Rasmus Dahlin knows Buffalo did not play well in the second and third periods Saturday afternoon. ©2024, Micheline Veluvolu

Sabres lose to Red Wings, move back in playoff chase: ‘A little bit tense’

DETROIT – The Buffalo Sabres, a team given up for dead earlier this month, have roared back to join the thick of the Eastern Conference playoff race, so one game won’t extinguish their hopes of grabbing the second wild card spot yet.

Still, Saturday afternoon’s 4-1 loss to the Red Wings, the start of a five-game road trip, could certainly haunt them down the stretch.

Against a reeling opponent that had lost seven straight games, ... Read the full article

Victor Olofsson has scord six goals this season. ©2024, Micheline Veluvolu

As career in Buffalo nears end, Victor Olofsson helping Sabres again

DETROIT – Finally, nine months later, Sabres winger Victor Olofsson can settle in and enjoy what will almost certainly be his final days in Buffalo.

Right now, the affable Swede has a regular spot in the lineup again and a place on the power play – where he’s most dangerous – as the Sabres fight for a playoff spot.

Last spring, when his disappointing 2022-23 season ended, Olofsson, 28, began waiting to be traded. Then ... Read the full article

Rookie Zach Benson scores an empty-net goal Thursday. ©2024, Michleine Veluvolu

UPL stars as Sabres blank Islanders, move toward playoff spot

BUFFALO – OK, now goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and the surging Sabres are making things really interesting.

Thursday’s 4-0 win over the New York Islanders moved them to within three points of the Isles, who own the Eastern Conference’s second wild card spot.

Who would’ve thought last week, when the Sabres dealt leading scorer Casey Mittelstadt and captain Kyle Okposo during their three-game losing streak, they’d suddenly vault into the thick of the playoff chase?... Read the full article

Tyson Jost has spent most of his career in the NHL. ©2024, Micheline Veluvolu

After surprising demotion to Rochester, Tyson Jost playing regularly for Sabres

BUFFALO – Tyson Jost impressed the Sabres so much after they plucked him off waivers last season that he earned regular duty and a $2 million contract. So, yes, when they waived the center in late December and assigned him to the minors – he had played just 13 games in the AHL in his career – he had a difficult time handling it.

“It was extremely tough,” Jost told the Times Herald prior to ... Read the full article

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has played 41 games this season. ©2024, Micheline Veluvolu

Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen feeding off heavy workload, earning spot among NHL’s elite

BUFFALO – Following a rare breather a week ago, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has resumed one of the NHL’s heaviest workloads as the Sabres’ No. 1 goalie.

Tonight against the New York Islanders at KeyBank Center, Luukkonen, 25 is expected to start his third straight game. The Finn has earned the nod in 11 of the last 12 contests and 21 of the last 24 since Jan. 11.

Luukkonen has played an NHL-high 22 times during that ... Read the full article

Tage Thompson and Bowen Byram celebrate a goal Tuesday. ©2024, Micheline Veluvolu

Bowen Byram, surging Sabres destroy Red Wings, move closer to playoff spot

BUFFALO – Imagine, if you will, a Sabres team capable of locking down defensively like it has over the past 10 weeks and possessing the offensive firepower of last season.

Since Jan. 1, thanks largely to the emergence of goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, the Sabres have boasted the NHL’s third-stingiest defense.

Still, as they’ve focused on different areas of their game and matured this season, their offense has suffered. The fast pace they displayed a year ... Read the full article

Zemgus Girgensons has played 11 seasons in Buffalo. ©2024, Micheline Veluvolu

Sabres’ Zemgus Girgensons sees future in Buffalo, glad trade deadline passed

BUFFALO – Prior to Friday’s trade deadline, Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams spoke to some teams interested in acquiring winger Zemgus Girgensons and likely could’ve received a late-round pick in exchange for the 11-year veteran.

But in Girgensons, Adams said he sees a player “so important within the fabric of this team.” After dealing captain Kyle Okposo and defenseman Erik Johnson, he couldn’t trade Girgensons simply because he has an expiring contract.

It sounds like ... Read the full article

Rasmus Dahlin (left) likes playing with Bowen Byram (center) but misses Casey Mittelstadt, his close friend. ©2024, Micheline Veluvolu

Sabres’ Rasmus Dahlin sad to see Casey Mittelstadt leave in trade, excited by Bowen Byram’s arrival

BUFFALO – It stinks, Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin said, using a stronger word to describe his feelings. His close friend, center Casey Mittelstadt, is gone, having been traded to the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday.

Make no mistake, Dahlin likes the addition of Bowen Byram, his new defense partner, and is happy for Mittelstadt, who joined a legitimate Stanley Cup contender.

Still, it hasn’t been easy. On Monday, following the Sabres’ first practice without Mittelstadt, a ... Read the full article

Alex Tuch scores Saturday’s shootout winner on Edmonton goalie Stuart Skinner. ©2024, Micheline Veluvolu

Sabres respond after trades, beat Oilers in overtime and shootout

BUFFALO – The game ended dramatically, with Sabres defenseman Owen Power scoring with 2.0 seconds left in overtime as the capacity crowd implored him to shoot.

The giddy Sabres jumped over the boards to celebrate Saturday afternoon’s much-needed 3-2 triumph over the heavyweight Edmonton Oilers, saluted the fans in KeyBank Center and left the ice.

In the dressing room, players began taking off their equipment. Oilers general manager Ken Holland and some Sabres coaches left ... Read the full article

Former captain Kyle Okposo warms up Wednesday in Toronto. ©2024, Micheline Veluvolu

Sabres GM Kevyn Adams emotional after trading Kyle Okposo to Panthers: ‘An unbelievable person’

BUFFALO – Kevyn Adams processed the question, cleared his throat and stepped back from the podium for a moment to compose himself. When the Sabres general manager began talking about trading his captain, Kyle Okposo, he fought back tears.

“An unbelievable person,” an emotional Adams said Friday in KeyBank Center after dealing the veteran winger to the Florida Panthers hours before the 3 p.m. trade deadline. “I have a lot of respect for people that ... Read the full article