Dahlin - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Tage Thompson scores a breakaway goal Sunday on Boston goalie Joonas Korpisalo.

Sabres’ Tage Thompson scores hat trick in win over Bruins, aims for 50 goals

BUFFALO – Just like that, a 50-goal season might be attainable for scorching Sabres winger Tage Thompson. Six games are left. After scoring three times in Sunday’s 6-3 win over the Boston Bruins, he has 43 goals.

Is it likely he will become the first Sabres player to score 50 goals in 32 years? No, but the prestigious mark is certainly within reach.

Right now, Thompson is the NHL’s hottest scorer, having registered eight goals ... Read the full article

Sabres win again, sweep season series from Senators; Tyson Kozak injured

OTTAWA – The Buffalo Sabres’ recent victories – Tuesday’s 5-2 win over the Senators was their second straight and fifth in their last six games – come with a caveat. They fell out of playoff contention long ago, meaning the contests, at least standings-wise, are meaningless.

The pressure has been off the Sabres for weeks. Playing looser surely helps them.

Still, these wins illustrate coach Lindy Ruff’s message is sinking in. While it took months, ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Jack Quinn on torrid streak, still disappointed in season: ‘Pretty brutal’

OTTAWA – In the midst of a career-best stretch, fresh off consecutive three-point outings, Buffalo Sabres winger Jack Quinn’s disappointment is still evident.

Quinn, 23, entered Tuesday’s game against the Senators at the Canadian Tire Centre on a tear, having scored four goals and eight points in his last four outings.

But in what was expected to be a breakout season, he has struggled at both ends of the ice – he began Tuesday’s game ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Jacob Bernard-Docker earning regular duty after trade; Noah Ostlund honored for hot stretch

OTTAWA – In the time he spent earlier this season recovering from a high ankle sprain and also regularly watching games as a healthy scratch, Buffalo Sabres newcomer Jacob Bernard-Docker tried to reflect and understand why he had lost his spot in the lineup.

Bernard-Docker, a right-shot defenseman the Sabres acquired March 7 in the trade that sent center Dylan Cozens to the Senators, said he realized he needed to be harder to play against.... Read the full article

With Rasmus Dahlin sick, Sabres recall defenseman from Rochester

The Buffalo Sabres this afternoon recalled defenseman Jack Rathbone from the Rochester Americans prior to their road game against the Washington Capitals.

Coach Lindy Ruff told reporters on Saturday captain Rasmus Dahlin, the Sabres’ top defenseman, will likely miss his second straight game this afternoon because of illness.

Dahlin was a late scratch for Saturday afternoon’s 7-4 road loss to the Philadelphia Flyers. Defenseman Jacob Bryson replaced him him.... Read the full article

Illness will likely force Sabres’ Rasmus Dahlin to miss another game

Buffalo Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin will likely have to wait at least a couple of more days to play his 500th NHL game.

Coach Lindy Ruff told reporters in Philadelphia he expects the illness that forced Dahlin to miss Saturday’s 7-4 loss to the Flyers will keep him out of this afternoon’s game against the Washington Capitals.

“He was sick,” Ruff said of why Buffalo’s top defenseman was a surprise scratch Saturday afternoon. “Same thing ... Read the full article

Sabres goalie James Reimer’s terrific play gives UPL chance to reset

BUFFALO – James Reimer, the same goalie the Sabres lost on waivers early in the season and who regularly went a week or more between appearances as Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen’s backup after they reclaimed him, took over the net earlier this week.

In his most extensive action all year, Reimer, 37, backstopped the Sabres to three straight wins, posting a 2.67 goals-against average and a .925 save percentage.

In last Sunday’s afternoon’s 5-3 road win ... Read the full article

After trade to Sabres organization, Erik Brannstrom thriving in Rochester

ROCHESTER – Returning to the AHL, where he’s utilized much differently than in the big leagues, allows Americans newcomer Erik Brannstrom to transform into a star.

Instead of serving as the sixth or seventh defenseman – “If you make a mistake, you’re out of the lineup,” Amerks assistant coach Nathan Paetsch said of the role in the NHL – he can showcase the slick skill set that made him the 15th overall pick in 2017.... Read the full article

Sabres fight their way to shootout win over Golden Knights after Jiri Kulich injured: ‘We look like a real team’

BUFFALO – Tomas Hertl had the game-clinching goal on his stick, only open ice and an empty net ahead, when he decided to give former Sabres captain Jack Eichel another chance to tell the locals to buzz off.

Instead of shooting the puck from the right circle with 37 seconds left to give the Vegas Golden Knights a two-goal lead, the veteran backhanded it to Eichel in the slot.

Eichel, who had put Vegas up ... Read the full article

Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin strongly denies report he would ask for trade

BUFFALO – Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin processed the question and wanted a little clarification.

“Who?” Dahlin asked incredulously when he was told a member of the “Spittin’ Chiclets” podcast said he would ask general manager Kevyn Adams for a trade if the last-place Sabres don’t improve.

When informed it was Paul Bissonnette, the Swede asked again.

“Who wants to be moved?” he asked.... Read the full article