Comrie - Buffalo Hockey Beat

After battling adversity, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen becoming No. 1 goalie Sabres envisioned

BUFFALO – That miraculous save was a result of Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen’s experience and growing confidence, not luck.

Sure, it helped that Jimmy Vesey couldn’t lift the puck high as Luukkonen lunged across the crease during the third period of Monday’s 5-1 road win over the New York Rangers.

Still, the Finn, Sabres coach Don Granato explained, now reads plays so well he knew Vesey was lurking in the left circle, waiting for Erik ... Read the full article

Sabres believe goalie Devon Levi will embrace assignment to Rochester, develop with Amerks

BUFFALO – As the Sabres’ decision-makers examined the upcoming schedule, they saw saw limited opportunities here for rookie goalie Devon Levi.

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has emerged as the Sabres’ best goalie, and they want to award him more starts. If they kept three netminders, Levi would’ve played perhaps once a week. Following tonight’s road game against the St. Louis Blues, the Sabres play 15 times in December, meaning practice time will be limited.

So on Tuesday, ... Read the full article

Sabres send rookie goalie Devon Levi to Rochester Amerks

As Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen recently emerged as the Buffalo Sabres’ top option in net, the end of their three-goalie rotation seemed imminent.

In winning three straight starts, Luukkonen has performed like the No. 1 netminder the Sabres envisioned years ago.

Something had to give and on Tuesday the Sabres sent rookie goalie Devon Levi, who started the first four games this season, to the Rochester Americans.

Going forward, Luukkonen will likely be the starter and be ... Read the full article

Sabres send prospect back to Amerks

The Buffalo Sabres on Friday sent rookie winger Lukas Rousek back to the Rochester Americans and placed center Tage Thompson on injured reserve to create roster space for rookie winger Zach Benson and goalie Eric Comrie.

Benson and Comrie, both of whom had been on injured reserve, played in Friday’s road game against the Winnipeg Jets.

Rousek, 24, compiled zero points and a minus-2 rating in five games with the Sabres. The Czech has scored ... Read the full article

Birth of first child, start against Jets in Sabres goalie Eric Comrie’s future

BUFFALO – Goalie Eric Comrie has a plan to get home if his wife, Haley, goes into labor during the Sabres’ three-game road swing.

Haley is due to deliver the couple’s first child Saturday and the trip, which starts tonight in Winnipeg, lasts until Wednesday. So there’s a strong chance Comrie, 28, will have to hurry back to Buffalo.

“It’s nerve-wracking, yeah,” Comrie said following Thursday’s practice in KeyBank Center. “But … we’re both really ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Alex Tuch returns from injury, should play against Jets

BUFFALO – Alex Tuch thought his upper-body injury would heal a bit faster. The Sabres winger never anticipated missing three contests, including captain Kyle Okposo’s 1,000th NHL game.

“It was something that we didn’t want to flare up again,” Tuch said following Thursday’s practice in KeyBank Center. “We just wanted to make sure to keep it under control. … Just wanted to be 100 percent. It was really tough on me to miss Okie’s 1,000th ... Read the full article

Injured Sabres star Tage Thompson out ‘less than a couple of months’; Alex Tuch close to returning

BUFFALO – Sabres center Tage Thompson will be sidelined “less than a couple of months” after suffering an upper-body injury Tuesday, coach Don Granato said.

“It’s more week to week,” Granato said following Wednesday’s practice in KeyBank Center. “I don’t have a target date for him yet.”

Thompson departed Tuesday’s 5-2 loss to the Boston Bruins just over 11 minutes into the second period after blocking Charlie McAvoy’s shot with his left hand or wrist.... Read the full article

Sabres goalie Devon Levi adjusting to NHL, happy to share net

BUFFALO – After starting four games in eight days to kick off his rookie season, Sabres goalie Devon Levi took a backseat, playing just one of the next nine contests.

Levi, 21, spent 12 days recovering from a lower-body injury and when he returned, goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, 24, had found a groove.

So Sabres coach Don Granato recently began rotating the young netminders. If he holds to it, Levi will play tonight’s game ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Alex Tuch injured; Matt Savoie could make NHL debut this weekend

BUFFALO – Sabres rookie Matt Savoie subbed for injured winger Alex Tuch during Thursday’s practice, skating alongside center Tage Thompson and Jeff Skinner.

So, could Savoie, 19, make his NHL debut tonight against the Minnesota Wild at KeyBank Center?

Coach Don Granato said the Sabres are “leaning toward using” the youngster this weekend. They also play a road game Saturday against the Pittsburgh Penguins.... Read the full article

Sabres’ Dylan Cozens practices after ill-advised fight, says he learned lesson

BUFFALO – Sabres center Dylan Cozens said he has learned his lesson.

In the future, don’t expect to see him picking fights with heavyweights like he did as frustration overwhelmed him late in Friday’s 5-1 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers.

“It probably won’t happen like that again,” Cozens said Wednesday after returning to practice in KeyBank Center wearing a full face shield.

Cozens, 22, also sported protection over his nose, which likely means it’s broken, ... Read the full article