Granato - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Despite losing streak, Sabres sticking with plan, confident youth will grow

BUFFALO – Kevyn Adams constructed a roster filled with rookies and other neophytes in their early 20s knowing the Sabres would experience ups and downs. Still, the general manager never expected this: an eight-game losing streak following a torrid start.

Three weeks ago, it felt like the Sabres, the NHL’s youngest team, had established themselves as a legitimate playoff contender in the crowded Eastern Conference.

They throttled the Pittsburgh Penguins 6-3 on Nov. 2, improving ... Read the full article

Tyson Jost offers Sabres intriguing talent: ‘He checked all the boxes’

BUFFALO – Tyson Jost couldn’t watch. The Sabres newcomer had spent almost six years in Colorado, growing from a teenage prospect and 10th overall pick into one of the Avalanche’s regular forwards.

As his old team roared to a Stanley Cup championship last season, Jost, who was traded to the Minnesota Wild on March 15, shut his television off.

“It was tough, it was hard,” said Jost, who was claimed off waivers by the Sabres ... Read the full article

Sabres fall to Maple Leafs, losing skid hits eight: ‘It boils down to compete’

TORONTO – A frustrated Don Granato kept talking, expounding for two and a half minutes on the Buffalo Sabres’ recent lack of competitiveness following their eighth consecutive loss.

“It’s pretty simple,” the coach said after Saturday’s uninspired 5-2 setback to the Maple Leafs. “You compete, you play with energy and you’ll feel better about your game. And I think right now, you don’t feel good about your game because you’re just not going hard enough, ... Read the full article

With Eric Comrie injured, Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen might have career-changing opportunity

TORONTO – Earlier this year, goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen reached a crossroads in his career. The Sabres, having Craig Anderson and Eric Comrie entrenched in Buffalo, decided the Finnish prospect would begin his fourth pro season in the minors.

If Luukkonen, 23, embraced another stint in the AHL, he could buoy his development. If he pouted, well, who knows what might happen?

Right away, he decided he would use his time with the Rochester Americans to ... Read the full article

Sabres injuries: Mattias Samuelsson close to return; Eric Comrie out ‘weeks’

BUFFALO – Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams said there’s an outside chance defenseman Mattias Samuelsson, who has missed the last 12 games recovering from a lower-body injury, could return for Saturday’s road game against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Samuelsson, 22, practiced today beside Henri Jokiharju at KeyBank Center, his first full session since getting injured Oct. 22. He started skating with his teammates again Tuesday.

The Sabres said on Tuesday they expected Samuelsson to play ... Read the full article

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