2021 Season Edition
Dylan Cozens has quickly become one of the Sabres’ standouts. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
It ranks as one of the prettiest first goals scored by a Buffalo Sabres rookie in recent memory. Not only did winger Dylan Cozens unleash a wicked wrist shot from the right circle, he created his own goal by stripping the puck from Brian Pinho at center ice.
When Cozens, 19, scored 10:23 into second period, tying Friday’s game at 2, it appeared the Sabres had seized the momentum from the depleted Washington Capitals.
“It ... Read the full article
Linus Ullmark faced the Capitals last week. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
Buffalo Sabres goalie Linus Ullmark, who missed two games earlier this week following the death of his father, will start tonight’s road game against the Washington Capitals, coach Ralph Krueger said.
“We really want him to get a win here, to play well not thinking about what’s happened,” Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin said on a Zoom call this afternoon. “We just got to make him feel comfortable everywhere.”
Ullmark, 27, faced the Capitals ... Read the full article
Carter Hutton left Tuesday’s game after 40 minutes. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
Shortly after Ivan Provorov collided with Carter Hutton during the second period Tuesday, the Buffalo Sabres goalie stymied James van Riemsdyk’s point-blank opportunity.
Despite taking a hit to the head from Provorov, who was checked into the crease by Sabres defenseman Brandon Montour, Hutton stayed in the game and remained sharp.
But when Hutton returned to the dressing room following the period, he started feeling the effects of the hit, so third-string goalie Jonas Johansson... Read the full article
Rasmus Dahlin left Monday’s game early. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin, who left Monday’s 6-1 win over the Flyers after Nicolas Aube-Kubel hit him in the head, will play tonight in Philadelphia, coach Ralph Krueger said.
Still, Krueger isn’t pleased. The NHL Department of Player Safety did not suspend Aube-Kubel for what Krueger called a “deliberate hit to the head.”
Instead, the department fined the winger $4,633.62, the maximum amount the collective bargaining agreement allows.
“We were hoping for a ... Read the full article
Curtis Lazar scored twice Monday. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
Late in the first period Monday, Buffalo Sabres center Curtis Lazar grabbed the puck at the blue line, skated into the left circle and backhanded a shot underneath the crossbar.
Then after the Sabres grabbed a commanding 3-0 lead over the Philadelphia Flyers, Lazar sealed the Sabres’ first win in the second period, connecting on a nifty pass from linemate Riley Sheahan in front of the net.
When the Sabres, NHL lightweights for nearly a ... Read the full article
Eric Staal has showcased durability throughout his long career. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – When Nic Dowd elbowed Eric Staal in the jaw late in Thursday’s 6-4 season-opening loss, it looked like the Sabres center could be sidelined for a while.
The Washington Capitals center knocked the 6-foot-4, 195-pound Staal to the ice and out of the game.
But Staal, who has remained remarkably durable over his 17-year NHL career, played in Friday’s 2-1 loss to the Capitals at KeyBank Center, pivoting the second line.
On Friday ... Read the full article
Colin Miller was often the odd man out last season. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Last year, his first with the Sabres, defenseman Colin Miller sat out 18 times – more than one-quarter of the season – as a healthy scratch.
The Sabres, who possessed a surfeit of defensemen, often dressed an extra one. Still, Miller regularly ranked eighth on the depth chart and was the odd man out.
This year, however, Miller, 28, has quickly earned a spot among the top-six defensemen. He skated beside Henri Jokiharju... Read the full article
Carter Hutton enjoyed a terrific training camp. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Sabres coach Ralph Krueger’s decision to award goalie Carter Hutton the opening night start against the Washington Capitals wasn’t surprising.
Yes, Hutton, 35, struggled most of last season, losing 12 straight decisions at one point. But his turnaround started at the end of 2019-20, when enjoyed a 6-2-0 run in February.
Hutton performed strongly throughout training camp this year, quickly morphing into one of the Sabres’ standouts. Meanwhile, goalie Linus Ullmark missed the ... Read the full article
Dylan Cozens could make his NHL debut later this week. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – The 27 players who participated in Tuesday’s practice will start the season on the Sabres’ roster or taxi squad, coach Ralph Krueger said.
That means 19-year-old forward prospects Dylan Cozens and Jack Quinn, Buffalo’s last two first-round picks, will remain in the NHL for now.
Of course, the Sabres must sort some things out before Thursday’s opener against the Washington Capitals at KeyBank Center.
Krueger said center Curtis Lazar (lower-body injury) and ... Read the full article
Rasmus Dahlin had a terrific second half last season. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
As defenseman Rasmus Dahlin spent month after month packing muscle on his 6-foot-3 frame and honing his skills, coach Ralph Krueger could feel a special transformation was taking place.
Dahlin, 20, possesses the maturity to match his enormous skill set. The Buffalo Sabres’ disappointing finish last season – they missed the NHL’s 24-team playoff qualifying round by one point – irked the Swede and put him in a reflective state of mind.
So Dahlin, who’s ... Read the full article
