Ellis - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres goalie Colten Ellis ready to start; Jiri Kulich ‘progressing’

BUFFALO – Following nearly a month on the sideline, Sabres goalie Colten Ellis is expected to start tonight’s road game against the New York Rangers, his first outing since suffering a concussion Dec. 9 in Edmonton.

A lot has happened since the rookie left the Sabres’ 4-3 overtime victory against the Oilers, a triumph that ignited a 10-game win streak.

Alex Lyon, who replaced Ellis, morphed into the NHL’s hottest goalie before suffering a lower-body ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Zach Metsa impressive in limited action; Buffalo adds defender

BUFFALO – In his first days here, Sabres defenseman Zach Metsa acknowledged his new surroundings felt “a little bit intimidating.”

“You come to a new spot, new group, new guys around you,” Metsa told the Times Herald prior to scoring his first NHL goal and point in Tuesday’s 5-3 win over the Vancouver Canucks in KeyBank Center.

As an older, under-the-radar prospect who played on an AHL contract for two seasons, Metsa, 27, usually spent ... Read the full article

Expect Sabres rookie goalie Colten Ellis to play again soon

BUFFALO – Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen will start again tonight against the Vancouver Canucks, his third straight nod and fifth in the last seven games.

In the near future, expect the Finn, who has played every game since Alex Lyon suffered a lower-body injury, to earn a breather and take a backseat to Colten Ellis.

The Sabres play a road game Thursday against the New York Rangers before kicking off a five-game home stand Saturday ... Read the full article

Sabres send injured Alex Lyon back to Buffalo: ‘Going to be a bit of time’

Goalie Alex Lyon has returned to Buffalo to be examined by the Sabres’ doctors after suffering a lower-body injury late in Monday’s 4-2 road win over the St. Louis Blues, coach Lindy Ruff told reporters in Dallas.

“Right now, it’s going to be a bit of time,” Ruff said prior to tonight’s game against the Stars.

Ruff said rookie goalie Colten Ellis, who suffered a concussion Dec. 9 in Edmonton, will be activated from injured ... Read the full article

Sabres goalie Alex Lyon misses practice with lower-body injury

Buffalo Sabres goalie Alex Lyon sat out Tuesday’s practice after suffering a lower-body injury late in Monday’s 4-2 road win over the St. Louis Blues, coach Lindy Ruff told reporters in Dallas.

“Really late in the game, which is unfortunate,” Ruff, whose Sabres carry a nine-game win streak into Wednesday’s game against the Stars, told reporters in Dallas.

Ruff said Lyon, 33, was being evaluated and the team would know more Wednesday.... Read the full article

Alex Lyon, hot Sabres beat Islanders to extend season-long win streak

BUFFALO – If Colten Ellis hadn’t suffered a concussion and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made a few more saves, then Sabres goalie Alex Lyon might still be waiting for his next opportunity.

But Ellis took a hit in the crease and Luukkonen struggled, so the Sabres turned to Lyon again last week, a move that has ignited their season.

Contributions up and down the lineup have buoyed the Sabres throughout to a five-game win streak, none bigger ... Read the full article

Alex Lyon winning games, emerging as Sabres’ No. 1 goalie

BUFFALO – When Sabres goalie Alex Lyon left Yale University following his junior season to sign with the Philadelphia Flyers as an undrafted free agent, he thought riches and enshrinement in hockey’s hallowed hall would be in his future.

“When I first came out of college, I thought I was going to make tens of millions of dollars,” he said following Friday’s practice in KeyBank Center. “I was going to be a Hockey Hall of ... Read the full article

After trade, injuries, Michael Kesselring ready to make impact for Sabres

BUFFALO – After hurrying back from a knee injury, Sabres defenseman Michael Kesselring said the ankle sprain he suffered just nine games into his season offered him a chance to “reset a little.”

Not that Kesselring, the Sabres’ biggest offseason acquisition, wanted to miss more time. But when he went down again Nov. 15, he said he was still battling his first injury a bit and “putting a lot of pressure” on himself.

“I didn’t ... Read the full article

Sabres goalie Colten Ellis healthy; Conor Timmins to be game-time decision

BUFFALO – The Sabres have three healthy goalies again.

Rookie Colten Ellis rejoined his teammates for this morning’s pregame skate after clearing concussion protocol.

“He’s back at it,” Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said this morning in KeyBank Center. “So he’ll get some practices in him and make sure he feels good.”

Ellis, 25, left the Sabres’ 4-3 overtime win Dec. 9 in Edmonton in the first period when Oilers forward David Tomasek drove to the ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Michael Kesselring set to return from injury; Justin Danforth ‘doing OK’

BUFFALO – Sabres defenseman Michael Kesselring, who has missed the last 14 games with a lower-body injury, is expected to return tonight against the Philadelphia Flyers.

Kesselring, the Sabres’ biggest offseason acquisition, hasn’t played since Nov. 15. He practiced Wednesday alongside defenseman Owen Power in his first session back.

“Kesselring indicated to me that he would be good to go, which is a great thing,” Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said in KeyBank Center.... Read the full article