Dahlin - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Owen Power, Tage Thompson star as Sabres roar back to beat Wild in OT: ‘Like a playoff game’

BUFFALO – Less than a week into the season, the Sabres have kept showcasing more of the maturity that helped buoy them to a thrilling 109-point campaign last year.

To wit: in each of the last two games, they’ve erased 2-0 deficits, roaring back for wins.

In Tuesday’s exciting 3-2 victory, which defenseman Owen Power won with 37.4 seconds left in overtime, they plowed forward after an iffy penalty and an awful non-call helped put ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Jiri Kulich scores game-winning goal versus Blackhawks after return from blood clot: ‘Lot of emotions’

BUFFALO – The other guys, Sabres center Jiri Kulich noted, did the heavy lifting to create his first goal in 343 days, the late winner in Saturday’s thrilling 4-3 come-from-behind victory.

Seconds before he gave the Sabres their first lead in the home opener, Kulich misfired after center Tage Thompson sent him in alone on Chicago Blackhawks goalie Spencer Knight during a four-on-four.

“I was pretty pissed after the first one,” said Kulich, who was ... Read the full article

Months after trade, Sabres sign Louis Crevier to contract extension

Throughout training camp, whenever reporters asked coach Lindy Ruff about defenseman Louis Crevier, one of the Sabres’ offseason additions, he lauded his smart, efficient style.

Crevier, who arrived in Buffalo in the blockbuster trade that sent defenseman Bowen Byram to the Chicago Blackhawks, clearly made a strong first impression on Ruff and the Sabres.

On Thursday morning, hours before their season opener in Columbus against the Blue Jackets, the Sabres illustrated just how much they ... Read the full article

Sabres D Mattias Samuelsson week to week with injury; Olen Zellweger in concussion protocol

BUFFALO – It took less than one week of training camp for injuries to the hit the Sabres hard.

When the Sabres open the season next Thursday on the road against the Columbus Blue Jackets, they could be without two of their top four defensemen.

Mattias Samuelsson, their top shutdown defender, is week to week with a lower-body injury he suffered blocking a shot in Tuesday’s 5-1 preseason win over Columbus, coach Lindy Ruff said.... Read the full article

Before trade, Sabres’ Louis Crevier beat long odds and developed confidence to stick in NHL

BUFFALO – In his early days with the Chicago Blackhawks, Sabres newcomer Louis Crevier couldn’t settle down. He said he played too nervously, afraid he would make a mistake.

“It was just mental,” the 6-foot-8, 236-pound defenseman said following Friday’s session of training camp in LECOM Harborcenter.

So Crevier, who joined the Sabres on June 23 in the blockbuster trade that sent defenseman Bowen Byram to the Windy City, tackled his problem.... Read the full article

Sabres preseason: Buffalo to dress full NHL lineup versus Columbus; Jiri Kulich to keep playing

BUFFALO – With the exception of one goalie, the lineup the Sabres will dress for tonight’s preseason game against the Blue Jackets is likely the one they field for their season opener Oct. 1 in Columbus.

With only four preseason games and veterans who have played 100 NHL games now limited to just two appearances, Sabres coach Lindy Ruff figured he would put his main group together tonight against the Blue Jackets’ B team.

Among ... Read the full article

Sabres begin season confident they’re better than last year: ‘We’re not the old Sabres anymore’

BUFFALO – Confidence is powerful thing, center Tage Thompson said. Fresh off a breakout 50-win, 109-point campaign in which nearly every player improved or enjoyed a career season, the Sabres entered the summer feeling pretty darn good about themselves.

Having grinded together for nine months and enjoyed so much success, the Sabres feel like they can tackle any challenge as a group this season.

“We have a lot of that with our group right now,” ... Read the full article

Josh Doan says Sabres will be fine after losing players in trades: ‘A better team’

BUFFALO – Alex Tuch’s departure from the Sabres earlier this summer via a sign-and-trade deal with the Washington Capitals hardly surprised winger Josh Doan.

In the weeks before free agency opened, it appeared the veteran first-line winger’s run in Buffalo could be ending after five seasons.

“There was noise around whether or not he was staying or go,” Doan said prior to throwing out the first pitch at Saturday’s Bisons game against the Worcester Red ... Read the full article

Is trading for Connor Hellebuyck worth the steep price for the Sabres?

As you read this, Buffalo Sabres general manager Jarmo Kekalainen could be deep into trade talks again with Kevin Cheveldayoff, his counterpart in Winnipeg, trying to pry goalie Connor Hellebuyck away from the Jets.

On Thursday, Hellebuyck, 33, confirmed through a statement released by his agent, Ray Petkau, what had long been suspected: he wants to get the heck out of Winnipeg just two seasons into a seven-year, $59.5 million contract extension.

Hellebuyck said he ... Read the full article

If the Sabres sign Patrick Kane, would he fit into their identity?

Three weeks after free agency opened and long after the feeding frenzy ended, South Buffalo native Patrick Kane is reportedly considering joining the Sabres or returning to Chicago, where he became an icon while starring for 16 seasons and leading the Blackhawks to three Stanley Cup championships.

That info, courtesy of ESPN analyst Chris Chelios, makes sense. Following three seasons and zero playoff appearances with the Detroit Red Wings, Kane, 37, could take a run ... Read the full article