Columbus Blue Jackets - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres captain Kyle Okposo trying to find groove in ‘up and down’ season

BUFFALO – Twenty-five games into his season, Kyle Okposo has beaten a goalie just once. While the Sabres captain has scored three goals, two have gone into empty nets.

The veteran winger started slowly after getting injured at the end of training camp. He has also left the lineup twice because of injuries, missing seven total games.

A year after scoring 21 times, his highest output since 2015-16, Okposo said his 16th NHL season has ... Read the full article

After weekend blizzard, NHL postpones Tuesday’s Sabres game in Columbus

Severe winter weather that has closed the Buffalo/Niagara International Airport forced the NHL to postpone Tuesday’s Sabres road game against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

No makeup date has been announced.

The devastating blizzard that battered Western New York over the weekend, dumping more than three feet of snow in some areas, has made many roads impassable. Driving bans remain in effect in Buffalo and other communities.

... Read the full article

Notes on Sabres star Tage Thompson’s dominant five-goal, six-point game

We’re going to break this down a bit because center Tage Thompson’s brilliant five-goal, six-point night ranks as one of the greatest performances in the Buffalo Sabres’ 53-year history.

Thompson, 25, was downright dominant early in Wednesday’s 9-4 annihilation of the hapless Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena, scoring four goals and five points in the first period as the Sabres opened up a stunning 6-0 lead.

Incredibly, he recorded his second hat trick ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Dylan Cozens becoming star between JJ Peterka, Jack Quinn

BUFFALO – Forget about Dylan Cozens’ skill set for a moment. What makes the Sabres center such a unique talent and one of the NHL’s burgeoning young stars are the intangibles he possesses.

Cozens, 21, plays a mature, tenacious style that belies his limited experience.

“He competes for the right reason being in a team sport,” Sabres coach Don Granato said following Tuesday’s practice at KeyBank Center. “He brings guys in with him, he drags ... Read the full article

Weary Sabres miss injured Rasmus Dahlin, implode against Blue Jackets

The Buffalo Sabres weathered the Columbus Blue Jackets’ early onslaught Sunday, escaping the opening 15 minutes with a 1-0 deficit despite being outshot 16-1.

Then defenseman Mark Pysyk scored on the Sabres’ second shot on goal, igniting his weary teammates. Center Tage Thompson followed at 17:14, scoring his 20th goal.

That lead lasted 10 seconds.

Boone Jenner tied it, and Dean Kukan’s second goal of the night – he entered the game with one all ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Rasmus Dahlin to miss game against Blue Jackets with injury

Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin suffered a lower-body injury Saturday afternoon and will miss tonight’s road game against the Columbus Blue Jackets, coach Don Granato said.

Granato said he doesn’t expect to injury to sideline Dahlin, 21, long-term.

“He was sore after a play that occurred last night and we’re going to hold him back to get some more observation,” Granato said on a Zoom call this afternoon. “Didn’t feel too good with it this morning.”... Read the full article

Sabres blow late lead to Blue Jackets, lose in OT: ‘We started changing’

BUFFALO – The Sabres’ blueprint for success is no secret. For about 20 minutes against the Columbus Blue Jackets, they played confidently and loosely, opening up what felt like a commanding two-goal lead early in the third period.

“We got that 3-1 lead, we had a couple of good shifts afterward and then we started changing the way we were playing,” Sabres winger Alex Tuch said following Thursday’s 4-3 loss, a game Jakub Voracek clinched ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Linus Weissbach showing ‘immense’ growth with Amerks

BUFFALO – In the third period of Rochester’s 5-2 loss last Friday, rookie winger Linus Weissbach hit defenseman Matt Kiersted hard into the end boards, freeing the puck.

A second later, winger JJ Peterka scored, moving the Americans within one goal of the Charlotte Checkers.

The assist wasn’t exactly pretty or the type of play the speedy Weissbach’s known for making. The Sabres prospect fell to the ice after hitting Kiersted, and it appeared he ... Read the full article

Sabres goalie Craig Anderson could be coveted before trade deadline

BUFFALO – At 40, an advanced age where most goaltenders have long been retired, Craig Anderson could be coveted before the upcoming NHL trade deadline.

For now, Anderson is the Sabres’ No. 1 goalie, an incredible accomplishment in his 19th season. During his limited action this season – an upper-body injury recently sidelined him 32 games – the veteran has been the Sabres’ backbone, giving the rebuilding team a calming, consistent presence in the crease.... Read the full article

COVID-19 impacting Sabres; Vinnie Hinostroza placed in protocol

As COVID-19 began tearing through the NHL again earlier this month, the Buffalo Sabres remained relatively unscathed, placing just one player in protocol while continuing their schedule uninterrupted.

But as positive tests skyrocketed throughout the league, game postponements piled up. Team after team was forced to pause its season.

Sooner or later, it felt like the Sabres would be impacted. Sure enough, all three of their games scheduled for this week have been shelved.

Late ... Read the full article