WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
January Edition
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
JJ Peterka (left) and Jack Quinn have been struggling since getting hot in November. ©2023, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – In the nine games prior to Tuesday’s 4-3 loss to the Seattle Kraken, Sabres winger Jack Quinn registered zero points. JJ Peterka, his linemate, wasn’t much better during that stretch, mustering just two assists.
On Tuesday, the Sabres scratched the struggling rookies. Rasmus Asplund and Vinnie Hinostroza, both of whom had sat out nine straight games, replaced the youngsters on a line with center Dylan Cozens.
Peterka had played every ... Read the full article
Casey Fitzgerald has played 23 games with Buffalo this season. ©2023, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – The Sabres this afternoon waived defenseman Casey Fitzgerald, a move that creates a roster spot for them to recall goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen from the Rochester Americans.
Update: Defenseman Henri Jokiharju, out since suffering a lower-body injury on Dec. 9, has been activated from injured reserve and taken Fitzgerald’s roster spot, according to the team’s website.
Update: General manager Kevyn Adams said on today’s “Jeff Marek Show” on 590 The Fan that Luukkonen ... Read the full article
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has played 13 games with Buffalo this season. ©2023, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – By loaning goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen to the Rochester Americans to create a roster spot for Eric Comrie, the Sabres bought themselves some time.
Right now, the Sabres have a full 23-man roster. If they wanted to activate Comrie from injured reserve and keep Luukkonen, they might’ve had to waive a young defenseman and risk losing him.
The Sabres can send Luukkonen, 23, to the AHL without waivers, so his assignment on Monday ... Read the full article