Edmonton Oilers - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Rookies Noah Ostlund, Colten Ellis lead Sabres to complete win over Oilers: ‘Probably our best game’

BUFFALO – In the next week or so, two of the Sabres’ top forwards, Josh Norris and Jason Zucker, should be ready to play, meaning some difficult roster decisions will likely materialize.

After center Noah Ostlund’s slick two-goal performance in Monday’s 5-1 shellacking of the Edmonton Oilers, it’s hard to imagine the Sabres will create room by sending the rookie back to the Rochester Americans.

Ostlund, 21, dazzled in his 11th NHL game this season ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Josh Norris, Jason Zucker skate with teammates; Michael Kesselring out injured

BUFFALO – Among the 1,300 or so players who participated in NHL preseason games, Sabres center Josh Norris stood out as perhaps the most dynamic performer.

It can be hard to put much stock in exhibition contests, but the oft-injured Norris, who participated in Monday’s pregame skate, looked ready to seize his role as the Sabres’ top pivot following a full summer of training.

Then late in the season opener Oct. 9, he suffered an ... Read the full article

Sabres, Tage Thompson impose will in OT win; Michael Kesselring injured

BUFFALO – Early in Saturday’s overtime, Sabres center Tage Thompson used his 10-inch, 40-pound size advantage to knock Alex DeBrincat to the ice after the Detroit Red Wings star blocked his shot in the right circle.

The 6-foot-6, 220-pound Thompson grabbed the puck and backhanded it to defenseman Mattias Samuelsson, who beat goalie John Gibson to secure the Sabres’ unlikely 5-4 win in Detroit.

Three-on-three overtime, of course, rarely features much physicality. But Thompson, whose ... Read the full article

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen helps Sabres beat Oilers, end winless skid

BUFFALO – Goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has followed up a breakout season in which he established himself as the Sabres’ backbone and undisputed No. 1 with a pretty underwhelming campaign.

At times, he has briefly recaptured the dynamic form he showcased down the stretch last season that made him one of the NHL’s elite netminders.

Overall, however, Luukkonen has performed inconsistently, often failing to come up with the game-changing saves he did a year ago.... Read the full article

Strong belief in Sabres helped Jason Zucker sign contract extension

BUFFALO – Having shown few signs of graying at 33, an advanced age in the NHL, Sabres winger Jason Zucker would’ve had plenty of suitors on the open market.

Still, the veteran chose to eschew free agency and sign a two-year, $9.5 million contract extension with the last-place Sabres hours before Friday’s trade deadline Why?

Well, for starters, Zucker has enjoyed what he called the “fun challenge” of being the team’s oldest and most experienced ... Read the full article

Trades show Terry Pegula believes in Kevyn Adams’ vision for Sabres

BUFFALO – In the weeks ahead of the trade deadline, Sabres general manger Kevyn Adams said owner Terry Pegula gave him the same message: What do we need to do to make this team better?

“Everything we should be thinking about is we need to improve, and what are those decisions?” Adams said Pegula told him. “And, Kevyn, come up with answers.”

That last part, of course, is important. While the Sabres rank last in ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Ryan McLeod practices, ready to return from injury

Buffalo Sabres center Ryan McLeod, who has missed the last three games with an upper-body injury, is expected to return for this afternoon’s contest against the Oilers, coach Lindy Ruff told reporters in Edmonton.

“I’m confident he’ll play,” Ruff told reporters after McLeod participated in Friday’s practice.

McLeod, 25, played four seasons for the Oilers before they traded him to Buffalo during the offseason. He was injured in practice Jan. 16, a day ... Read the full article

Sabres receive immediate help in Ryan McLeod by trading Matt Savoie to Oilers

After the Buffalo Sabres recently made a minor deal and signed some free agents, it appeared the significant trade that was expected this summer might never materialize.

Maybe, just maybe, general manager Kevyn Adams felt that adding some grit to augment a talented lineup and having a new coach in Lindy Ruff would be enough to help the Sabres end their NHL-record 13-year playoff drought.

But on Friday, Adams, who has expressed his willingness to ... Read the full article

Sabres trade Matt Savoie to Oilers, get Ryan McLeod, Tyler Tullio in return

The Buffalo Sabres have made that significant offseason trade everyone seemed to be waiting for.

This afternoon they acquired center Ryan McLeod and forward Tyler Tullio from the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for center Matt Savoie.

To acquire McLeod, an NHL talent, they had to part with Savoie, the ninth overall pick in 2022 and one of their top prospects.... Read the full article

Sabres respond after trades, beat Oilers in overtime and shootout

BUFFALO – The game ended dramatically, with Sabres defenseman Owen Power scoring with 2.0 seconds left in overtime as the capacity crowd implored him to shoot.

The giddy Sabres jumped over the boards to celebrate Saturday afternoon’s much-needed 3-2 triumph over the heavyweight Edmonton Oilers, saluted the fans in KeyBank Center and left the ice.

In the dressing room, players began taking off their equipment. Oilers general manager Ken Holland and some Sabres coaches left ... Read the full article