Girgensons - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres being careful with two players sidelined by non-COVID illness

PITTSBURGH – The concern over the growing number of positive COVID-19 cases forced the NHL on Friday to postpone games involving the Colorado Avalanche and Florida Panthers through Dec. 26.

So Wednesday’s Buffalo Sabres home game against the Avalanche has been shelved. No makeup date has been announced for the Sabres’ first COVID-related postponement this season.

The NHL on Friday also extended the Calgary Flames’ postponements through Thursday.

COVID is tearing through the NHL. The ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Casey Mittelstadt expected to return this season after having surgery

BUFFALO – Sabres center Casey Mittelstadt underwent successful surgery today to repair his upper-body injury, coach Don Granato said.

Granato said the Sabres don’t have a timeline for Mittelstadt’s return. He expects the Mittelstadt, who visited a specialist Thursday, will play again this season.

Mittelstadt, 23, suffered his second upper-body injury this season about six minutes into the third period of Tuesday’s 2-0 loss to the Anaheim Ducks. After getting injured opening night, he missed ... Read the full article

Sabres center Casey Mittelstadt seeing specialist for upper-body injury

BUFFALO – Sabres center Casey Mittelstadt, who suffered an upper-body injury in Tuesday’s 2-0 loss to the Anaheim Ducks, is seeing a specialist today, coach Don Granato said.

“We’ll wait until we have the information from the doctor he sees today to see what the next step is,” Granato said following this morning’s practice inside KeyBank Center.

The Sabres have placed Mittelstadt on injured reserve, meaning he will miss at least one week. Ukko-Pekka ... Read the full article

Sabres fear Casey Mittelstadt’s injury could sideline him long-term

BUFFALO – Right now, Sabres coach Don Granato acknowledged it’s difficult for him to think about injured center Casey Mittelstadt.

Mittelstadt, 23, just returned from a 21-game absence after suffering an upper-body injury opening night. Then in Tuesday’s 2-0 loss to the Anaheim Ducks, his third game back, he sustained another upper-body injury about six minutes into the third period.

Granato said this afternoon that Mittelstadt’s latest ailment could sideline him long-term, a tough ... Read the full article

Sabres turn to Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen; Malcolm Subban skates after injury

BUFFALO – As expected, the struggling Sabres will change goalies tonight against the Anaheim Ducks, awarding prospect Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen his first start this season.

Having played four games late last year, Luukkonen developed a feel of the NHL. The Finn performed well, winning his debut and posting a .906 save percentage.

“The hope is when you put him in there’s an element of relaxed to him, a comfort,” Sabres coach Don Granato said following this ... Read the full article

Sabres start fast in loss to Panthers; Casey Mittelstadt impressive in return

For more than 20 minutes Thursday against the heavyweight Florida Panthers, it appeared the Buffalo Sabres might pull off their biggest upset this season.

Goalie Aaron Dell, pressed into duty after Dustin Tokarski entered the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol, made some huge saves early. Winger Vinnie Hinostroza, who had two goals all season, doubled his output in less than 15 minutes, scoring twice. In between, center Dylan Cozens scored for the third straight game.

Still, the ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: After long wait, Casey Mittelstadt healthy, ready to play

Throughout his career, Buffalo Sabres center Casey Mittelstadt has showcased durability, rarely missing time due to injury.

Then on opening night, Mittelstadt, 23, suffered an upper-body injury. The Sabres estimated then he would be sidelined at least two weeks.

Seven weeks and 21 games later, Mittelstadt is finally ready to play. The American will return for tonight’s road game against the Florida Panthers.... Read the full article

Sabres’ Dustin Tokarski leaves practice early; Casey Mittelstadt on track to play

BUFFALO – Sabres goalie Dustin Tokarski left this morning’s practice early and was being evaluated after taking a shot in the facial area, coach Don Granato said.

The Sabres, who leave this afternoon for a two-game road trip, have one other healthy goalie on the roster, Aaron Dell.

Meanwhile, Granato said center Casey Mittelstadt, who suffered an upper-body injury Oct. 14, is on track to play Thursday against the Florida Panthers. Mittelstadt practiced between Zemgus ... Read the full article

Casey Mittelstadt takes another step toward return; Alex Tuch joins Sabres

BUFFALO – Sabres coach Don Granato acknowledged that, yes, he has thought about what his lineup might look like when some of his injured players get healthy.

So Granato knows where he could put center Casey Mittelstadt and winger Alex Tuch, both of whom skated with the Sabres this morning, when they’re healthy. It was the first session with the Sabres for Tuch, who underwent offseason shoulder surgery.

Mittelstadt, who had his first contact ... Read the full article

Sabres concerned about goalie Craig Anderson’s lingering injury

BUFFALO – After Craig Anderson suffered an upper-body injury Nov. 2, the Sabres said he was day to day. But the veteran goalie, whose absence has become glaring as the rebuilding team keeps struggling, is still sidelined.

“Because of our initial report, based on where we’re at, it is a concern,” Sabres coach Don Granato said on a Zoom call this morning. “Obviously, we didn’t feel he would be out this long and it has ... Read the full article