Greenway - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres blow leads as Sidney Crosby and Penguins spoil JJ Peterka’s return

PITTSBURGH – Where do you start with this one? The Buffalo Sabres blew an early two-goal lead before roaring back late to go up again after superstar Evgeni Malkin’s 500th goal put the Penguins ahead and seemingly seized all the momentum.

In the end, the Sabres earned one point for Wednesday’s wildly entertaining 6-5 overtime loss in PPG Paints Arena.

Still, the setback surely stings. The Sabres led 2-0 led by the 2:08 mark, 3-1 ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Jordan Greenway becoming big asset: ‘An incredibly smart player’

PITTSBURGH – Early in Saturday’s 5-2 win, Buffalo Sabres winger Jordan Greenway spotted 30-goal scorer Carter Verhaeghe on his radar and leveled him, knocking off his helmet before he fell to the ice.

Later in the first period against the Florida Panthers, Greenway grabbed a loose puck at the net and backhanded it under the crossbar, tying the game at 1.

Overall, he enjoyed perhaps the finest of his 88 outings with the Sabres, playing ... Read the full article

Sabres start scoring, beat Panthers for first win: ‘A stress-reliever’

BUFFALO – It felt like things might be turning for the Sabres when late in Saturday’s first period, having just answered the Florida Panthers and tied the game, center Tage Thompson roared down the right wing and unleashed the puck toward the net.

During the Sabres’ three season-opening losses, the opposing goalie would’ve stopped a shot like that. This time, however, they enjoyed a little puck luck that had been non-existent.

Panthers goalie Spencer Knight, ... Read the full article

JJ Peterka could return from injury next week; Devon Levi to start for Sabres

BUFFALO – Sabres coach Lindy Ruff expects winger JJ Peterka to return from his concussion for Wednesday’s road game against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Peterka skated in the Sabres’ optional this morning as they prepared for tonight’s game against the Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers. He will miss his second straight contest.

The German suffered a concussion when New Jersey Devils defenseman Brenden Dillon hit him in the head early in last Saturday’s 3-1 loss.... Read the full article

As Sabres stumble out of gate, veteran Jason Zucker’s experience can help

BUFFALO – Right now, as the Sabres try to avoid losing their first four games and a full-blown crisis, they might be wise to lean on veteran newcomer Jason Zucker a bit.

Having played 700 NHL games – he reached the milestone in Thursday’s 3-1 loss to the Los Angeles Kings – the winger has experienced a lot over the years.

“Games played in this league is always a great thing, kind of shows longevity,” ... Read the full article

Sabres preseason: Ryan McLeod set to debut; Rasmus Dahlin skates again

BUFFALO – Two exhibition games, two regular-season lineups.

The Sabres will mostly utilize their top players again for this afternoon’s preseason contest against the Columbus Blue Jackets in KeyBank Center. They dressed most of their NHL talent for Saturday’s 7-3 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins, a game in which JJ Peterka scored three goals.

The complete lineup is below. Three notable offseason acquisitions – center Ryan McLeod, defenseman Dennis Gilbert and winger Jason Zucker – ... Read the full article

After trade to Sabres, shock turned to excitement for Beck Malenstyn

BUFFALO – At first, Beck Malenstyn said he felt neither excitement nor disappointment, only shock. The Sabres newcomer was drinking coffee in his in-laws’ living room outside picturesque Canmore, Alberta, when he learned he had been traded.

As a restricted free agent, Malenstyn, 26, needed a new contract from the Washington Capitals. So when their assistant general manager called him during the NHL Draft on June 29, he initially thought little of it. Then after ... Read the full article

Sabres newcomer Sam Lafferty enjoyed career season after trade

BUFFALO – Sabres center Sam Lafferty’s first three NHL teams utilized him in a checking role, deploying him for faceoffs in enemy territory for a whopping 73.7 percent of his zone starts.

Then last year, after the Vancouver Canucks acquired Lafferty, 29, from the Toronto Maple Leafs days before the season, they gave him a dual role.

For the first time in his five-year career, he had more offensive zone starts than defensive starts (51.3 ... Read the full article

Sabres looking to make more moves after trading for Beck Malenstyn

LAS VEGAS – Considering how aggressively general manager Kevyn Adams has spent the offseason pursuing trades to upgrade the Buffalo Sabres, leaving the NHL Draft with one new roster player, winger Beck Malenstyn, seems disappointing.

Still, in trading the 43rd overall pick on Saturday to the Washington Capitals in exchange for Malenstyn, 26, the Sabres addressed a significant need by becoming tougher to play against.

The 6-foot-3, 200-pound Malenstyn, a pending restricted free agent, gives ... Read the full article

Dylan Cozens ‘disappointed’ himself, others during Sabres’ tough season

BUFFALO – In his fourth NHL season, center Dylan Cozens regressed offensively, scoring 13 fewer goals and 21 fewer points as the Sabres finished 12th in the Eastern Conference.

On Nov. 3, Cozens broke his nose during an ill-advised fight with heavyweight Garnet Hathaway, forcing him to miss two games. When he returned – he briefly sported a shield that hurt his vision – he scored one goal in his next 17 outings.

Cozens, 23, ... Read the full article