Dahlin - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Five-goal game earns Sabres’ Tage Thompson NHL Second Star honors

BUFFALO – Sabre center Tage Thompson’s dynamic five-goal, six-point outing has earned him NHL Second Star honors for the week ending Sunday.

Thompson, 25, performed dominantly in Wednesday’s 9-4 road win over the Columbus Blue Jackets, becoming just the second Sabres player to score five goals in one game. Dave Andreychuk also accomplished the feat in 1985-86.

Incredibly, Thompson scored four goals and five points in the first period, tying the NHL record for most ... Read the full article

Sabres fall behind early but roar back in loss to Penguins: ‘A ton of chances’

PITTSBURGH – With the Buffalo Sabres trailing by one goal in the waning minutes of Saturday’s 3-1 loss, winger JJ Peterka set up a splendid scoring chance for linemate Jack Quinn at the top of the right circle.

But instead of unleashing a shot on goalie Casey DeSmith, the rookie quickly passed to center Dylan Cozens, who couldn’t handle the puck in the left circle.

“Everybody watching wishes Jack Quinn would have taken that shot ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Henri Jokiharju sidelined by lower-body injury; D recalled

PITTSBURGH – Buffalo Sabres defenseman Henri Jokiharju suffered a lower-body injury in Friday’s 4-3 overtime loss to the Penguins and will be sidelined week to week.

Jokiharju, 23, was injured early but finished the game, playing 23 minutes, 59 seconds. The Finn possibly hurt himself blocking Evgeni Malkin’s shot late in the first period.

With Jokiharju sidelined, defenseman Lawrence Pilut will likely move into the lineup tonight against the Penguins at PPG Paints Arena. Granato ... Read the full article

Jeff Skinner’s match penalty costs Sabres in OT loss to Penguins

BUFFALO – The edge Jeff Skinner possesses makes him one of the NHL’s most unique talents. Not only is the Sabres winger a top scorer, he’s also willing to go hard after opponents.

To wit: with 22 seconds left in the third period of Friday’s 4-3 overtime loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins, Jake Guentzel hit Sabres goalie Craig Anderson’s hand as he froze the puck. Skinner took umbrage and went after Guentzel.

Guentzel slashed Skinner ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Tage Thompson never doubted he’d become star: ‘I always knew’

BUFFALO – Coach Don Granato was struggling to conceal five pucks as he addressed the Sabres following center Tage Thompson’s dynamic five-goal, six-point effort in Wednesday’s 9-4 annihilation of the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Moments earlier, Chris Dierken, the team’s director of media relations, had handed him every puck Thompson scored with during perhaps the greatest individual performance in the franchise’s 53-year history.

Granato kept two pucks wedged in each each pocket and another in his ... Read the full article

Sabres beat Sharks, get more scoring from ‘Kid Line’: ‘A lot of chemistry’

BUFFALO – If the struggling Sabres couldn’t fix some of their recent problems and earn a much-needed win against the lowly San Jose Sharks, well, you had to wonder when they’d ever get on track.

The Sharks limped into town Sunday to close a four-game road trip having lost four of their last five contests, including a defeat a night earlier in Ottawa.

They were ripe to be beaten and the Sabres, as their 6-3 ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Rasmus Dahlin wowed by Erik Karlsson’s start: ‘Amazing to watch’

BUFFALO – The comparisons are inevitable given that both defensemen hail from Sweden and have a penchant for making jaw-dropping plays.

Sometimes when Rasmus Dahlin makes a slick move or scores a highlight-reel goal, he will inevitably hear Erik Karlsson did something similar years ago.

“I try to do my own thing, but it’s always a very cool thing to hear,” the Sabres defenseman said of being compared to Karlsson, who’s enjoying a dynamic comeback ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Don Granato believes scratches can help Peyton Krebs

BUFFALO – The Sabres inserted center Peyton Krebs for Thursday’s 5-4 loss to the Colorado Avalanche, just his second appearance in the last six games.

To make room for Krebs, a healthy scratch the previous three contests, the Sabres sat out winger Vinnie Hinostroza.

That Krebs, 21, had been bumped out of the lineup wasn’t surprising. He sat out two games in late October when the Sabres briefly began rotating forwards. He had mustered zero ... Read the full article

Sabres captain Kyle Okposo on Nikita Kucherov: ‘A terrific player but he’s dirty’

BUFFALO – Late in the third period of Monday’s 6-5 overtime loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning, superstar Nikita Kucherov ran Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen in the crease, hitting the Sabres goalie high and knocking him to the ice as he fought for the tying goal.

Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin immediately pounced on Kucherov, igniting a melee.

Luukkonen stayed in the game, while Kucherov was penalized for goalie interference at 15:27 and Dahlin earned a roughing call.... Read the full article

Rasmus Dahlin, Mattias Samuelsson embrace role as Sabres’ shutdown defenders

BUFFALO – At least 20 times tonight, Sabres defensemen Rasmus Dahlin and Mattias Samuelsson will hop over the boards together and be charged with trying to neutralize Tampa Bay Lightning superstar Nikita Kucherov and his linemates.

How stiff of a challenge will the Sabres’ top duo have? Well, Kucherov, who has been skating with center Brayden Point and Brandon Hagel, has registered 31 points this season, the NHL’s fifth-highest total. The Russian winger has ... Read the full article