Greenway - Buffalo Hockey Beat

In ‘heady’ Lukas Rousek, Sabres have unique prospect: ‘Attacks every day’

BUFFALO – The bench erupted like the Sabres had won the game. Ecstatic players stood and raised their arms in celebration after winger Lukas Rousek scored less than four minutes into his NHL debut.

As Rousek, 23, skated along the bench for the customary post-goal glove bumps, each of his teammates had a wide smile on his face.

“First shift, first shot, so it was awesome,” Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin said of Rousek’s goal in ... Read the full article

Canadiens spoil Lukas Rousek’s debut; Sabres’ Tage Thompson out with injury

BUFFALO – Sabres goalie Eric Comrie sounded somber trying to explain Monday’s 4-3 shootout loss to the Montreal Canadiens.

Their two-game winning streak had ignited hope that perhaps they could make a late-season climb toward the second wild card spot that seemed so unlikely a week ago.

A victory over the Canadiens at KeyBank Center would’ve moved the Sabres to within one point of the struggling Florida Panthers and four points of the Pittsburgh Penguins, ... Read the full article

Safety concerns keep Sabres’ Ilya Lyubushkin out of Pride Night warm-up

BUFFALO – Out of concern for his safety, Russian-born defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin did not participate in the pregame warm-up Monday when the Sabres wore Pride-themed jerseys to celebrate the LGBTQ community.

Lyubushkin, 28, did play in the Sabres’4-3 shootout loss to the Montreal Canadiens. He did not speak to the media following the team’s morning skate.

In December, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed into law a bill that makes it illegal to spread “LGBTQ propaganda.” ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Tage Thompson will likely keep gutting out injury

BUFFALO – Sabres center Tage Thompson can’t do more damage to his undisclosed injury by playing with it.

“As long as he can fight through it, tolerate any pain that there might be, the decision is his (whether to play),” coach Don Granato told reporters Saturday in New York following the Sabres’ 2-0 win over the Islanders. “With the tolerance threshold, only he knows.”

Thompson, who was injured when he collided with Timo Meier early ... Read the full article

With Tage Thompson injured, Sabres recall prospect Lukas Rousek

The Buffalo Sabres today recalled forward prospect Lukas Rousek from the Rochester Americans.

Rousek, 23, has never played in the NHL.

Sabres center Tage Thompson suffered an undisclosed injury after colliding with Timo Meier in Friday’s 5-4 win over the New Jersey Devils. While Thompson returned to the game after briefly leaving in the first period, coach Don Granato said his leading scorer is questionable for this afternoon’s road contest against the New York Islanders.... Read the full article

After immigration paperwork finalized, Sabres’ Devon Levi ready to go: ‘Can’t keep the beast tamed’

BUFFALO – For almost a week, Sabres goalie Devon Levi anxiously waited for his immigration paperwork to be finalized.

Levi, 21, could be around the team, he just couldn’t practice. For the rookie, who’s known as a rink rat, that wasn’t easy.

“How I was thinking about it is you can’t keep the beast tamed in the cage for too long before getting out and being hungry,” Levi said after participating in Friday morning’s optional ... Read the full article

Extra forwards, not performance, led to Sabres’ Tyson Jost getting scratched

BUFFALO – When coach Don Granato scratched Tyson Jost last week, he said he told the center the Sabres hadn’t lost their belief in him.

Of course, it would be understandable if Jost, a waiver claim in November, thought the worst. The Sabres are his third team since late last season. He knows what it’s like to lose a coach’s trust.

But Granato said he wanted “to reassure him that this decision is not rooted ... Read the full article

Why did Sabres rookie goalie Devon Levi choose No. 27?

BUFFALO – No. 1, which Sabres newcomer Devon Levi sported during his decorated college career at Northeastern, is worn by Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, another rookie goalie.

So Levi, who signed his entry-level contract Friday, chose No. 27, digits that hold special meaning.

“(It) was my number of choice because growing up, it was my favorite number,” an excited Levi said Monday in KeyBank Center. “I feel like little me would be happy that I chose ... Read the full article

As Alex Tuch nears return, Sabres lose top D Mattias Samuelsson, Rasmus Dahlin to injuries

BUFFALO – Following a rough week in which they lost four straight games and their top two defensemen, the Sabres sorely needed a boost like the return of high-scoring winger Alex Tuch.

The Sabres have struggled without Tuch, losing six of the eight games he has missed recovering from a lower-body injury. They’re in danger of falling out of the playoff race, and now Mattias Samuelsson and Rasmus Dahlin have each suffered upper-body injuries.

So ... Read the full article

Sabres fall behind early, implode late in ugly loss to Stars: ‘A little bit lifeless’

BUFFALO – About that playoff race and those meaningful late-season games. If the Sabres don’t snap out of their funk soon and tighten up defensively, they’re going to be in familiar territory playing out the string.

The Sabres looked downright awful throughout Thursday’s embarrassing 10-4 loss to the Dallas Stars, their third straight setback and fifth in the last six games.

As the season progresses and the stakes get higher, defenses usually stiffen. Well, Thursday’s ... Read the full article