Dunne - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres goalie Colten Ellis to make first start; Buffalo to make lineup change after roster move

BUFFALO – Sixteen days and six games since the Sabres claimed Colten Ellis on waivers, the goalie will be starting his first NHL game tonight against the Detroit Red Wings.

“There’s been a lot of emotions the last couple days since finding out,” Ellis said this morning in KeyBank Center. “Something I worked my whole life for, and just super grateful and happy for the opportunity.”

So far, Ellis, 25, has backed up veteran ... Read the full article

Sabres recall two players from Amerks

The Buffalo Sabres on Sunday recalled defenseman Zac Jones and center Noah Ostlund from the Rochester Americans.

In Saturday afternoon’s 3-0 win, defenseman Jacob Bryson entered concussion protocol after Florida Panthers winger Jonah Gadjovich hit him into the boards in the first period, knocking him out of the game.

The Sabres, who play a road game tonight against the Montreal Canadiens, did not practice Sunday. They had one extra forward, Josh Dunne, scratched against ... Read the full article

Sabres defeat Panthers with complete, heavy effort: ‘A lot of passion’

BUFFALO – Well, a lot can change in three days, huh? The Sabres, a laughingstock earlier in the week thanks to their dreadful 0-3-0 start, suddenly look like a contender in the crowded Eastern Conference.

To wit: fresh off a four-goal victory, the Sabres showcased a complete and heavy effort throughout Saturday’s emotional 3-0 triumph over the Florida Panthers, setting an aggressive tone all afternoon and also standing up for themselves physically.

Goalie Alex Lyon, ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Justin Danforth to be sidelined ‘significant amount of time’ with injury

BUFFALO – Sabres winger Justin Danforth will be sidelined “a significant amount of time” with a lower-body injury, coach Lindy Ruff said.

Ruff said Danforth, who did not return to Wednesday’s 8-4 win over the Ottawa Senators after blocking a shot early in the second period, will miss more than a month.

With Danforth out, winger Josh Dunne will likely move into the lineup for this afternoon’s home game against the Florida Panthers.... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Ryan McLeod, other forwards struggling early; Alexandar Georgiev practices with Rochester

BUFFALO – Jiri Kulich, the Sabres’ second-youngest forward, got singled out a bit by practicing as an extra before Wednesday’s game against the Ottawa Senators.

But make no mistake, nearly every Sabres forward struggled during their dreary 0-3-0 start they carried into their contest against the Ottawa Senators.

“This isn’t about Kulich,” coach Lindy Ruff, whose Sabres began the night with just two goals all season, said Wednesday morning in KeyBank Center.... Read the full article

Sabres’ Josh Norris could be out until November; Mattias Samuelsson injured

BUFFALO – The upper-body injury Sabres center Josh Norris suffered in Thursday’s season-opening loss could sideline him well into November, coach Lindy Ruff said.

While Ruff did not offer a firm time frame, he acknowledged prior to Monday afternoon’s game against the Colorado Avalanche that Elliotte Friedman’s report of eight weeks on Sportsnet’s “32 Thoughts” podcast is “probably pretty close.”

Ruff said Norris, who was injured taking a faceoff late in the 4-0 loss to ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Josh Norris out injured; Zach Benson to leave hospital

BUFFALO – Fresh off the most productive summer of his career, a healthy Josh Norris seemed poised to enjoy a breakout season as the Sabres’ new No. 1 center.

The oft-injured Norris, 26, dazzled during four preseason outings, scoring three goals and an NHL-high seven points.

But just one game into the season, he’s hurt again, joining five teammates on the sideline.

What the heck is going on?

“Maybe it’s just a test for us ... Read the full article

Alexandar Georgiev part of Rochester’s roster; Sabres make recall

BUFFALO – Veteran Alexandar Georgiev, who earlier this week cleared waivers, is one four goalies on Rochester Americans’ season-opening roster.

Devon Levi, Topias Leinonen and Scott Ratzlaff are the Amerks’ other netminders.

Georgiev, 29, hasn’t played in the AHL since an 11-game stint with the Hartford Wolf Pack in 2018-19. He signed a one-year, one-way contract last month.... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Colten Ellis standing out in Buffalo, will get chance to play

BUFFALO – By his second season toiling away in the ECHL, Sabres goalie Colten Ellis said hockey began to feel like a job.

Ellis, 25, spent most his rookie year stopping pucks in Worcester, Massachusetts, before the St. Louis Blues assigned him to Tulsa, Oklahoma, for his second season.

Almost two years into his career, he had played just six games for the Springfield Thunderbirds, the Blues’ AHL affiliate.

He said he forgot to enjoy ... Read the full article

Sabres claim rookie goalie Colten Ellis off waivers from Blues, finalize roster

BUFFALO – The Sabres’ crease is getting crowded.

The team on Monday added its fourth goalie, claiming Colten Ellis, 25, off waivers from the St. Louis Blues.

Ellis, who has never played in the NHL, joins Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Alex Lyon and Alexandar Georgiev in Buffalo.

Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said on Monday that Luukkonen, who has been sidelined by a lower-body injury, won’t be ready for Thursday’s season opener against the New York Rangers.

When ... Read the full article