WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
September Edition
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen endured some struggles on his way to Buffalo. ©2023, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – The burden of expectations could’ve weighed Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen down. After all, shortly after the Sabres drafted him in the second round in 2017, he was labeled as their goalie of the future.
At times in the minors, the Finn seemed to be developing a bit slowly. Injuries and the COVID-19 pandemic limited his playing time. He sometimes struggled or performed inconsistently.
“There’s been ups and downs to it,” Luukkonen said of his ... Read the full article
Victor Olofsson has scored 21 goals this season. ©2023, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – At times this season, Sabres winger Victor Olofsson has battled adversity and the perception he’s too one-dimensional.
For stretches, he has struggled at even strength and lost ice time, doing little to dispel the belief he’s simply a power-play guy who possesses a lethal shot.
Still, 45 games into the campaign, Olofsson has already registered a career-high 21 goals.... Read the full article
Vinnie Hinostroza has played sparingly this season. ©2023, Micheline Veluvolu
The Sabres this afternoon placed winger Vinnie Hinostroza, who has played just four of the last 20 games, on waivers.
Not surprisingly, Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams has been trying to trade Hinostroza, according to Sportsnet and The Buffalo News.
Waiving Hinostroza, 28, could create a roster spot for the Sabres to carry three goalies. Since early last week, they’ve been making moves almost daily – most of them on paper – to keep ... Read the full article
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has been Buffalo’s best goalie. ©2023, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Following his strong 30-save effort in Monday afternoon’s ugly 4-1 loss to the Florida Panthers, Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen will likely rest tonight, giving way to Craig Anderson or Eric Comrie.
For the past week, Luukkonen’s emergence has forced the Sabres to make roster moves nearly every day, shuffling players to the AHL in paper transactions. Keeping three goalies in play has been difficult, and they clearly can’t do it much longer.
Luukkonen, ... Read the full article
JJ Peterka (pictured) sat out two games with Jack Quinn last week. ©2023, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Well, it did the trick, right?
Following a brief absence that offered slumping rookies Jack Quinn and JJ Peterka a chance to step back and reset, they performed splendidly in their return, helping the Sabres end a three-game losing streak.
Quinn scored the final goal in Saturday’s 5-3 win over the Nashville Predators and also created center Dylan Cozens’ second-period score from deep in the Buffalo zone. Peterka, meanwhile, earned the primary assist ... Read the full article
Craig Anderson (left), Eric Comrie (center) and Ukko-Pekka Luukonen are all vying for playing time. ©2023, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – So far, the Sabres’ jam-packed schedule has helped them make the best of a difficult situation and accommodate three goalies.
This week, Craig Anderson, Eric Comrie and rookie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen have all earned starts. Luukkonen remained on the roster following Thursday’s 4-2 loss to the Winnipeg Jets, a sign he could play tonight’s road game against the Nashville Predators.
The Sabres also play Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and next Saturday. They have ... Read the full article
Jack Quinn has played 33 games this season. ©2023, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – For a day or two, rookie Jack Quinn is technically a member of the Rochester Americans again. In a paper move on Thursday morning, the Sabres loaned the winger to their AHL affiliate to create room to recall goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen.
Quinn, 21, isn’t going anywhere. The Sabres needed a roster spot and he can be assigned to the minors without waivers.
General manager Kevyn Adams said on Monday the Sabres would ... Read the full article
Jack Quinn has scored six goals this season. ©2023, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – For a day or two, Sabres rookie Jack Quinn is technically a member of the Rochester Americans again. In a paper move on Thursday morning, they loaned the winger to their AHL affiliate to create room to recall goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen.
Quinn, 21, isn’t going anywhere. The Sabres needed a roster spot and he can be assigned to the minors without waivers.
General manager Kevyn Adams said on Monday the Sabres would have ... Read the full article
Casey Fitzgerald played 59 games for Buffalo. ©2023, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Given the depth the Sabres have built up over the last year, losing someone on waivers seemed inevitable. Sure enough, on Wednesday, the Florida Panthers nabbed defenseman Casey Fitzgerald off the wire.
As a 25-year-old right-shot defenseman, the chances of Fitzgerald clearing seemed low.
On Tuesday, the Sabres waived Fitzgerald to create a roster spot for defenseman Henri Jokiharju.... Read the full article
Eric Comrie made 18 saves on Tuesday in his first start since Nov. 16. ©2023, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – For the first time in six weeks, the Sabres have hit a bit of a rut, losing two straight games in regulation.
The good news is they got some of their mojo back in Tuesday’s 4-3 setback, generating offense again while taking the Seattle Kraken down to the wire. They looked much better than they did in Monday’s dreadful 4-0 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers.
The Sabres, however, couldn’t capitalize on chances they ... Read the full article