Granato - Buffalo Hockey Beat

With Sabres’ Tage Thompson injured, centers Casey Mittelstadt, Dylan Cozens have chance to step up

BUFFALO – In Tage Thompson’s absence last season, Casey Mittelstadt filled in superbly as the No. 1 center, helping the Sabres’ top line remain one of the NHL’s most lethal.

Still, Thompson, having established himself as one of the NHL’s elite scorers, can’t be replaced. He scored 47 goals and 94 points last season. He had five goals and 11 points during a nine-game stretch before blocking a shot with his left hand or wrist ... Read the full article

Injured Sabres star Tage Thompson out ‘less than a couple of months’; Alex Tuch close to returning

BUFFALO – Sabres center Tage Thompson will be sidelined “less than a couple of months” after suffering an upper-body injury Tuesday, coach Don Granato said.

“It’s more week to week,” Granato said following Wednesday’s practice in KeyBank Center. “I don’t have a target date for him yet.”

Thompson departed Tuesday’s 5-2 loss to the Boston Bruins just over 11 minutes into the second period after blocking Charlie McAvoy’s shot with his left hand or wrist.... Read the full article

Sabres lose game to Bruins, star Tage Thompson to injury that will sideline him ‘significant time’

BUFFALO – The game, a 5-2 shellacking from the heavyweight Boston Bruins after the Sabres celebrated captain Kyle Okposo’s 1,000th NHL appearance, was bad enough.

But they also lost top center Tage Thompson on Tuesday to an upper-body injury coach Don Granato said will probably sideline their most dynamic scorer “significant time.”

Thompson, 26, left the game just over 11 minutes into the second period after blocking Charlie McAvoy’s shot with his left hand or ... Read the full article

Sabres hope brief NHL experience will help prospect Matt Savoie in junior

BUFFALO – In the heat of a close game, with two precious points at stake, Sabres coach Don Granato did not feel comfortable putting prospect Matt Savoie on the ice.

So in his NHL debut, Friday’s 3-2 win over the Minnesota Wild, Savoie, 19, skated just 3 minutes, 55 seconds over five shifts. He did not play in the third period.

On Saturday, the Sabres sent Savoie, who missed all of training camp, back to ... Read the full article

Captain Kyle Okposo helped transform Sabres on way to 1,000 NHL games

BUFFALO – If Kyle Okposo had his way, there might not be any celebration. The captain is grateful, mind you. It’s just that the spotlight makes him a bit uncomfortable, and tonight he will be front and center as the Sabres celebrate his 1,000th NHL game.

“I understand it’s a big thing, it’s a big deal,” Okposo said following Monday’s practice. “It’s OK to get recognized, and I’m going to try to enjoy it as ... Read the full article

Injured Alex Tuch could play this week; Sabres send prospect to Amerks

BUFFALO – Sabres winger Alex Tuch, who has missed the last two games with a lower-body injury, could return for Friday’s road game against the Winnipeg Jets, coach Don Granato said.

“I mentioned from the outset, he’s day to day so the issue he’s dealing with could have resolved in, say, 48 hours,” Granato said following Monday’s practice in KeyBank Center. “… He is waiting for the results so he has full mobility and full ... Read the full article

Sabres display skill, not enough work, in loss; Peyton Krebs scratched

PITTSBURGH – On the surface, pumping 35 shots on goal looks good, like the Buffalo Sabres created enough offense to win. Perhaps they just ran into a hot goalie.

While Penguins netminder Tristan Jarry played well in Saturday’s 4-0 win, he hardly stood on his head. The Sabres simply made it too easy for him in front of the 18,429 fans in PPG Paints Arena.

“We used our skill to create stuff but we didn’t ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Injured Alex Tuch misses game; Buffalo could make roster move

BUFFALO – As the Sabres convened for their optional morning skate, winger Alex Tuch emerged from the tunnel and joined his teammates on the ice.

But before the session started, Tuch, who’s battling an upper-body injury, left the ice. He missed Friday’s 3-2 win over the Minnesota Wild at KeyBank Center.

“He’s dealing with some soreness that we’re hoping resolves sooner than later,” Sabres coach Don Granato said prior to the game. “It’s gotten better.”... Read the full article

Sabres’ Alex Tuch still battling injury; Matt Savoie to make NHL debut

BUFFALO – As the Sabres convened for their optional morning skate, winger Alex Tuch emerged from the tunnel and joined his teammates on the ice.

But before the session started, Tuch, who’s battling an upper-body injury, left the ice. Coach Don Granato said he’s questionable for tonight’s game against the Minnesota Wild in KeyBank Center.

“He’s dealing with some soreness that we’re hoping resolves sooner than later,” Granato said this morning. “It’s gotten better.”

Granato ... Read the full article

Sabres goalie Devon Levi adjusting to NHL, happy to share net

BUFFALO – After starting four games in eight days to kick off his rookie season, Sabres goalie Devon Levi took a backseat, playing just one of the next nine contests.

Levi, 21, spent 12 days recovering from a lower-body injury and when he returned, goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, 24, had found a groove.

So Sabres coach Don Granato recently began rotating the young netminders. If he holds to it, Levi will play tonight’s game ... Read the full article