Columbus Blue Jackets - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres continue troubling start, lose to Blue Jackets: ‘They won more battles’

COLUMBUS – Seventy-six games remain for the Buffalo Sabres following Thursday’s ugly 6-4 loss to the Blue Jackets, so there’s time to correct things.

But having started this season a dreadful 1-4-1, they better get going in a hurry. Right now, it sure feels a lot like past years. Not much has changed under new coach Lindy Ruff.

The Sabres are a mess defensively. Their special teams are brutal.... Read the full article

Sabres’ Jack Quinn scratched against Blue Jackets; Jiri Kulich moves in

COLUMBUS – Jack Quinn, of course, is hardly alone. The winger is one of seven Buffalo Sabres forwards still looking for his first goal.

But Quinn, a second-liner, is expected to score. Through five games this season, he hasn’t looked like himself, struggling to generate offense.

He has compiled zero goals, one assist, five shots on goal and a minus-4 rating. He was a minus-2 in Wednesday’s 6-5 overtime road loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins.... Read the full article

Sabres’ Kevyn Adams expresses faith in Don Granato; Seth Appert subs for ill coach in OT win

BUFFALO – Forty-five minutes prior to the Sabres’ 3-2 overtime victory against the Columbus Blue Jackets, general manager Kevyn Adams acknowledged he understands the frustration directed toward himself, coach Don Granato and the assistants.

The Sabres have woefully underachieved this season, morphing from one of the NHL’s up-and-coming young teams into perhaps its biggest disappointment.

They’re wildly inconsistent, regularly get outworked, often fall behind early in games and have trouble scoring and preventing goals. Nearly ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Don Granato to miss game because of illness; Seth Appert to fill in

Buffalo Sabres coach Don Granato is ill and won’t be available for this afternoon’s home game, the team announced this morning. Rochester Americans coach Seth Appert will assume his duties behind the bench for the day.

Granato, 56, conducted Friday’s practice and addressed the media after the Sabres prepared for their game against the Columbus Blue Jackets at KeyBank Center.

When Granato went into COVID-19 protocol in 2020-21, general manager Kevyn Adams subbed behind the ... Read the full article

With roster move needed, Sabres goalie Eric Comrie has uncertain future

BUFFALO – Eric Comrie processed the question and searched for the right words. The normally loquacious Sabres goalie never found them.

“I don’t know,” he replied when asked about the Sabres’ roster crunch and how he has been focusing on himself. “That’s a tough question to answer.”

Comrie, having once been claimed off waivers four times in a 17-month stretch, has endured a lot of uncertainty in his career. But after signing a two-year contract ... Read the full article

Tyson Jost clears waivers, assigned to Amerks; Sabres send rookie to AHL

BUFFALO – The Sabres on Friday assigned center Tyson Jost to the Rochester Americans after he cleared waivers.

Jost, 25, hasn’t played in the AHL since an eight-game stint with the Colorado Eagles in 2018-19. He has made just 13 appearances in the minors since turning pro in 2017.

The Sabres on Friday also activated center Tage Thompson from the non-roster list and sent rookie defenseman Ryan Johnson to the Amerks in a paper transaction ... Read the full article

Reeling Sabres implode in ugly loss to Blue Jackets: ‘We got to find it’

BUFFALO – Sabres captain Kyle Okposo spoke firmly following Tuesday’s embarrassing 9-4 loss, the low point of the Kevyn Adams-Don Granato era.

The Sabres, the veteran said, did not quit during an ugly second period in which the lowly Columbus Blue Jackets scored four times and opened up a stunning 7-1 lead.

Moments later, when a question was asked about the Sabres listening to their coaches, an angry Okposo immediately shot it down.

“Listen, I’m ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Eric Robinson’s brother, Buddy, set strong example; Jeff Skinner recovering from injury

BUFFALO – Sabres newcomer Eric Robinson acknowledged that, yes, Tuesday’s game against the Columbus Jackets, his former team, possessed “a little extra meaning.”

The Blue Jackets, after all, gave Robinson his big chance, signing him as a free agent out of Princeton in 2018. The New Jersey native grew up in their organization, playing 266 NHL games before the Sabres traded a conditional seventh-round pick in 2025 on Dec. 6 in exchange for the winger.... Read the full article

Jeff Skinner, other injured Sabres could play soon

BUFFALO – By the end of the week, the Sabres could have a healthy forward corps for the first time this season.

Winger Jack Quinn, out since tearing his Achilles tendon in late June, will make his season debut tonight against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Quinn, 22, skated this morning at left wing alongside center Tyson Jost and Victor Olofsson. Coach Don Granato also said Quinn will also kill penalties.... Read the full article

Sabres’ Jack Quinn could return from injury against Blue Jackets

BUFFALO – When Jack Quinn took Alex Tuch’s spot at right wing alongside center Tage Thompson and Zach Benson during Monday’s practice, it appeared he was simply filling in on the Sabres’ top line.

Since Quinn, who tore his Achilles tendon training in late June and underwent surgery, returned to practice earlier this month, he has been sharing reps or subbing for someone.

But it turns out he was ready to graduate to a larger ... Read the full article