Ellis - Buffalo Hockey Beat

After odd few weeks, Sabres begin new month in solid spot; Buffalo could turn to different goalie

BUFFALO – The Sabres will wake up ahead of tonight’s home game against the Washington Capitals in seventh place in the stacked Atlantic Division but just two points out of third.

Despite finishing October with 11 points, the division’s lowest total – the two-time defending Stanley Cup Champion Florida Panthers and Toronto Maple Leafs have the same number – the Sabres begin November in a solid spot following an odd few weeks.

They stumbled out ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Noah Ostlund looking for first point; Michael Kesselring debuts

BUFFALO – So far, the scoring prowess center Noah Ostlund developed in the AHL – he recorded 18 goals and 34 points over a torrid 32-game stretch before the Sabres summoned him late last season – hasn’t translated to the NHL.

Ostlund began Tuesday’s game against the Columbus Blue Jackets in KeyBank Center, his 12th outing with the Sabres, having registered zero points.

Why has the Swede, 21, struggled to produce offense? A couple of ... Read the full article

Sabres goalies Colten Ellis, Alex Lyon and UPL all battling for starts

BUFFALO – After just one game, carrying an extra goalie paid off for the Sabres.

On Saturday morning, rookie Colten Ellis, who had traveled to Toronto ahead of his teammates to be ready for his scheduled start, woke up with a stiff back.

Ellis, 25, tested the injury before the Sabres decided he couldn’t play against the Maple Leafs.

No problem. They still had goalies Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, 26, and Alex Lyon, 32, on their roster. ... Read the full article

Sabres could have four injured players back by end of week

BUFFALO – By the end of the week, the Sabres could have four injured players back in their lineup.

Defensemen Michael Kesselring and Jacob Bryson, goalie Colten Ellis and winger Jordan Greenway all practiced in contact jerseys Monday in KeyBank Center, where the Sabres host the Columbus Blue Jackets tonight.

Coach Lindy Ruff said Kesselring, who has missed the first nine games with an undisclosed injury, could make his Sabres debut against Columbus.... Read the full article

Sabres put up fight, lose to Maple Leafs in OT; UPL replaces injured Colten Ellis

TORONTO – Put Saturday afternoon’s 4-3 loss to the Maple Leafs in the acceptable category for the Buffalo Sabres.

Sure, some sting accompanies the overtime setback. They held a late third-period lead. They fell seconds after nearly winning it at the other end.

But the Sabres, fresh off Friday’s 5-3 home win against the Maple Leafs, took three of four points from their closest rival. They’re 4-1-1 in their last six outings.... Read the full article

Mattias Samuelsson scores two goals as Sabres down Maple Leafs; Buffalo likely to make recall

BUFFALO – In his first 217 NHL games, Sabres defenseman Mattias Samuelsson scored seven times, an average of one goal every 31 outings.

He registered his first goal in his 64th appearance. He has never scored more than four times in a season.

So Samuelsson hasn’t enjoyed too many outings like his two-goal performance in Friday’s 5-3 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs before a bipartisan crowd of 17,211 fans in KeyBank Center.... Read the full article

After UPL’s recall, Sabres plan to keep three goalies: ‘A good problem’

BUFFALO – Right now, the Sabres want to err on the side of caution. Goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, having completed his AHL conditioning assignment, is healthy and ready to play.

But given Luukkonen’s injury history – he has already gone down twice this season – the Sabres must be careful. They plan to keep three goalies.

For the time being at least, the Sabres have Luukkonen, veteran Alex Lyon and rookie Colten Ellis, who ... Read the full article

Sabres recall Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen from conditioning assignment

The Buffalo Sabres on Thursday recalled Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen from his AHL conditioning assignment with the Rochester Americans, giving them three goalies.

Luukkonen stopped 21 shots in Wednesday’s 4-2 win over the Syracuse Crunch, his first outing since suffering a lower-body injury Oct. 1 and exiting an exhibition game after one period.

The Finn, who was expected to be the Sabres’ No. 1 goalie, also missed the first week of training camp after tweaking a different ... Read the full article

Goalie Colten Ellis dazzles in NHL debut, backstops Sabres to win

BUFFALO – In the opening minutes of a goalie’s NHL debut, facing a shot or two and simply feeling the puck can help him calm any nerves and settle into the game.

So as Sabres goalie Colten Ellis waited and waited for his first chance to make a save on Wednesday, it was fair to wonder how he would react.

Well, Ellis, a recent waiver claim who backed up veteran Alex Lyon in the Sabres’ ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Jiri Kulich knew he had to change; Buffalo makes roster move

BUFFALO – When Sabres center Jiri Kulich had the puck on his stick earlier this season, instead of carrying it and utilizing his speed, he quickly tried to make a play with it.

“It wasn’t my game I used to play, so I had to change something,” Kulich told the Times Herald prior to Wednesday’s game against the Detroit Red Wings in KeyBank Center.

Kulich, 21, struggled so badly Sabres coach Lindy Ruff briefly demoted ... Read the full article