Ellis - Buffalo Hockey Beat

After trades, recalls, newcomers Sam Carrick, Noah Ostlund and others play huge roles in Sabres’ success

BUFFALO – As Sabres center Sam Carrick warmed up prior to Saturday’s 3-2 shootout win against the Toronto Maple Leafs, a placard along the glass featuring a drawing of his head grabbed his attention.

Other than the length of his hair – “I’ve had a snip since then,” the newcomer said – the portrait accurately depicted Carrick.

“Yeah, it was pretty impressive,” he told the Times Herald following Monday’s practice in LECOM Harborcenter.... Read the full article

Sabres bounce back after rare loss, beat Maple Leafs in shootout

BUFFALO – You must go back more than three months – 97 days and 38 games, to be exact – to find the last time the Sabres lost two consecutive contests in regulation.

A heck of lot has gone into their stunning 30-6-2 run that has vaulted them into first place in the Atlantic Division. They’ve excelled in essentially every facet of the game.

Their ability to quickly bounce back and handle the mental gymnastics ... Read the full article

Conor Timmins skates with Sabres after breaking leg; Alex Tuch likely to return from injury

BUFFALO – Sabres defenseman Conor Timmins said when he and teammate Jordan Greenway got their skates tangled and he fell to the ice almost three months ago, he could feel his leg break.

“When I fell there, it became unbearable,” Timmins said of the pain experienced Dec. 18 late in the Sabres’ 5-3 win over the Philadelphia Flyers.

Earlier that night, Timmins, 27, said he had blocked a shot that “did a little damage.” Still, ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Alex Tuch could play Saturday; Mattias Samuelsson might miss game with injury

BUFFALO – If the Sabres were in the playoffs right now, winger Alex Tuch would likely be playing. But they want to be prudent dealing with his lower-body injury, so they held him out of Thursday’s 2-1 loss to the Washington Capitals.

Tuch said he felt “really good” after practicing today in LECOM Harborcenter. Coach Lindy Ruff said “it’s a possibility” the veteran could return for Saturday’s game against the Toronto Maple Leafs in KeyBank ... Read the full article

After injury costs him Olympics, Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen focused on earning playoff spot

BUFFALO – When reality set in and Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen realized his lower-body injury would force him to miss the Olympics, he felt crushed.

Luukkonen had long hoped he could represent Team Finland at the Milano Cortina Games, and early last month, he earned a coveted roster spot.

Then on Jan. 27 in Toronto, nine days before the NHL paused its season for the tournament, he tweaked something early in the Sabres’ ... Read the full article

Sabres prospect Devon Levi happy with Rochester, no longer feels ‘rushed’

BRIGHTON – These days, Devon Levi possesses a narrow focus. Naturally, the Buffalo Sabres prospect thinks about his future. But by embracing what the present offers him, he believes he can achieve his ultimate goal of becoming an elite NHL goalie.

Almost three years after nearly backstopping the Sabres to an unlikely playoff berth just weeks out of college, Levi, 24, has spent all season with the Rochester Americans.

“I know that over time I’ll ... Read the full article

After tying 49-year-old record, Sabres goalie Alex Lyon enjoys special chat with Gerry Desjardins

BUFFALO – Early Sunday, less than a day after Sabres goalie Alex Lyon tied the franchise’s all-time record for most consecutive wins, his phone rang. On the other end, Gerry Desjardins, who had owned the mark for 49 years, wanted to chat.

For about the next 20 minutes, Lyon, 33, and Desjardins, 81, talked about the craft of goaltending and the unique mentality needed to play hockey’s most demanding position.

“It was interesting that we ... Read the full article

In trying season, Rasmus Dahlin enjoys dynamic night in win over Maple Leafs; Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen injured

TORONTO – Buffalo Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin processed the question following his dynamic three-goal, five-point performance in Tuesday’s 7-4 win over the Maple Leafs and searched for the right words.

The defenseman never quite found them.

Over the last seven months, Dahlin has been through, for lack of a better word, hell.

In September, he revealed his fiancée, Carolina Matovac, has been rehabbing after experiencing major heart failure and undergoing a heart transplant in the ... Read the full article

Sabres will likely play rookie Colten Ellis against Panthers, make lineup change

BUFFALO – Tonight’s contest begins a dizzying stretch of eight games over the next 13 days for the Sabres, including three in the next four days.

So expect both of their goalies, Colten Ellis and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, to earn starts throughout one of the busiest stretches this season.

Ellis, who this morning manned the net usually reserved for that night’s starter, is expected to face the Florida Panthers tonight at KeyBank Center.

“We’ve kind of ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Michael Kesselring nears return from injury; Buffalo makes recall

BUFFALO – In the games before a high ankle sprain forced him out of the lineup again, Sabres defenseman Michael Kesselring started to find a rhythm and feel more like himself.

Kesselring, 25, said he carried the puck more often and made plays, signs he was getting his legs back and developing confidence.

But the newcomer, who has missed the last three games, wasn’t 100 percent.

On Dec. 23 in Ottawa, he tweaked his ankle. ... Read the full article