Cozens - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Injured Sabres Tage Thompson and UPL could face Blues; Mattias Samuelsson out long-term

BUFFALO – Sabres center Tage Thompson and goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen both missed Wednesday’s practice and are day to day with their respective injuries. Coach Lindy Ruff said they could play in tonight’s home game against the St. Louis Blues.

That’s the good news for the Sabres. The bad? Ruff said the lower-body injury defenseman Mattias Samuelsson suffered in Monday afternoon’s 7-5 loss to the Montreal Canadiens will sideline him “weeks.” The injury, however, isn’t season-ending.... Read the full article

After strong stint with Sabres, prospect Jiri Kulich scoring goals in Rochester

ROCHESTER – Buffalo Sabres prospect Jiri Kulich laughed. The Czech center possesses one of hockey’s most dynamic shots. In his career, he said he has scored twice by tipping the puck.

Kulich, 20, just happened to score his first NHL goal Oct. 17 by getting a piece of linemate Dylan Cozens’ shot.

“I don’t know if I’m really a tip guy,” a smiling Kulich said Friday prior to scoring in the Americans’ 6-3 win over ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Zach Benson a ‘possibility’ to return from injury against Senators

BUFFALO – Sabres winger Zach Benson, out the last five games with a lower-body injury, is a “possibility” to return for tonight’s game against the Ottawa Senators, coach Lindy Ruff said.

Benson, 19, practiced Monday at left wing alongside center Dylan Cozens and Jack Quinn, his first full session since leaving the lineup Oct. 22. He also skated on the second power-play unit.

Update: Ruff said following this morning’s pregame skate he would see how ... Read the full article

Dylan Cozens scores early, but mistakes doom Sabres in loss to Islanders

BUFFALO – The New York Islanders limped into town in a tailspin, having lost three straight games and scored just one goal in their last eight periods. They departed Friday filled with confidence after handing the Sabres a troubling 4-3 defeat.

Following two season-opening losses, the Sabres had found a groove, compiling a 4-2-1 mark in their next seven games. Sure, they hardly set the NHL on fire, but in these parts, a record like ... Read the full article

Sabres hope shifting struggling Dylan Cozens to wing can ignite him

BUFFALO – History says Dylan Cozens’ position change will be temporary. Shifting him from center to right wing is a slump-busting move by Sabres coach Lindy Ruff.

Centers, of course, are always at a premium and Cozens, 23, has been entrenched as the Sabres’ second-line pivot for years. It’s just that 10 games into the season, having scored zero goals, he’s in a rut.

Ruff needs to ignite the Yukon native, so in Thursday’s ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Jiri Kulich scratched as Nicolas Aube-Kubel returns

BUFFALO – Right now, the Sabres have a good problem. Winger Nicolas Aube-Kubel has recovered from a lower-body injury, giving them 13 forwards.

So if they remain healthy up front, that depth they’ve built up will force coach Lindy Ruff to make some difficult decisions.

Ruff made room for Aube-Kubel in Monday’s lineup for the Sabres’ 5-2 loss to the Florida Panthers by scratching rookie Jiri Kulich. They placed winger Zach Benson, who’s battling a ... Read the full article

With Nicolas Aube-Kubel ready to play, Sabres likely have to scratch forward

BUFFALO – In his seven appearances this season, Sabres rookie Jiri Kulich has often impressed coach Lindy Ruff, earning ice time alongside established talent on scoring lines and the power play.

Ruff even kept Kulich, 20, in the lineup once over winger Jack Quinn.

But with winger Nicolas Aube-Kubel ready to return from a lower-body injury tonight, Ruff said Kulich will likely be scratched against the Florida Panthers.... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Rasmus Dahlin feeling like himself; Nicolas Aube-Kubel set to return from injury

BUFFALO – It’s pretty easy to tell when Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin is playing at his best. Look for him to be smiling and laughing.

“That’s when it’s more freedom out there, no thinking and I move my feet,” Dahlin said following Sunday’s practice in KeyBank Center.

In the weeks after Dahlin, 24, returned from a mid-body injury he suffered minutes into the first session of training camp – he mentioned he injured his back ... Read the full article

Goal-scoring struggles frustrate Sabres’ Dylan Cozens: ‘Just keep shooting’

BUFFALO – In the waning minutes Tuesday, as the Stars pressed for another goal, Sabres center Dylan Cozens grabbed the puck inside the Dallas blue line with a chance to seal a victory and generate some much-needed confidence.

Cozens simply had to deposit it into the empty net 63 feet away to register his first goal this season. Instead, his shot hit the right side of the cage. Play continued, and winger Alex Tuch’s ... Read the full article

Sabres continue troubling start, lose to Blue Jackets: ‘They won more battles’

COLUMBUS – Seventy-six games remain for the Buffalo Sabres following Thursday’s ugly 6-4 loss to the Blue Jackets, so there’s time to correct things.

But having started this season a dreadful 1-4-1, they better get going in a hurry. Right now, it sure feels a lot like past years. Not much has changed under new coach Lindy Ruff.

The Sabres are a mess defensively. Their special teams are brutal.... Read the full article