Cozens - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres coach Lindy Ruff wants Zach Benson to take fewer penalties

BUFFALO – When Sabres coach Lindy Ruff reshuffled his lines earlier this week, he awarded winger Zach Benson a plum assignment alongside center Tage Thompson and Alex Tuch.

Barely six minutes into Tuesday’s 6-1 road loss to the Montreal Canadiens, his second game on the line, Benson, 19, was whistled for holding.

“He was going to be in that top line,” Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said in KeyBank Center. “As soon as he took a ... Read the full article

As Sabres struggle, Lindy Ruff turns to leaders ‘to be the difference-makers’

BUFFALO – How the Sabres lost their 11th consecutive game and the timing of it seemed like it would ignite change in what is quickly becoming another lost season.

Getting throttled 6-1 by the Canadiens on Tuesday and kicked into the Eastern Conference basement was embarrassing enough.

The Sabres fell behind 19 seconds into the game and got run out of the Bell Centre a day after Terry Pegula flew to Montreal to address the ... Read the full article

Sabres implode against Canadiens, lose 11th straight game: ‘No spark’

MONTREAL – You want to see some downright awful hockey? You want to watch a team that has completely unraveled possibly hit its nadir?

Watch the Buffalo Sabres’ utterly embarrassing performance in their 11th consecutive defeat, Tuesday’s ugly 6-1 loss to the lightweight Canadiens.

Prior to the game, the Sabres sounded like owner Terry Pegula’s visit a day earlier energized them. Perhaps his presence and words instilled some much-needed confidence and would shake them out ... Read the full article

Sabres’ streak hits 10 games with loss to Maple Leafs: ‘Toughest solve I’ve been around’

TORONTO – Lindy Ruff has coached 1,805 games over 24 seasons. He has led Buffalo Sabres teams that went bankrupt during the season and that came within two wins of a Stanley Cup victory.

Ruff, 64, has experienced just about everything during his long and distinguished career. He has won 875 games, the fifth-highest total in NHL history, and led three franchises to the playoffs.

He has always found a way to get his teams ... Read the full article

Injured Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin having difficult time sitting out; Jack Quinn could play soon

BUFFALO – On Thursday, a day off for the struggling Sabres, injured captain Rasmus Dahlin and Lindy Ruff had what the coach called “a long conversation” about the team.

Dahlin has missed the last four games after suffering back spasms Dec. 3. The Sabres’ top defenseman skated on his own again Friday and is progressing, according to Ruff.

Still, the Swede has been a bystander as the Sabres’ losing streak reached eight games, and it’s ... Read the full article

Despite losing streak, struggling Sabres still in thick of playoff chase

BUFFALO – In recent days, as the losses pile up and his frustration mounts, coach Lindy Ruff has often explained some of the Sabres’ problems in detail.

Sometimes as he goes on, occasionally pivoting to another area before he can be questioned about it, it almost sounds like Ruff’s venting.

Can you blame him? The Sabres take a seven-game losing streak (0-4-3) into tonight’s contest against the New York Rangers at KeyBank Center, the end ... Read the full article

Sabres blow lead, lose seventh straight game: ‘We need to look in the mirror’

BUFFALO – In the most difficult of times, the reflex is to look for positives. But coach Lindy Ruff has stressed to his reeling Sabres that when they can’t notch victories in the standings, they can’t succumb to moral ones.

Ruff said everyone must do a little more. Nothing comes easy in the NHL.

The Sabres, having lost seven straight games (0-4-3) after imploding late again Monday’s 6-5 shootout loss to the Detroit Red Wings, ... Read the full article

Sabres rookie Tyson Kozak scores first NHL goal with mother in rink; Buffalo could make lineup changes

BUFFALO – This one couldn’t be taken away from Sabres rookie Tyson Kozak, right? No one interfered with the goalie. No one was offside.

Early in his second NHL game Saturday afternoon, Kozak, 21, zoomed to the net and redirected linemate Beck Malenstyn’s pass behind Utah Hockey Club goalie Karel Vejmelka.

“I had a pretty good feeling it wouldn’t (be disallowed),” said Kozak, whose go-ahead goal in his big league debut Thursday was called ... Read the full article

Tyson Kozak has goal disallowed in NHL debut as Sabres lose to Jets in OT

BUFFALO – For a few moments, Tyson Kozak said he felt “pure joy and excitement.” In his NHL debut Thursday, with his family sitting in the stands, the center appeared to score the go-ahead goal in the Sabres’ 3-2 overtime loss to the Winnipeg Jets.

For Kozak, a Manitoba native, the entire day almost played out magically, starting when he ran into his parents in the hotel lobby in the morning. He had no idea ... Read the full article

Sabres implode in third period, suffer stunning loss to Avalanche; Rasmus Dahlin leaves game injured

BUFFALO – The onslaught ended 11:49 into the game, when Sabres winger Beck Malenstyn grabbed linemate Nicolas Aube-Kubel’s pass at the edge the slot, skated in and tucked a backhander past Colorado Avalanche goalie Alexandar Georgiev.

Malenstyn’s goal on the Sabres’ eighth shot extended their lead to 4-0 and put the wonky Georgiev on the bench for the rest of Tuesday’s contest.

Even with 48 minutes remaining against one of the NHL’s heavyweights, it felt ... Read the full article