Granato - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres’ Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen stars in win over Penguins: ‘Stood on his head’

PITTSBURGH – Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen calmly faced each breakaway, patiently waiting in position in his crease as Penguins roared toward him. Each time, the Buffalo Sabres goalie stymied his opponent, barely moving and making the stops look easy.

In Saturday’s first period, shortly after Sabres winger Alex Tuch scored 2:53 into the game, superstar Sidney Crosby became Luukkonen’s first victim. In the second period, the Finn thwarted Rickard Rackell’s attempt. Later in the second, he stoned ... Read the full article

After slow start, Connor Clifton quietly generating offense for Sabres

PITTSBURGH – Pop quiz, Buffalo Sabres fans. Since Dec. 7, which player is tied with winger Alex Tuch for the team lead with eight assists?

Is it one of the Sabres’ top centers, Tage Thompson, Dylan Cozens or Casey Mittelstadt? Or how about one of their high-scoring wingers, JJ Peterka or Jeff Skinner? What about their defenseman who piles up points like a first-line forward, Rasmus Dahlin?

If you guessed any of the above, you’re ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Victor Olofsson evolving in new role: ‘He’s become a better player’

PITTSBURGH – When you think of Buffalo Sabres winger Victor Olofsson scoring a goal, coach Don Granato said, you have a certain picture.

For much of the past five years, Olofsson has utilized his ultra-quick release and lethal shot, often from the circle area.

“You think of a certain spot on the ice where he opens up and it’s a one-timer,” Granato said following Wednesday’s practice in KeyBank Center. “It’s a shift slightly into the ... Read the full article

Sabres rookie Devon Levi cherishes text message from Carey Price, childhood memories of Canadiens

BUFFALO – Once, when Sabres rookie Devon Levi was 10, he visited a restaurant in Montreal and had some pictures taken with his idol, Canadiens goalie Carey Price.

Another time, Levi’s girlfriend spotted Price at a basketball game and handed him the phone. The netminders ended up chatting on FaceTime for a bit.

Then prior to Levi’s fifth NHL start on April 10, Price texted him some words of advice before the Sabres beat the ... Read the full article

After slow start, Sabres’ Dylan Cozens playing confidently again

BUFFALO – A couple of weeks ago, Sabres captain Kyle Okposo approached center Dylan Cozens and asked him if he ever says “good job” to himself.

Having spent four seasons as teammates, Okposo, 35, knows how much pressure Cozens, 22, puts on himself. His struggles often consume him.

When Cozens replied, “I don’t think so,” Okposo told him if he makes a nice play, to acknowledge it to himself. Okposo wanted him to understand he ... Read the full article

Injured Kyle Okposo sidelined week to week; Don Granato returns to Sabres

BUFFALO – Sabres coach Don Granato called the timing of the lower-body injury that will sideline captain Kyle Okposo week to week “incredible.”

Okposo, 35, suffered the injury in Sunday’s 5-1 road loss to the Ottawa Senators, the same game Girgensons, 29, returned from a 17-game absence. The linemates hadn’t played a contest together since Nov. 24.

“I talked a lot about how nice it would be to have both of them in because we ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Kevyn Adams expresses faith in Don Granato; Seth Appert subs for ill coach in OT win

BUFFALO – Forty-five minutes prior to the Sabres’ 3-2 overtime victory against the Columbus Blue Jackets, general manager Kevyn Adams acknowledged he understands the frustration directed toward himself, coach Don Granato and the assistants.

The Sabres have woefully underachieved this season, morphing from one of the NHL’s up-and-coming young teams into perhaps its biggest disappointment.

They’re wildly inconsistent, regularly get outworked, often fall behind early in games and have trouble scoring and preventing goals. Nearly ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Don Granato to miss game because of illness; Seth Appert to fill in

Buffalo Sabres coach Don Granato is ill and won’t be available for this afternoon’s home game, the team announced this morning. Rochester Americans coach Seth Appert will assume his duties behind the bench for the day.

Granato, 56, conducted Friday’s practice and addressed the media after the Sabres prepared for their game against the Columbus Blue Jackets at KeyBank Center.

When Granato went into COVID-19 protocol in 2020-21, general manager Kevyn Adams subbed behind the ... Read the full article

With roster move needed, Sabres goalie Eric Comrie has uncertain future

BUFFALO – Eric Comrie processed the question and searched for the right words. The normally loquacious Sabres goalie never found them.

“I don’t know,” he replied when asked about the Sabres’ roster crunch and how he has been focusing on himself. “That’s a tough question to answer.”

Comrie, having once been claimed off waivers four times in a 17-month stretch, has endured a lot of uncertainty in his career. But after signing a two-year contract ... Read the full article

Tyson Jost clears waivers, assigned to Amerks; Sabres send rookie to AHL

BUFFALO – The Sabres on Friday assigned center Tyson Jost to the Rochester Americans after he cleared waivers.

Jost, 25, hasn’t played in the AHL since an eight-game stint with the Colorado Eagles in 2018-19. He has made just 13 appearances in the minors since turning pro in 2017.

The Sabres on Friday also activated center Tage Thompson from the non-roster list and sent rookie defenseman Ryan Johnson to the Amerks in a paper transaction ... Read the full article