Byram - Buffalo Hockey Beat

As Sabres prospect Ryan Johnson waits for next chance in Buffalo, he continues to develop in Rochester

ROCHESTER – Right now, Ryan Johnson, the defenseman who played 41 games for the Buffalo Sabres as a rookie last season, ranks eighth or ninth on their depth chart.

Last month, Johnson, 23, returned to Rochester, where he has quietly been gobbling up minutes alongside Jack Rathbone on the Americans’ top defense tandem.

If the Sabres lose another defenseman to injury – after beginning the season with eight, Mattias Samuelsson recently went down – ... Read the full article

Sabres’ UPL, Tage Thompson won’t play versus Flyers; Jordan Greenway injured

BUFFALO – In Tage Thompson’s absence against the St. Louis Blues, centers Ryan McLeod and Dylan Cozens picked up the slack for the Sabres’ leading scorer.

McLeod scored once and created linemate Alex Tuch’s late tying goal in Thursday’s 4-3 overtime win by deftly feeding him from behind the net.

Earlier in the third period, Cozens knocked down Oskar Sundqvist before racing to the net and converting a rebound. While officials overturned the goal because ... Read the full article

Maturing Sabres extend winning streak by beating Flames in shootout

BUFFALO – In the recent past, the Sabres might’ve lost a game like Saturday afternoon’s 3-2 shootout win. They blew an early two-goal lead as the Calgary Flames roared back. They had to kill a penalty just to survive overtime.

“I’ve used the phrase, ‘You’ve got to be comfortable being uncomfortable,’” coach Lindy Ruff said following the Sabres’ third consecutive victory. “The game got uncomfortable, and you have to trust how you’re playing.”

That trust ... Read the full article

Sabres raise standard, defeat Senators; Henri Jokiharju, Mattias Samuelsson scratched

BUFFALO – Hours before the Sabres ended their three-game losing streak Tuesday by shellacking the Ottawa Senators 5-1, coach Lindy Ruff demanded more of his goalies, saying his team needed bigger saves at critical times.

Ruff wasn’t pinning the Sabres’ recent struggles on Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Devon Levi. In the same breath, said he needed his scorers to finish. He has been asking more of everyone as he tries to raise the Sabres’ standard.

But ... Read the full article

As Sabres struggle, Lindy Ruff wants to raise standard: ‘OK … not good enough’

BUFFALO – If you examine each loss during the Sabres’ current three-game skid, sure, positives can be found.

On Friday, they opened the scoring against the New York Islanders and staged a late comeback. Last Monday, they roared back from a two-goal deficit versus the Florida Panthers.

In Saturday’s 2-1 loss in Detroit, they grabbed an early lead and outshot the Red Wings.

What do the 4-7-1 Sabres have to show for those games? Nothing.... Read the full article

Sabres’ Owen Power piling up points during fast start

BUFFALO – The Sabres’ best defensemen through their first 10 games this season is also their youngest.

Owen Power, who turns 22 on Nov. 22, has quietly enjoyed the fastest start of his short career. Entering Tuesday’s schedule, his eight even-strength points ranked fourth among NHL defensemen.

Right now, he has a career-long five-game point streak in which he has recorded one goal and seven points. He also has a career-best four-game assist streak. He ... Read the full article

Tage Thompson playing like superstar, helps Sabres beat Red Wings

BUFFALO – A strong argument can be made the past week or two ranks as the most significant stretch of Tage Thompson’s four-year run as the Sabres’ top center.

His gaudy statistics are just part of it, mind you. After scoring two goals and three points in Saturday afternoon’s 5-3 win over the Detroit Red Wings, he has recorded six goals and 10 points during his six-game point streak.

Right now, Thompson, who has a ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Jordan Greenway becoming big asset: ‘An incredibly smart player’

PITTSBURGH – Early in Saturday’s 5-2 win, Buffalo Sabres winger Jordan Greenway spotted 30-goal scorer Carter Verhaeghe on his radar and leveled him, knocking off his helmet before he fell to the ice.

Later in the first period against the Florida Panthers, Greenway grabbed a loose puck at the net and backhanded it under the crossbar, tying the game at 1.

Overall, he enjoyed perhaps the finest of his 88 outings with the Sabres, playing ... Read the full article

Sabres can’t finish chances, unravel late in loss to Kings: ‘I do feel snake bit’

BUFFALO – The Sabres performed a heck of a lot better in Thursday’s home opener than they did overseas. It was hardly a perfect effort, mind you. But they put together a terrific 40 minutes, showcasing speed and tenacity while generating loads of scoring chances in the first two periods.

Following two underwhelming outings to open the season, coach Lindy Ruff believes the Sabres played close to their identity throughout the night.

What do they ... Read the full article

Sabres focused on fixing power play: ‘Going to be great’

BUFFALO – Prior to Tuesday’s practice, the Sabres’ power-play units and coaching staff could be found across the street at LECOM Harborcenter working on the man advantage.

“I don’t know if that mock resistance by the coaches was any good, but I felt the speed coming at us was pretty good,” Sabres coach Lindy Ruff cracked.

When the regular session began at KeyBank Center, the Sabres focused on their power play for the first 43 ... Read the full article