Granato - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres’ Casey Mittelstadt expected to return this season after having surgery

BUFFALO – Sabres center Casey Mittelstadt underwent successful surgery today to repair his upper-body injury, coach Don Granato said.

Granato said the Sabres don’t have a timeline for Mittelstadt’s return. He expects the Mittelstadt, who visited a specialist Thursday, will play again this season.

Mittelstadt, 23, suffered his second upper-body injury this season about six minutes into the third period of Tuesday’s 2-0 loss to the Anaheim Ducks. After getting injured opening night, he missed ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Dylan Cozens developing into special talent beside Kyle Okposo

BUFFALO – Center Dylan Cozens, one half of perhaps the Sabres’ best duo, is the rebuilding team’s youngest player. At 20, less than one year into his NHL career, he has been showcasing growth on a weekly basis.

The other half, right winger Kyle Okposo, is the Sabres’ oldest skater. At 33, when many players are graying or out of the NHL, the 15-year veteran has been enjoying a rare late-career resurgence.

Entering ... Read the full article

Sabres center Casey Mittelstadt seeing specialist for upper-body injury

BUFFALO – Sabres center Casey Mittelstadt, who suffered an upper-body injury in Tuesday’s 2-0 loss to the Anaheim Ducks, is seeing a specialist today, coach Don Granato said.

“We’ll wait until we have the information from the doctor he sees today to see what the next step is,” Granato said following this morning’s practice inside KeyBank Center.

The Sabres have placed Mittelstadt on injured reserve, meaning he will miss at least one week. Ukko-Pekka ... Read the full article

Sabres fear Casey Mittelstadt’s injury could sideline him long-term

BUFFALO – Right now, Sabres coach Don Granato acknowledged it’s difficult for him to think about injured center Casey Mittelstadt.

Mittelstadt, 23, just returned from a 21-game absence after suffering an upper-body injury opening night. Then in Tuesday’s 2-0 loss to the Anaheim Ducks, his third game back, he sustained another upper-body injury about six minutes into the third period.

Granato said this afternoon that Mittelstadt’s latest ailment could sideline him long-term, a tough ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Offense on best scoring pace in 11 years as defense struggles

BUFFALO – Think about it, do kids grow up dreaming of scoring goals or playing defense? Hockey players develop an offensive mentality at a young age that remains with them.

“Every player in the NHL wants to play offense,” Sabres defenseman Jacob Bryson said prior to Tuesday’s 2-0 loss to the Anaheim Ducks at KeyBank Center. “No one likes to play defense.”

Bryson, who knows he can’t shirk his defensive duties, loves the aggressive, fast-paced ... Read the full article

Reeling Sabres battling defensive woes amid goaltending crisis

BUFFALO – Sabres prospect Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has struggled at times this season, performing below expectations. Yes, the goalie has enjoyed some nice moments, including his first shutout with the Rochester Americans.

But ideally, Luukkonen, 22, would be in the minors right now honing his game. The reeling Sabres only recalled him Monday because they’re in the midst of a goaltending crisis.

Having lost goalie Malcolm Subban to injury in his debut Saturday, Luukkonen was ... Read the full article

In need of goalie, Sabres recall Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen from Amerks

BUFFALO – The reeling Sabres, who have two injured goalies and another in COVID-19 protocol, this morning recalled prospect Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen from the Rochester Americans.

Luukkonen, 22, stepped on the ice as the Sabres were beginning their practice inside KeyBank Center.

Goalie Malcolm Subban, who was injured in Saturday’s 6-2 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes, his Sabres debut, isn’t practicing this morning.

In addition to Luukkonen, goalie Aaron Dell and an emergency backup are on ... Read the full article

Sabres’ defense keeps reeling in loss; Malcolm Subban injured in debut

After Saturday’s 6-2 loss, the Buffalo Sabres have allowed 20 goals during their three-game losing streak. They’ve given up at least five goals in seven of their last nine contests and 46 total – a whopping 5.1 an outing – during that stretch of futility.

Having been scored on 90 times through 24 games, they’re on pace to give up 308 goals, a stunning number would tie the franchise’s all-time mark for most goals against ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Craig Anderson ‘mystified’ by upper-body injury

Goalie Craig Anderson’s timeline to return from his upper-body injury has been changed to month to month on the Buffalo Sabres’ injury report.

Anderson, 40, had been listed as week to week. The veteran hasn’t played since suffering his injury Nov. 2.

“He has been as mystified as anybody,” Sabres coach Don Granato told reporters following Friday’s practice in Raleigh. “This is an elusive thing. You wake up each day and it could resolve and ... Read the full article

Sabres start fast in loss to Panthers; Casey Mittelstadt impressive in return

For more than 20 minutes Thursday against the heavyweight Florida Panthers, it appeared the Buffalo Sabres might pull off their biggest upset this season.

Goalie Aaron Dell, pressed into duty after Dustin Tokarski entered the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol, made some huge saves early. Winger Vinnie Hinostroza, who had two goals all season, doubled his output in less than 15 minutes, scoring twice. In between, center Dylan Cozens scored for the third straight game.

Still, the ... Read the full article