Rasmus Dahlin knows Buffalo did not play well in the second and third periods Saturday afternoon. ©2024, Micheline Veluvolu

Sabres lose to Red Wings, move back in playoff chase: ‘A little bit tense’

DETROIT – The Buffalo Sabres, a team given up for dead earlier this month, have roared back to join the thick of the Eastern Conference playoff race, so one game won’t extinguish their hopes of grabbing the second wild card spot yet.

Still, Saturday afternoon’s 4-1 loss to the Red Wings, the start of a five-game road trip, could certainly haunt them down the stretch.

Against a reeling opponent that had lost seven straight games, ... Read the full article

Tyson Jost has spent most of his career in the NHL. ©2024, Micheline Veluvolu

After surprising demotion to Rochester, Tyson Jost playing regularly for Sabres

BUFFALO – Tyson Jost impressed the Sabres so much after they plucked him off waivers last season that he earned regular duty and a $2 million contract. So, yes, when they waived the center in late December and assigned him to the minors – he had played just 13 games in the AHL in his career – he had a difficult time handling it.

“It was extremely tough,” Jost told the Times Herald prior to ... Read the full article

Casey Mittelstadt has developed into a coveted center. ©2024, Micheline Veluvolu

Casey Mittelstadt’s status made trading for coveted Bowen Byram possible

BUFFALO – Kevyn Adams said he never shopped Casey Mittelstadt around the NHL. No, the Sabres general manager said, the center’s emergence made him a sought-after asset.

When other GMs called him to ask about Mittelstadt, his leading scorer, he made it clear he was willing to listen and think about possible scenarios.

Adams said he had been working for a couple of years to find a young, top-pair defenseman. Those type of defenders, of ... Read the full article

Tyson Jost played 25 games with Rochester. ©2024, Micheline Veluvolu, Rochester Americans

Sabres recall two players from Amerks, send rookie to Rochester

BUFFALO – The Sabres this afternoon recalled forward Tyson Jost and defenseman Kale Clague from the Rochester Americans and sent rookie defenseman Ryan Johnson to the AHL club.

The Sabres traded captain Kyle Okposo to the Florida Panthers and defenseman Erik Johnson to the Philadelphia Flyers before this afternoon’s deadline, so they needed some reinforcements.

Jost, 25, compiled four goals and 14 points in 25 games with the Amerks during his longest stint in the ... Read the full article

Jeff Skinner has scored a team-high 19 goals this season. ©2024, Micheline Veluvolu

Jeff Skinner leaves practice injured; Sabres make roster move

BUFFALO – Sabres winger Jeff Skinner, whose 19 goals are tied for the team lead this season, left Monday’s practice with an undisclosed injury.

Coach Don Granato said following the session in LECOM Harborcenter that Skinner, 31, would undergo imaging before the Sabres left for their two-game road trip, which begins tonight against the Florida Panthers.

Early Monday afternoon, the Sabres recalled forward Tyson Jost, a sign Skinner could be unavailable.... Read the full article

Owen Power was injured Feb. 12. ©2024, Micheline Veluvolu

Sabres notes: Owen Power returns from injury; Jacob Bryson playing regularly

BUFFALO – On Sunday morning, Sabres defenseman Owen Power did not take his usual spot on the second power-play unit, a sign he possibly needed more time to recover from his upper-body injury.

But following the pregame skate, coach Don Granato said the youngster could be ready for the Sabres’ contest against the Carolina Hurricanes at KeyBank Center.

Sure enough, Power, 21, returned their 3-2 shootout win, scoring the late tying goal and skating 23 ... Read the full article

Tage Thompson (72) skates by former teammate Ilya Lyubushkin on Monday. ©2024, Micheline Veluvolu

Sabres can’t put Ducks away in awful loss: ‘Gave them free chances’

BUFFALO – Almost halfway through Monday afternoon’s embarrassing 4-3 loss, the Sabres had the Anaheim Ducks on the ropes.

At that point, the Sabres had dominated the Ducks, outshooting them by about 20 as they generated a slew of prime scoring chances, including some breakaways.

Fourteen seconds after center Tage Thompson’s power-play goal put the Sabres’ up 2-1, the Ducks took another penalty.... Read the full article

Henri Jokiharju has scored three goals this season. ©2024, Micheline Veluvolu

Sabres notes: Henri Jokiharju displays offense; Buffalo makes roster move

BUFFALO – The Sabres mostly utilize defenseman Henri Jokiharju in a defensive role, meaning other than occasionally quarterbacking the second power-play unit, he rarely gets to display his offensive talent.

“Usually five-on-five through the regular 60 minutes of a game, he’s very responsible and focused so much on defense that you don’t get to see some of his offensive touch,” coach Don Granato told reporters Saturday in Minnesota after Jokiharju scored the overtime winner in ... Read the full article

Kale Clague spent much of last season in Buffalo. ©2024, Micheline Veluvolu, Rochester Americans

Sabres recall defenseman, send goalie to Rochester

BUFFALO – The Sabres this morning recalled defenseman Kale Clague from the Rochester Americans and assigned goalie Dustin Tokarski to their AHL affiliate.

Sending Tokarski back likely means goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, who missed Thursday’s 4-0 loss to the Florida Panthers with a lower-body injury, will be ready for Saturday afternoon’s road game against the Minnesota Wild. The Sabres have said Luukkonen’s day to day.

Update: Luukkonen said following today’s practice he’s ready to play.... Read the full article

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen stops San Jose’s Anthony Duclair with some help from teammate Erik Johnson (6). ©2024, Micheline Veluvolu

Goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen stars in shutout, emerging as Sabres’ starter

BUFFALO – Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen’s run as the Sabres’ starting goalie this season lasted about a week.

Shortly after he grabbed the No. 1 job, he got sick and missed about 10 days. When he returned, rookie Devon Levi had re-established himself following a brief trip to the minors, and the netminders mostly alternated starts about the next month.

But since Dec. 30, Luukkonen, who posted a 28-save shutout in Monday afternoon’s 3-0 win over the ... Read the full article