Greenway - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Can late-season growth keep Sabres’ offseason changes to a minimum?

BUFFALO – Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin processed the question, searched for the right words and moved back in his chair a bit.

What has general manager Kevyn Adams told him that makes him believe the Sabres can finally get it done and reach the playoffs?

Dahlin, sporting a white hoodie and black Bills hat with a blue backdrop adorned with Sabres logos behind him, spoke confidently. While he refused to get into specifics of his ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Peyton Krebs becomes trusted, versatile asset for Lindy Ruff

BUFFALO – Six and a half months ago, Peyton Krebs sat out the Sabres’ season opener as a healthy scratch. In Thursday’s finale, his 81st consecutive appearance, he centered Alex Tuch and Jason Zucker on a scoring line.

Krebs’ consistent effort and willingness to embrace any task quickly earned him coach Lindy Ruff’s trust. It can be argued Krebs, 24, grew more than any player during Ruff’s first season back behind Buffalo’s bench.

His short-handed ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Connor Clifton adds first goal to stat line featuring more than 200 hits

BUFFALO – By his 71st appearance, Sabres defenseman Connor Clifton couldn’t get that goose egg attached to his name out of his head.

As a defender the Sabres value for his gritty play, they don’t expect him to produce much offense. Still, he wanted to score at least one goal this season.

“I was thinking about it, trying to get that zero to one,” he said prior to Tuesday’s 4-0 loss to the Toronto Maple ... Read the full article

Sabres rookie Jiri Kulich never expected to be centering Tage Thompson

BUFFALO – If someone had told Jiri Kulich a few months ago he would be centering Tage Thompson on the Sabres’ top line later in his rookie season, he said he probably would’ve laughed at them.

“I didn’t even expect that,” Kulich told the Times Herald prior to Tuesday’s 3-0 win over the Carolina Hurricanes at KeyBank Center.

Few expected Kulich, 20, would ascend so quickly up the lineup.

The Czech began the season moving ... Read the full article

Tage Thompson scores a breakaway goal Sunday on Boston goalie Joonas Korpisalo.

Sabres’ Tage Thompson scores hat trick in win over Bruins, aims for 50 goals

BUFFALO – Just like that, a 50-goal season might be attainable for scorching Sabres winger Tage Thompson. Six games are left. After scoring three times in Sunday’s 6-3 win over the Boston Bruins, he has 43 goals.

Is it likely he will become the first Sabres player to score 50 goals in 32 years? No, but the prestigious mark is certainly within reach.

Right now, Thompson is the NHL’s hottest scorer, having registered eight goals ... Read the full article

Sabres keep improving, beat Lightning to extend win streak; Tage Thompson hits 40-goal mark

BUFFALO – Over the final weeks of a disappointing season in which they will add to their NHL-record playoff drought, the Sabres have quietly been establishing an identity, showcasing a more consistent and sturdier style while defeating some heavyweight opponents.

Saturday’s 3-2 come-from-behind shootout victory against the Tampa Bay Lightning at KeyBank Center extended their winning streak to three games. They’ve won nine of their last 13 games and are 11-2-0 in their last 13 ... Read the full article

Sabres rookie Tyson Kozak likely out for rest of NHL season; Josh Norris skates on own after injury

BUFFALO – Center Tyson Kozak’s season with Sabres could be over.

Coach Lindy Ruff said Friday the rookie will be sidelined week to week with a hip strain that forced him to leave Tuesday’s 5-2 road win over the Ottawa Senators.

The Sabres have eight games left this season, starting with tonight’s contest against the Tampa Bay Lightning at KeyBank Center. They play their final contest April 17.... Read the full article

Sabres’ Jack Quinn on torrid streak, still disappointed in season: ‘Pretty brutal’

OTTAWA – In the midst of a career-best stretch, fresh off consecutive three-point outings, Buffalo Sabres winger Jack Quinn’s disappointment is still evident.

Quinn, 23, entered Tuesday’s game against the Senators at the Canadian Tire Centre on a tear, having scored four goals and eight points in his last four outings.

But in what was expected to be a breakout season, he has struggled at both ends of the ice – he began Tuesday’s game ... Read the full article

Sabres expected to go with hot goalie again, start James Reimer

OTTAWA – Right now, Buffalo Sabres veteran James Reimer, having won four straight starts, is one of the NHL’s hottest goalies.

So forget the Sabres signed Reimer to occasionally spell Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. He gives them their best chance to win, so he’ll keep playing over Luukkonen, who has been struggling.

Reimer, 37, is expected to start for the sixth time in eight games tonight against the Senators at the Canadian Tire Centre.... Read the full article

Isak Rosen knows he must produce for Sabres: ‘I need to play better’

BUFFALO – Sabres rookie Isak Rosen understands the opportunities he has recently enjoyed are difficult to earn.

Rosen, the Rochester Americans’ leading scorer, has been recalled three times this month as the Sabres deal with a depleted forward corps.

They’re giving the Swede, the 14th overall pick in 2021, a chance to showcase the talent that has helped him score 27 goals and 54 points in 55 games this season.... Read the full article