Tage Thompson has missed three games. ©2023, Micheline Veluvolu

Sabres injury update: Tage Thompson practices, could play against Panthers

BUFFALO – Sabres center Tage Thompson gutted out his upper-body injury once, playing less than a day after colliding with New Jersey Devils star Timo Meier.

But Thompson, 25, was a non-factor March 25 in a 2-0 road win over the New York Islanders. So the Sabres’ leading scorer has sat out the last three games.

“It just got to a point where it was hindering me too much to where I couldn’t really play ... Read the full article

Ilya Lyubushkin hadn’t scored a goal since last season. ©2023, Micheline Veluvolu

Sabres notes: Don Granato sensed Ilya Lyubushkin would score OT goal

Ilya Lyubushkin had scored zero goals in his first 41 games with the Buffalo Sabres. In his five-year NHL career, the gritty Russian defenseman had scored just three goals in 252 contests, his last coming 10 months ago.

But when Lyubushkin grabbed the puck from Lightning captain Steven Stamkos in overtime Thursday and set off on a rare short-handed breakaway, Sabres coach Don Granato knew something special was about to happen.

“It was weird in ... Read the full article

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has been Buffalo’s best goalie. ©2023, Micheline Veluvolu

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen emerging as Sabres’ No. 1 goalie: ‘Edge is to him right now’

BUFFALO – Following his strong 30-save effort in Monday afternoon’s ugly 4-1 loss to the Florida Panthers, Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen will likely rest tonight, giving way to Craig Anderson or Eric Comrie.

For the past week, Luukkonen’s emergence has forced the Sabres to make roster moves nearly every day, shuffling players to the AHL in paper transactions. Keeping three goalies in play has been difficult, and they clearly can’t do it much longer.

Luukkonen, ... Read the full article

JJ Peterka (pictured) sat out two games with Jack Quinn last week. ©2023, Micheline Veluvolu

Sabres rookies Jack Quinn, JJ Peterka look like stars in return to lineup

BUFFALO – Well, it did the trick, right?

Following a brief absence that offered slumping rookies Jack Quinn and JJ Peterka a chance to step back and reset, they performed splendidly in their return, helping the Sabres end a three-game losing streak.

Quinn scored the final goal in Saturday’s 5-3 win over the Nashville Predators and also created center Dylan Cozens’ second-period score from deep in the Buffalo zone. Peterka, meanwhile, earned the primary assist ... Read the full article

Casey Fitzgerald played 59 games for Buffalo. ©2023, Micheline Veluvolu

Sabres notes: Panthers claim Casey Fitzgerald off waivers; Buffalo could make roster move

BUFFALO – Given the depth the Sabres have built up over the last year, losing someone on waivers seemed inevitable. Sure enough, on Wednesday, the Florida Panthers nabbed defenseman Casey Fitzgerald off the wire.

As a 25-year-old right-shot defenseman, the chances of Fitzgerald clearing seemed low.

On Tuesday, the Sabres waived Fitzgerald to create a roster spot for defenseman Henri Jokiharju.... Read the full article

Casey Fitzgerald played 23 games for Buffalo this season. ©2023, Micheline Veluvolu

Sabres lose Casey Fitzgerald on waivers

The Florida Panthers this afternoon claimed defenseman Casey Fitzgerald on waivers from the Buffalo Sabres.

The Sabres waived Fitzgerald, 25, on Tuesday to create a roster spot for defenseman Henri Jokiharju.

The 5-foot-11, 188-pound Fitzgerald compiled three assists, a minus-1 rating and four penalty minutes in 23 games with the Sabres this season.

Defenseman Kale Clague recently passed Fitzgerald on the depth chart, and he sat out seven straight games as a healthy scratch.

The ... Read the full article

Florida’s Matthew Tkachuk and Buffalo’s Alex Tuch shove each other in Saturday afternoon’s game ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu

Sabres, Panthers plant seeds of fierce rivalry in heated early-season game

BUFFALO – If you’re wondering, following Saturday afternoon’s entertaining 4-3 loss to Matthew Tkachuk and the Florida Panthers, the Sabres don’t play their budding Atlantic Division rival again until Jan. 16.

That three-month wait is too long for coach Don Granato, who loves the grit and tenacity the Sabres displayed while refusing to back down to the Panthers, one of the NHL’s heavyweights.

Saturday’s heated affair at KeyBank Center looked more like a late-season contest ... Read the full article

Eric Comrie has played just 28 NHL games. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu

For Sabres goalie Eric Comrie, a chance to start materializes in Buffalo

BUFFALO – Following an eight-day rest, goalie Eric Comrie will likely make his Sabres debut this afternoon, the first of perhaps 50 starts he could earn this season.

The Sabres awarded Craig Anderson, 41, Thursday’s season opener, and the veteran enjoyed a terrific night, stopping 35 shots in a 4-1 win over the Ottawa Senators.

This season, however, the Sabres expect Comrie, 27, to emerge as their No. 1 goalie. Having established himself as ... Read the full article

Buffalo rookie Owen Power is expected to make his NHL debut Tuesday in Toronto. ©2022, Michigan Athletics

Owen Power’s signing offers upstart Sabres excitement, more hope

As news of Owen Power’s signing spread Friday afternoon, Buffalo Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams said his phone began lighting up with texts from the defenseman’s new teammates.

They wanted to learn when Power, 19, would be joining the Sabres after inking his three-year, entry-level contract and how they could connect with him.

“It says a lot to me of what this group is all about,” Adams said on a Zoom call Friday. “And you ... Read the full article

Owen Power just completed his sophomore season at Michigan. ©2022, Carlin Stiehl, Mlive.com

Sabres sign Owen Power to three-year, entry-level contract

Defenseman Owen Power is officially a member of the Buffalo Sabres.

The Sabres this afternoon signed Power, the first overall pick in 2021, to a three-year, entry-level contract.

Power, 19, played his final game for Michigan on Thursday, a 3-2 overtime loss to Denver in the national semifinal at the Frozen Four.

... Read the full article