Dahlin - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres notes: Kale Clague earning keep on blue line; Rasmus Dahlin returns

BUFFALO – In his previous stops, Sabres defenseman Kale Clague couldn’t always play aggressively. That often neutralized his skating, his greatest strength.

The Sabres, however, want to attack and push the pace. If players make mistakes, coach Don Granato and his staff can live with them.

“The system (here) allows me to be aggressive, whereas maybe some teams prior I’ve been a little bit more on my heels a little bit, based on that,” Clague ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Rasmus Dahlin set to play after one-game absence

BUFFALO – Rasmus Dahlin’s absence last game wasn’t just related to getting sucker punched in the face by the Carolina Hurricanes’ Jesperi Kotkaniemi.

“It was an accident after,” the Sabres defenseman said this morning of the upper-body injury that sidelined him Saturday. “I was hit kind of late. My neck was a little bit off. I don’t know, it was a mix of everything. So it wasn’t that situation.”

Dahlin, 22, will return for tonight’s ... Read the full article

With Rasmus Dahlin, other Sabres hurt, Owen Power displaying star qualities

BUFFALO – Sooner than later, Sabres rookie Owen Power was expected to play mega minutes and emerge as a workhorse on the blue line.

But just 20 games into his NHL career? Well, Power skated a personal-high 28 minutes, 14 seconds in Saturday’s 5-3 road loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Through 12 outings this season entering tonight’s contest against the Arizona Coyotes at KeyBank Center, he has averaged 23 minutes, 9 seconds of ice ... Read the full article

Injured Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin could play Tuesday

BUFFALO – Sabres deefenseman Rasmus Dahlin, who suffered an upper-body injury in Friday’s 5-3 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes, could play Tuesday, coach Don Granato said.

“There is a chance,” Granato said following this afternoon’s practice at KeyBank Center.

Dahlin, the Sabres’ top defenseman, did not practice today. Late in the session, he walked out in the tunnel and watched his teammates for several minutes.... Read the full article

After injury, slow start, Sabres captain Kyle Okposo producing offense again

BUFFALO – As Sabres captain Kyle Okposo struggled through the first week of the season, he tried to keep a strong perspective and any negative thoughts to a minimum.

Okposo, 34, wanted to give his mind a break during a hectic time. An upper-body injury had sidelined him during the final days of training camp, costing him valuable preparation time as he began his 16th NHL campaign. He had also just been named the 20th ... Read the full article

Sabres expect ‘angry’ Penguins team; Eric Comrie starts again

BUFFALO – The Pittsburgh Penguins limped into town this morning in the midst of one of their worst stretches in recent memory.

In Tuesday’s 6-5 home loss to the Boston Bruins, they blew three-goal second-period lead before falling in overtime. At least the Penguins earned a point, ending their four-game regulation losing streak.

They lost every game of their western road trip late last month, scoring just six goals.... Read the full article

After slow start and short break, Sabres rookie Jack Quinn starting to catch fire

BUFFALO – The genesis of Jack Quinn’s quick turnaround can be traced to, of all places, the press box in Edmonton. It was there following two weak outings that the rookie winger sat out the first of two games as part of the Sabres’ forward rotation.

Quinn, 21, looked overwhelmed after cracking the big club out of training camp, failing to make any early impact. So Sabres coach Don Granato said they scratched the ... Read the full article

Tage Thompson dynamic in win, enjoys one of greatest nights in Sabres history

BUFFALO – Sabres center Tage Thompson stood at his locker following the best outing of his career, a dynamic three-goal, six-point effort in Monday’s 8-3 victory, and it was hard to tell if he had done anything in the game.

Thompson’s slow start this season already feels like a distant memory. Prior to center Dylan Cozens’ third-period goal against the Detroit Red Wings, he recorded a point on eight straight Sabres goals over two games, ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Buffalo adds defenseman; Jacob Bryson seizing leading role

BUFFALO – Just nine games in, the Sabres have already dipped deep into their defense reserves. Hours before Monday’s 8-3 win over the Detroit Red Wings, they recalled Jeremy Davies from the Rochester Americans.

Davies, 25, is the ninth defenseman who has been on the roster this season.

“We’re banged up on the back end and that’s the need, pressing need right now,” Sabres coach Don Granato said Monday prior to Davies’ recall.

They summoned ... Read the full article

Ilya Lyubushkin out again; Sabres plan to add new defenseman

BUFFALO – After forward Riley Sheahan clears waivers or is claimed this afternoon, the Sabres plan to recall a defenseman from the Rochester Americans.

“We’re banged up on the back end and that’s the need, pressing need right now,” Sabres coach Don Granato said this morning.

Right now, having lost three defensemen – Henri Jokiharju, Ilya Lyubushkin and Mattias Samuelsson are all injured – the Sabres sorely help.

Their options, however, are limited. They’ve already ... Read the full article