Granato - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres recall Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen to replace injured Eric Comrie

The Buffalo Sabres on Thursday recalled goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen from the Rochester Americans to replace Eric Comrie, who suffered a lower-body injury in Wednesday’s 4-1 loss to the Ottawa Senators.

Coach Don Granato told reporters in Ottawa following the Sabres’ seventh straight loss Comrie, 27, will “be out for a little bit.” The Sabres did not practice on Thursday, so he hasn’t offered a fresh update on Comrie.

Luukkonen, a prospect labeled as the Sabres’ ... Read the full article

Sabres goalie Eric Comrie leaves game injured, will miss time

Buffalo Sabres goalie Eric Comrie suffered a lower-body injury in Wednesday’s 4-1 road loss to the Ottawa Senators and will “be out for a little bit,” coach Don Granato said.

“We obviously have to get a further look on him,” Granato told reporters in Ottawa following the Sabres’ seventh straight loss.

Comrie, 27, was injured when Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin checked Mathieu Joseph into him as the Senators forward charged to the net 9:43 into ... Read the full article

Sabres searching for answers after loss to lowly Canucks: ‘It has to change’

BUFFALO – This long Sabres losing streak felt a bit different than previous ones prior to Tuesday’s 5-4 loss to the hapless Vancouver Canucks.

The Sabres dropped four games to legitimate Stanley Cup contenders, playing each of them tough. Even their one loss to a non-playoff team, Arizona, didn’t look so bad after the Coyotes defeated some formidable opponents following their visit.

But losing to the Canucks, who limped into town having lost 12 of ... Read the full article

Mattias Samuelsson skates with Sabres, nearing return from injury

BUFFALO – On some teams, injured players are rarely seen. They do their work before many of their teammates arrive at the rink and quietly leave.

Then there’s Mattias Samuelsson. For more than three weeks, as the Sabres defenseman has rehabbed from a lower-body injury he suffered Oct. 22, he remained a visible presence in the dressing room and during practice.

“You saw him every day sitting on the bench in practice and around ... Read the full article

Rest helping Sabres’ Craig Anderson thrive as backup to Eric Comrie

BUFFALO – Following a terrific 27-save outing, Sabres goalie Craig Anderson will likely return to the bench tonight, backing up Eric Comrie against the Vancouver Canucks.

At 41, Anderson, the NHL’s oldest player, has tended some remarkable goal during the first month of the season, defying his advanced age.

Among goalies who have played at least five times this season, his 2.40 goals-against average ranks 13th in the NHL and .922 save percentage 11th. Despite ... Read the full article

Jack Quinn out with injury; Sabres to recall one or two forwards

BUFFALO – Sabres winger Jack Quinn, who was struck in the head by the puck Saturday, is being evaluated for an undisclosed injury and likely won’t play this week, according to the team.

The rookie was hit about 12 minutes into the Sabres’ 3-1 loss to the Boston Bruins but finished the game. The Sabres, of course, were already missing another winger, captain Kyle Okposo, who’s day to day with a lower-body injury.

They ... Read the full article

Sabres play Bruins tough, lose again; Rasmus Dahlin escapes injury

BUFFALO – Right now, having lost five straight games, the Sabres need to find silver linings and take solace in any small steps they make.

So while they’re ticked off about Saturday’s 3-1 loss to the Boston Bruins, they know if they keep replicating that effort, they’ll start winning again.

Against one of the NHL’s heavyweights, the Sabres grabbed any early lead and kept generating offense while keeping the Bruins in check before a capacity ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Casey Mittelstadt producing despite struggles at even strength

BUFFALO – Late in the second period of Thursday’s 7-4 loss, Casey Mittelstadt grabbed a short pass in the left circle and darted to the net. When the Sabres center approached the crease on his forehand, it briefly appeared he would shoot.

But Mittelstadt held the puck and, a split second later, he lifted a quick backhander past Vegas Golden Knights goalie Logan Thompson, tying the game at 2.

The slick goal, his second power-play ... Read the full article

Golden Knights’ Jack Eichel hears boos, has hat trick against Sabres: ‘Felt good’

BUFFALO – Sabres fans didn’t even wait for Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel to touch the puck Thursday. As soon as his skates hit the ice, they began booing loudly. When he gained possession, the jeering intensified.

The season-high crowd of 15,757 fans at KeyBank Center booed when the ex-Sabres captain lost a faceoff and again when goalie Eric Comrie stymied him on two breakaways. When the video boards showed replays of the saves, ... Read the full article

Visit from Jack Eichel, Golden Knights gives Sabres stiff test they embrace

BUFFALO – Instead of blocking out the noise and trying to treat it like any of the other 82 games this season, captain Kyle Okposo wants the Sabres to embrace the stiff challenge facing Jack Eichel and the Vegas Golden Knights presents.

Games as anticipated as tonight’s haven’t materialized often over the last decade.

Right now, having won eight straight contests, the Golden Knights rank first overall. Their leading scorer, Eichel, the ex-Sabres captain, has ... Read the full article