practice, will miss at least the next two games, coach Don Granato said Thursday.

Following games tonight against the Boston Bruins and Saturday versus the New Jersey Devils, Granato said Eakin will be day-to-day. The Sabres also play Monday and next Thursday.

“What we’re gauging is probably the later game,” Granato said of Thursday’s road contest against the Anaheim Ducks.... Read the full article

Goalie Linus Ullmark says goodbye to Buffalo: ‘Sabres fans, I love you guys’

In the barely a week, the Buffalo Sabres have said goodbye to four of their most talented players: goalie Linus Ullmark, center Sam Reinhart and defensemen Jake McCabe and Rasmus Ristolainen.

And in the coming days or weeks, they will likely trade captain Jack Eichel, their most dynamic player and the face of the franchise.

Remember, the Sabres finished dead last in the 2020-21 season, winning only 15 of their 56 games, with those players... Read the full article

NHL free agent tracker: Sabres lose goalie Linus Ullmark to Bruins

Linus Ullmark has chosen to leave his gig as the Buffalo Sabres’ starting goalie to join the Boston Bruins as a free agent, according to TSN’s Darren Dreger.

The Swede’s departure is a huge loss for the Sabres, who don’t have a replacement in the organization.

Last season, Ullmark was the Sabres’ backbone and MVP, compiling a 9-6-3 record with a 2.63 goals-against average and a .917 save percentage in 20 games for a last-place ... Read the full article

Sabres lose ugly game to Bruins, goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen to injury

After a solid few weeks, the Buffalo Sabres have started reminding everyone why they’ve occupied the NHL’s basement for months.

Saturday’s afternoon’s ugly 6-2 setback to the Boston Bruins was their fourth consecutive loss and fifth in the last six games.

In an outing reminiscent of the Ralph Krueger era, the Sabres looked disjointed all over the ice, allowing the Bruins to throttled them.

On top of their dismal performance, rookie goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen suffered ... Read the full article