WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
2026-27 Season Edition
Don Granato missed two games. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu
Buffalo Sabres coach Don Granato has left the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol and will be behind the bench for this afternoon’s road game against the Boston Bruins.
In addition, wingers Vinnie Hinostroza and Jeff Skinner will return to the lineup after leaving protocol Friday and practicing.
Granato, who missed two games after testing positive Sunday, said he feels “really good.”
Jeff Skinner entered the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol Dec. 21. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
Sabres wingers Vinnie Hinostroza and Jeff Skinner have left the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol and could play in this afternoon’s road game against the Boston Bruins, according to The Buffalo News.
Hinostroza, 27, and Skinner, 29, practiced with the Sabres on Friday in Boston.
“Both will be available, if that’s the direction we decide,” assistant Matt Ellis, who’s subbing for head coach Don Granato, told the paper.
Ethan Prow played in Germany last season before joining Buffalo’s organization. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Sabres defenseman Ethan Prow spent much of his 20s toiling in the AHL, posting gaudy numbers and never earning even a cup of coffee in the NHL.
In 2018-19, Prow morphed into one of the league’s elite offensive defensemen, registering 18 goals and 50 points. The next year, after changing organizations, he recorded nine goals and 32 points during a shortened campaign.
A call to the big leagues never materialized, and last season, ... Read the full article
Kyle Okposo scored Buffalo’s only goal Thursday. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
It was a recipe for disaster Thursday. The Buffalo Sabres played the second game of a back-to-back missing a whopping 11 players because of injury or illness.
Not surprisingly, the Sabres, who had four players make their debut a night earlier, struggled early and fell 4-1 to the New York Islanders.
In COVID times, of course, teams can find themselves down several players in a day or two.
The Sabres have built up some nice ... Read the full article
Alex Tuch, shown here in November, is fulfilling a dream by playing for Buffalo. ©2021
BUFFALO – The result doesn’t matter. That the undermanned Sabres lost 4-3, even to the reeling New Jersey Devils, wasn’t surprising. The rebuilding team has six players in the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol and played its first game in 12 days.
Wednesday was about the debuts of Alex Tuch, Peyton Krebs, JJ Peterka and what their presence represents for the Sabres’ future.
After a decade of futility, the Sabres finally seem to be adding the right ... Read the full article
Matt Ellis (pictured) played for Lindy Ruff before coaching against him. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Of all the coaches the Sabres’ Matt Ellis could’ve faced in his first game filling in for Don Granato, it turned out to be the one he knows best, Lindy Ruff.
These days, Ruff, 61, coaches the New Jersey Devils, the Sabres’ opponent Wednesday at KeyBank Center.
Ellis, 40, played under Ruff for parts of five seasons, growing from a forward the Sabres plucked off waivers into an NHL regular. ... Read the full article
Jacob Bryson has played 29 games this season. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – The Sabres this morning placed defenseman Jacob Bryson in the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol and recalled defensemen Casey Fitzgerald to the active roster and Ethan Prow to the taxi squad.
The depleted team, which host the New Jersey Devils tonight at KeyBank Center, now has six players and coach Don Granato in protocol.
Defenseman Colin Miller, who left Tuesday’s practice early, isn’t skating this morning, so Prow could be elevated to the roster later.... Read the full article
JJ Peterka is one of Buffalo’s top prospects. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – In the Sabres’ recent history, games as significant as tonight’s can be counted on one hand. How often have three highly regarded young players – in this case, forwards Peyton Krebs, JJ Peterka and Alex Tuch – all made their debuts together?
Their presence illustrates that after a decade of futility, maybe – just maybe – a franchise known for dysfunction is starting to get things rights.
In less than a year, the ... Read the full article
Dylan Cozens entered the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol Sunday. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Sabres coach Don Granato and the five players in the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol will likely be unavailable for Wednesday’s home game against the New Jersey Devils, assistant coach Matt Ellis said.
“I believe our list is our list and we will not have anyone available from that tomorrow,” Ellis, who’s subbing for Granato, said following this morning’s practice inside KeyBank Center.
In addition to Granato, forwards Dylan Cozens, Zemgus Girgensons, Vinnie Hinostroza, Mark ... Read the full article
Matt Ellis is in his first full season as an assistant coach. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Following the Sabres’ first practice in eight days, winger Kyle Okposo acknowledged that, yes, at times he recently wondered if they would ever skate together again.
On Sunday, Okposo arrived at the KeyBank Center excited the NHL’s Christmas/COVID-19 break had ended. But after coach Don Granato and forwards Dylan Cozens and Mark Jankowski tested positive for the virus, the Sabres canceled their scheduled afternoon practice.
“I was ready to go yesterday,” Okposo said ... Read the full article