Edmonton Oilers - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres lose Josh Norris, Colten Ellis to injuries before and during OT win

Shortly before Tuesday’s opening faceoff, the Buffalo Sabres pulled center Josh Norris from the lineup after he skated in the pregame warm-up.

What happened?

Coach Lindy Ruff told reporters in Edmonton following the Sabres’ 4-3 overtime win that the oft-injured Norris, who felt ill, tweaked something warming up.

At that point, the Sabres yanked Norris, who had played four straight games after an upper-body injury he suffered opening night sidelined him 24 contests.... Read the full article

Sabres veteran Jason Zucker sidelined with lower-body injury; Buffalo recalls prospect from Rochester

Winger Jason Zucker, the Buffalo Sabres’ oldest and most experienced player, will “miss some time” after suffering a lower-body injury in Monday’s 7-4 road loss to the Calgary Flames, coach Lindy Ruff told WGR this morning.

Zucker, 33, appeared to be injured when he hit an opponent into the boards in the second period. He briefly left the game but later returned.

His injury is the latest blow for the reeling Sabres, who have lost ... Read the full article

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