Dell - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres center Tage Thompson to sit out tonight; Michael Houser to start

Tage Thompson cleared the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol last week and has played two games since exiting. Still, having tested positive for the virus less than 10 days ago, the Buffalo Sabres center can’t travel to Canada.

So Thompson, who has scored 12 goals this season, won’t play in tonight’s game against the Ottawa Senators, Sabres coach Don Granato said.

Granato also said the Sabres will be without winger Vinnie Hinostroza, who suffered an undisclosed ... Read the full article

Sabres blow late lead, lose in OT to Red Wings: ‘We let our goalie down’

Not only did the Buffalo Sabres go up 2-0 when winger Jeff Skinner scored almost halfway through Monday afternoon’s third period, the Detroit Red Wings received a bench minor for their failed goalie interference challenge.

And that’s when the Sabres, who have lost an NHL-high seven games this season when leading after two periods, began to unravel.

“We just scored a goal to go up 2-0, you’re on a power play and we didn’t manage ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Peyton Krebs thrilled be back: ‘Just getting my stride up here’

BUFFALO – In his last outing Jan. 1, Sabres center Peyton Krebs showcased some of his best talents, creating a goal by adroitly feeding winger Alex Tuch a no-look backhand pass.

Three games into his recall, Krebs, 20, seemed to be finding a groove. Then on Jan. 4, he tested positive for COVID-19.

“I’m just getting my stride up here and starting to feel good, I want to keep things rolling and show them what ... Read the full article

Sabres lose Jacob Bryson to injury as Peyton Krebs returns to lineup

BUFFALO – Throughout what he called “a long 10 days” in COVID-19 quarantine, Peyton Krebs said he felt great. Still, the Sabres center couldn’t test out of the NHL’s protocol.

“It was frustrating, but I’m here now so it’s good to be back,” Krebs said following this morning’s practice, his first since entering protocol Jan. 4.

Krebs, who started skating again Friday, will return for Monday afternoon’s game against the Detroit Red Wings at KeyBank ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Tage Thompson set to return; Peyton Krebs leaves COVID-19 protocol

Buffalo Sabres center Tage Thompson, who left the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol on Friday, will play in tonight’s road game against the Detroit Red Wings, coach Don Granato said this morning.

Thompson, 24, entered protocol Monday and has missed two games.

To make room for Thompson, Granato said winger Zemgus Girgensons, who has been dealing with a nagging issue, will be scratched.

Thompson has compiled a career-high 12 goals, a total that led the Sabres ... Read the full article

Sabres goalie Michael Houser beats long odds to return to NHL

BUFFALO – Sabres goalie Michael Houser never stopped preparing for a promotion that seemed less and less likely as the years passed.

Tonight against the Detroit Red Wings, Houser, 29, will likely back up goalie Aaron Dell for the second straight game. The Sabres play four times in a six-day stretch next week, including a back-to-back set, so Houser could be awarded his fifth NHL start.

By last season, his ninth as a pro, it ... Read the full article

Jeff Skinner, Aaron Dell star as Sabres end winless skid, beat Predators

Considering the opponent, the scorching Nashville Predators, and the venue, the raucous Bridgestone Arena, Thursday’s 4-1 win might rank as the Buffalo Sabres’ most impressive victory this season.

Against a team that had won five straight games and 12 of its last 14 contests, the Sabres grabbed a second-period lead and never relinquished it, ending a six-game winless skid.

Winger Jeff Skinner scored two goals and goalie Aaron Dell stopped 29 shots to help the ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Peyton Krebs ‘feeling good’ but still in NHL’s COVID-19 protocol

For four days, coach Don Granato said the Buffalo Sabres have been hoping center Peyton Krebs can test out of the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol.

Granato said Krebs, who entered protocol Jan. 4, is “feeling good.”

“It’s one of those unpredictable things,” Granato said on a Zoom call this afternoon from Nashville, where the Sabres play the Predators tonight. “So he’s doing what he can. Obviously, he has to stay isolated … and keep himself in ... Read the full article

Injuries put struggling Sabres in goalie crisis: ‘It is shocking’

BUFFALO – Suddenly, having lost Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Malcolm Subban to injuries in the same game, the reeling Sabres find themselves in a goalie crisis.

Luukkonen, the Sabres’ backbone during his nine recent outings, will likely be sidelined at least a few weeks with a lower-body injury he suffered early in Tuesday’s 6-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning, according to general manager Kevyn Adams.

His replacement, Subban, sustained an upper-body injury – Adams said ... Read the full article

Sabres lose Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Malcolm Subban to injuries, add goalies

BUFFALO – Right now, the Sabres’ net belongs to goalies Aaron Dell and Michael Houser.

Goalies Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Malcolm Subban are both sidelined after suffering injuries in Tuesday’s 6-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Luukkonen, who suffered a lower-body injury, is listed as week to week on the team’s injury report. Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams said Luukkonen will likely miss at least a few weeks. The Finn underwent an MRI this morning.... Read the full article