JJ Peterka fails to scored Monday in his shootout attempt against Detroit goalie Sebastian Cossa. ©2024, Micheline Veluvolu

Sabres blow lead, lose seventh straight game: ‘We need to look in the mirror’

BUFFALO – In the most difficult of times, the reflex is to look for positives. But coach Lindy Ruff has stressed to his reeling Sabres that when they can’t notch victories in the standings, they can’t succumb to moral ones.

Ruff said everyone must do a little more. Nothing comes easy in the NHL.

The Sabres, having lost seven straight games (0-4-3) after imploding late again Monday’s 6-5 shootout loss to the Detroit Red Wings, ... Read the full article

James Reimer has played two games for Buffalo. ©2024, Micheline Veluvolu

James Reimer likely starter versus Red Wings; Sabres could make changes

BUFFALO – It appears veteran goalie James Reimer, who did not participate in the Sabres’ optional skate this morning, will start tonight’s game against the Detroit Red Wings, one of his former teams.

No. 1 goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen skated this morning and also stayed on the ice for extra work following Sunday’s practice.

“I’m not announcing the goalie today,” coach Lindy Ruff, whose Sabres have lost six straight games (0-4-2), said this morning in KeyBank ... Read the full article

Buffalo rookie Tyson Kozak has played two NHL games. ©2024, Micheline Veluvolu

Sabres rookie Tyson Kozak scores first NHL goal with mother in rink; Buffalo could make lineup changes

BUFFALO – This one couldn’t be taken away from Sabres rookie Tyson Kozak, right? No one interfered with the goalie. No one was offside.

Early in his second NHL game Saturday afternoon, Kozak, 21, zoomed to the net and redirected linemate Beck Malenstyn’s pass behind Utah Hockey Club goalie Karel Vejmelka.

“I had a pretty good feeling it wouldn’t (be disallowed),” said Kozak, whose go-ahead goal in his big league debut Thursday was called ... Read the full article

Tage Thompson (72) and his teammates celebrate his first-period goal Saturday. ©2024, Micheline Veluvolu

Tage Thompson playing like superstar, helps Sabres beat Red Wings

BUFFALO – A strong argument can be made the past week or two ranks as the most significant stretch of Tage Thompson’s four-year run as the Sabres’ top center.

His gaudy statistics are just part of it, mind you. After scoring two goals and three points in Saturday afternoon’s 5-3 win over the Detroit Red Wings, he has recorded six goals and 10 points during his six-game point streak.

Right now, Thompson, who has a ... Read the full article

Dylan Cozens knows he must score goals. ©2024, Micheline Veluvolu

Goal-scoring struggles frustrate Sabres’ Dylan Cozens: ‘Just keep shooting’

BUFFALO – In the waning minutes Tuesday, as the Stars pressed for another goal, Sabres center Dylan Cozens grabbed the puck inside the Dallas blue line with a chance to seal a victory and generate some much-needed confidence.

Cozens simply had to deposit it into the empty net 63 feet away to register his first goal this season. Instead, his shot hit the right side of the cage. Play continued, and winger Alex Tuch’s ... Read the full article

Nicolas Aube-Kubel began practicing again earlier this week. ©2024, Micheline Veluvolu

Sabres’ Nicolas Aube-Kubel could play Monday; Zach Benson misses practice

BUFFALO – Sabres winger Nicolas Aube-Kubel, out since suffering a lower-body injury in the season opener Oct. 4, practiced again Friday and will be available to play Monday against the Florida Panthers, coach Lindy Ruff said.

Aube-Kubel, who’s wearing a knee brace, could be an option for this afternoon’s game against the Detroit Red Wings, although Ruff likely wants to give him more practice time. He rejoined his teammates Tuesday but has had just one ... Read the full article

Rasmus Dahlin has scored 19 goals this season. ©2024, Micheline Veluvolu

Sabres’ Rasmus Dahlin scores critical goal, joins elite company

BUFFALO – Following a night in which he logged more than 23 minutes of ice time and scored the go-ahead goal after briefly leaving the game, Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin earned a well-deserved breather.

Coach Don Granato said Dahlin, 23, sat out Saturday’s practice in LECOM Harborcenter to rest and recharge. He expects the Swede will play in this afternoon’s critical road game against the Detroit Red Wings.

As Dahlin illustrated in Friday’s 4-2 win ... Read the full article

Rasmus Dahlin knows Buffalo did not play well in the second and third periods Saturday afternoon. ©2024, Micheline Veluvolu

Sabres lose to Red Wings, move back in playoff chase: ‘A little bit tense’

DETROIT – The Buffalo Sabres, a team given up for dead earlier this month, have roared back to join the thick of the Eastern Conference playoff race, so one game won’t extinguish their hopes of grabbing the second wild card spot yet.

Still, Saturday afternoon’s 4-1 loss to the Red Wings, the start of a five-game road trip, could certainly haunt them down the stretch.

Against a reeling opponent that had lost seven straight games, ... Read the full article

Victor Olofsson has scord six goals this season. ©2024, Micheline Veluvolu

As career in Buffalo nears end, Victor Olofsson helping Sabres again

DETROIT – Finally, nine months later, Sabres winger Victor Olofsson can settle in and enjoy what will almost certainly be his final days in Buffalo.

Right now, the affable Swede has a regular spot in the lineup again and a place on the power play – where he’s most dangerous – as the Sabres fight for a playoff spot.

Last spring, when his disappointing 2022-23 season ended, Olofsson, 28, began waiting to be traded. Then ... Read the full article

Tage Thompson and Bowen Byram celebrate a goal Tuesday. ©2024, Micheline Veluvolu

Bowen Byram, surging Sabres destroy Red Wings, move closer to playoff spot

BUFFALO – Imagine, if you will, a Sabres team capable of locking down defensively like it has over the past 10 weeks and possessing the offensive firepower of last season.

Since Jan. 1, thanks largely to the emergence of goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, the Sabres have boasted the NHL’s third-stingiest defense.

Still, as they’ve focused on different areas of their game and matured this season, their offense has suffered. The fast pace they displayed a year ... Read the full article