Greenway - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres notes: Goalie Alex Lyon could be sidelined into playoffs; Josh Doan makes ‘selfless’ play

BUFFALO – Injured Sabres goalie Alex Lyon could be sidelined for the start of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, coach Lindy Ruff said prior to Thursday’s game against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

“Right now, (he’ll be out) a week, and we’ll go from there,” Ruff said of the strained muscle Lyon recently suffered during practice.

The postseason begins April 18 and 19. A schedule won’t be released until next week.... Read the full article

Sabres’ Sam Carrick week to week with arm injury; Josh Dunne set to play

OTTAWA – In his first weeks in Buffalo, Sam Carrick quickly established himself as a sturdy and versatile presence as the Sabres’ fourth-line center.

In addition to winning critical faceoffs, Carrick, who seems to do a little bit of everything well, scored five goals and fought twice in his first 13 games.

But Carrick’s willingness to drop the gloves proved to be costly.... Read the full article

Sabres on precipice of clinching playoff spot, ending NHL-record drought

Fifteen years and 1,151 games later, the day has finally arrived.

The Buffalo Sabres’ magic number is just two, meaning if they defeat the Senators tonight in Ottawa, they will clinch their first berth in the Stanley Cup Playoffs since April 8, 2011.

Repeating: the Sabres, whose stunning run of futility ranks as the longest in NHL history, are on the precipice of securing that coveted playoff spot.

A heck of lot has transpired – ... Read the full article

Years after trade, Sabres’ Peyton Krebs becomes first-liner and driver; Buffalo expected to change lineup

BUFFALO – Few envisioned the long and often arduous path Peyton Krebs would take to becoming what coach Lindy Ruff called one of the Sabres’ “drivers.”

Krebs, 25, needed more than three years to get here. He struggled for stretches, sometimes failing to meet the lofty expectations that accompany high-end prospects. He reinvented himself, earning his keep as a high-octane checking forward willing to showcase a rugged style and drop the gloves.

At times, it ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Jordan Greenway skating with ‘zero pain,’ says he can play again this season

BUFFALO – Sabres winger Jordan Greenway can’t explain why his latest rehab regimen has worked so well when the others he tried failed to alleviate his pain.

These days, Greenway, who said he played through “terrible pain” after undergoing two sports hernia surgeries, feels the best he has in years. He sounds happy and relieved as he nears his return to the lineup after missing the last 23 games.

“I’m skating with zero pain, really, ... Read the full article

The Sabres have had a loaded roster since the trade deadline. How can Lindy Ruff utilize that depth?

BUFFALO – In the coaches’ room each day, the Sabres’ depth dominates the discussion.

“It’s the main topic,” Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said earlier this week.

Inside those walls, Ruff and his staff deliberate how to best utilize that depth and keep everyone involved.

The Sabres, having compiled a 33-6-4 record in their last 43 games entering tonight’s contest against the Detroit Red Wings at KeyBank Center, have a pretty darn good thing going.... Read the full article

Sabres goalies Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Alex Lyon forming dynamic tandem

BUFFALO – After sitting out last game, Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is expected to start tonight against the Boston Bruins, his eighth nod in the last 16 contests.

Meanwhile, crease mate Alex Lyon, whose franchise-record 10-game road win streak ended Sunday, will likely get a full night off – that means not even dressing – like Luukkonen did for Sunday’s 6-5 overtime loss to the Anaheim Ducks.

Right now, as Luukkonen and Lyon alternate starts, ... Read the full article

Conor Timmins skates with Sabres after breaking leg; Alex Tuch likely to return from injury

BUFFALO – Sabres defenseman Conor Timmins said when he and teammate Jordan Greenway got their skates tangled and he fell to the ice almost three months ago, he could feel his leg break.

“When I fell there, it became unbearable,” Timmins said of the pain experienced Dec. 18 late in the Sabres’ 5-3 win over the Philadelphia Flyers.

Earlier that night, Timmins, 27, said he had blocked a shot that “did a little damage.” Still, ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Jiri Kulich likely out for season; Justin Danforth, Jordan Greenway both ‘progressing slowly’

BUFFALO – Sabres center Jiri Kulich, who hasn’t played since Nov. 1 because of blood clot issues, will most likely miss the rest of the season.

Kulich, 21, recently underwent testing to determine if he could resume a higher fitness level.

“He’s continuing to get treatment,” Sabres general manager Jarmo Kekalainen said Friday in KeyBank Center. “Our main concern, obviously, is his well-being and long-term health, and second, when he can be back as a ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Jiri Kulich to have test to see if he can resume higher fitness level

BUFFALO – Sabres center Jiri Kulich, who hasn’t played since Nov. 1 because of blood clot issues, will undergo another test today to determine if he can “resume a higher level of fitness,” coach Lindy Ruff said.

“I don’t know what that level will be, whether that involves contact,” Ruff said following Monday’s practice in KeyBank Center. “We’ll find out what that means. The doctors will make that decision.”

Kulich, 21, recently resumed skating ... Read the full article