WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
October Edition
Dustin Tokarski has played seven games this season. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
When the final horn sounded and Dustin Tokarski earned his first NHL victory since 2015, the Buffalo Sabres goalie stayed in his crease and pointed his glove to rafters.
Moments later, Tokarski’s excited teammates assembled in front of him, and one by one they each congratulated him, giving him some kind words and a tap on the mask.
“It was pretty incredible, to be honest,” an emotional Tokarski said following Thursday’s 5-2 win over the ... Read the full article
Dustin Tokarski enjoyed an impressive relief performance Tuesday. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
A lower-body injury will force Buffalo Sabres goalie Linus Ullmark to miss tonight’s game against the Washington Capitals, meaning Dustin Tokarski will receive his fifth start this season.
Taxi-squad goalie Michael Houser, who has never played an NHL game, will back up Tokarski. Houser, 28, hasn’t played a contest at any level in more than 13 months.
Top goalie prospect Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen would be the only available recall, but Rochester Americans coach Seth Appert... Read the full article
Buffalo invited Drake Caggulia to its development camp in 2014. ©2021, Dan Hickling
When forward Drake Caggiula visited NHL teams as a free agent in 2016, he said he felt some loyalty to the Buffalo Sabres.
Two years earlier, the Sabres had given the undrafted Caggiula a chance to attend their summer development camp following his sophomore season at North Dakota.
“They gave me my first opportunity,” said Caggiula, who was claimed on waivers Friday by the Sabres.
Caggiula, 26, nearly chose the Sabres five years ago – ... Read the full article
Jack Eichel has missed the last 19 games. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
As late as Monday, Buffalo Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams held out a sliver hope injured captain Jack Eichel could return and play some late-season games.
But on Wednesday, the Sabres announced Eichel, 24, will miss the rest of the season recovering from a herniated disc in his neck.
The Sabres expect Eichel will be healthy and ready for the start of next season. Interim coach Don Granato said he doesn’t know if Eichel needs ... Read the full article
Anders Bjork spent his entire career in Boston’s organization before Monday’s trade. ©2021, Providence Bruins
Four seasons into his NHL career, Buffalo Sabres newcomer Anders Bjork said he is still trying to establish an identity.
Two shoulder surgeries and a brutal concussion stymied the 6-foot, 197-pound winger’s development with the Boston Bruins. This year, he fell out of the lineup, becoming a healthy scratch.
So when the Bruins traded Bjork, 24, to the Sabres on Monday in the Taylor Hall deal, he welcomed a change of scenery.
“I was ... Read the full article
Don Granato has quickly made an impact on the Sabres. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
Even before Don Granato started winning games and unlocking talent from struggling players, Buffalo Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams said he wanted the interim coach to be in the mix when he began pursuing a regular coach.
“From the beginning, I always thought that Donnie should be part of this conversation regardless of what happens exactly on the wins and losses of our team,” Adams said on a Zoom call Tuesday after the trade deadline.... Read the full article
Jeff Skinner enjoyed perhaps his best game this season Sunday afternoon. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
On Sunday afternoon, Don Granato said the Buffalo Sabres’ belief they could roar back and win was stronger and more collective than in previous games. The interim coach could feel it up and down the bench.
“More confident speak, less emotional speak,” Granato said after the Sabres rallied to stun the Philadelphia Flyers 5-3 at Wells Fargo Center.
The Sabres, who ended their 18-game winless skid March 31, possessed little or no confidence just a ... Read the full article
Arttu Ruotsalainen scored in only his second NHL game. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
Buffalo Sabres rookie Arttu Ruotsalainen said when linemate Dylan Cozens delivered a short, soft pass to him in the right circle Sunday afternoon, he simply closed his eyes and shot the puck.
A second later, Ruotsalainen’s lethal one-timer blew by Philadelphia Flyers goalie Carter Hart 4:42 into the second period. The Finnish winger’s first NHL goal tied the game at 2.
“It’s awesome. It’s a dream,” a smiling Ruotsalainen said following his second NHL game, ... Read the full article
Brandon Montour played 112 games with the Sabres. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Defenseman Brandon Montour, like so many of the Sabres’ other notable acquisitions in recent years, left town having never sniffed the playoffs.
The Sabres on Saturday traded Montour, who turns 27 today, to the Florida Panthers in exchange for a third-round pick in 2021.
Barely two years ago, ex-Sabres general manager Jason Botterill paid a steep price for Montour, sending defense prospect Brendan Guhle and a first-round pick to the Anaheim ... Read the full article
Dylan Cozens has missed the last six games. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Over his first three months in the NHL, Sabres center Dylan Cozens has battled two injuries and COVID-19. The rookie hasn’t played more than six consecutive games all season.
So after Cozens, 20, suffered an upper-body injury in the first period March 29 – he appeared to hurt his left arm – he was upset. He had only played five times since returning from another upper-body injury.... Read the full article