Bryson - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres’ Rasmus Ristolainen looks impressive in return, logs big minutes

BUFFALO – Instead of easing defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen into the lineup, Sabres coach Ralph Krueger threw him into the fray Saturday afternoon, skating him a game-high 8 minutes, 22 seconds in the first period.

Ristolainen, 26, showcased remarkable energy considering he had missed seven games while recovering from a nasty battle with COVID-19.

The 6-foot-4, 221-pound Ristolainen played a team-high 22 minutes, 17 seconds in the Sabres’ 3-0 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers. The Finn ... Read the full article

Jack Eichel questionable for weekend; Sabres could have reinforcements

BUFFALO – Sabres goalie Linus Ullmark will likely miss this weekend’s two-game series against the Philadelphia Flyers, coach Ralph Krueger said. Meanwhile, captain Jack Eichel is questionable for the home contests.

Both players have lower-body injuries and did not practice today inside KeyBank Center.

Ullmark, the Sabres’ No. 1 goalie, left Thursday’s 4-3 overtime loss to the New Jersey Devils after the first period. Kruger said Ullmark was having X-rays done this afternoon.

“We’re not ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Kyle Okposo starting to find groove following slow start

BUFFALO – In the waning seconds of Tuesday’s 4-1 win, Sabres winger Kyle Okposo grabbed the puck high in his zone and cleared it out just past the blue line.

A second later, center Cody Eakin scooped it up, skated through the neutral zone and scored an empty-net goal just before time expired against the New Jersey Devils.

In his 11th game this season, Okposo finally recorded his first point.

Okposo, 32, has started his ... Read the full article

Sabres excited to give prospect Jacob Bryson opportunity: ‘It just felt right’

Buffalo Sabres coach Ralph Krueger figured defenseman Will Borgen couldn’t have broken his arm.

After the rookie blocked a shot late in the first period of Saturday afternoon’s 3-2 win against the New Jersey Devils, he stayed in the game, taking a regular shift over the final 40 minutes.

So when Krueger learned another evaluation had revealed Borgen, 24, fractured his right forearm, he said he felt “absolute shock.”

Borgen underwent surgery Tuesday and will ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Will Borgen undergoes surgery on forearm, out six to eight weeks

Buffalo Sabres defenseman Will Borgen will be sidelined six to eight weeks after undergoing surgery to repair a fracture in his right forearm, the team announced this afternoon.

Borgen blocked a shot in Saturday afternoon’s 3-2 win over the New Jersey Devils. Sabres coach Ralph Krueger sounded optimistic before Monday’s 3-2 loss to the New York Islanders that Borgen, 24, could miss one game and return for tonight’s contest against the Devils.

But further evaluation ... Read the full article

Sabres concerned about Jake McCabe’s injury; Buffalo recalls defensemen

Sabres defenseman Jake McCabe, who left Saturday afternoon’s 3-2 win against the New Jersey Devils after suffering a lower-body injury, has returned to Buffalo for an MRI, coach Ralph Krueger said.

Krueger said the Sabres will have an update on McCabe’s status prior to Monday’s road game against the New York Islanders.

“I’ll be honest with you, (I’m) not very optimistic about the diagnosis that’ll come out of this, but let the medical team ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Will Borgen looks impressive in first game action in nearly year

BUFFALO – In his first shifts in nearly a year, Sabres defenseman Will Borgen said he was breathing heavy.

Nothing, of course, can replicate game action, and Borgen, 24, hadn’t experienced any since March 11 as a member of the Rochester Americans.

“Just not used to the speed, controlling my energy,” Borgen said of the early moments of Monday’s 3-1 loss to the New York Islanders at KeyBank Center.

But Borgen, who had spent the ... Read the full article

Sabres send two players to taxi squad, four others to Amerks

The Buffalo Sabres this morning assigned forward Rasmus Asplund and defenseman Will Borgen to the taxi squad and also sent three players from the taxi squad to the AHL.

Defenseman Jacob Bryson and forwards Steven Fogarty, Andrew Oglevie and C.J. Smith moved from the practice group to the Rochester Americans.

Asplund and Borgen both played in Tuesday’s 3-0 loss to the New York Islanders at KeyBank Center.... Read the full article

Sabres will likely field lineup with C.J. Smith, other taxi-squad players

BUFFALO – Having seven players on the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol-related absences list means the Sabres must utilize their taxi squad to dress a full lineup tonight.

So defensemen Will Borgen and Brandon Davidson and wingers Steven Fogarty and C.J. Smith could all be thrust into action against the New York Islanders at KeyBank Center.

Borgen and Davidson have spent the entire season on the taxi squad. They haven’t played a game at any level since ... Read the full article

Taylor Hall returns to practice; Sabres add three players from Amerks

BUFFALO – Winger Taylor Hall, who was added to the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol-related absences list on Feb. 2, is practicing with the Sabres this morning inside KeyBank Center.

The Sabres still have eight players in the league’s COVID protocol. They’re scheduled to host the New York Islanders on Monday.

Hall, 29, is practicing at left wing beside center Eric Staal and Sam Reinhart. Jeff Skinner, meanwhile, is at left wing with top center Jack ... Read the full article