WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
Calder Cup Playoffs Edition
Peyton Krebs returned to the lineup Thursday. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – The Sabres inserted center Peyton Krebs for Thursday’s 5-4 loss to the Colorado Avalanche, just his second appearance in the last six games.
To make room for Krebs, a healthy scratch the previous three contests, the Sabres sat out winger Vinnie Hinostroza.
That Krebs, 21, had been bumped out of the lineup wasn’t surprising. He sat out two games in late October when the Sabres briefly began rotating forwards. He had mustered zero ... Read the full article
Tyson Jost as played four games for Buffalo. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – The struggles and other experiences Sabres center Tyson Jost has endured since entering the NHL as a teenager have helped him develop a unique perspective.
Jost has already played 358 NHL games, the fourth-highest total among Sabres skaters. Having been drafted 10th overall in 2016, the Colorado Avalanche initially cast him in a scoring role. When that didn’t work out, he fell down the lineup and was traded last season.
He lasted only ... Read the full article
Buffalo drafted Brandon Hagel in 2016. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Over the past 10 years, five prospects the Sabres drafted in the sixth round or later have played NHL games. Just three have earned regular duty.
Winger Victor Olofsson has scored 11 goals for the Sabres this season, a total that trails only center Tage Thompson’s 13. Goalie Linus Ullmark, who departed Buffalo in 2021, has a stunning 13-1-0 record for the Boston Bruins.
The other? Tampa Bay Lightning winger Brandon Hagel, ... Read the full article
Mattias Samuelsson was injured Oct. 22. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – On some teams, injured players are rarely seen. They do their work before many of their teammates arrive at the rink and quietly leave.
Then there’s Mattias Samuelsson. For more than three weeks, as the Sabres defenseman has rehabbed from a lower-body injury he suffered Oct. 22, he remained a visible presence in the dressing room and during practice.
“You saw him every day sitting on the bench in practice and around ... Read the full article
Jack Eichel heard boos during his first visit March 10. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – For most of his six-minute pregame media availability, ex-Sabres captain Jack Eichel spoke blandly, offering cliché answers about facing his old team as a member of the Vegas Golden Knights.
But when the topic turned to the booing he endured March 10 throughout his return to KeyBank Center, Eichel, the face of the Sabres for six seasons, briefly opened up.
He felt the jeers and vitriol from the raucous crowd.
“It was ... Read the full article
Henri Jokijarju has missed the last nine games. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Shortly before Wednesday’s practice, Sabres defenseman Henri Jokiharju was on the KeyBank Center ice skating in a gold jersey and tinted visor. When the session began, he stayed out, participating in a non-contact role.
Jokiharju’s first practice since suffering an upper-body injury Oct. 20 is simply a first step, Sabres coach Don Granato said. Right now, there’s no timetable for his return.
The Finn, 23, hasn’t played since a puck hit him in ... Read the full article
Kale Clague joined Buffalo in the summer. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – In his previous stops, Sabres defenseman Kale Clague couldn’t always play aggressively. That often neutralized his skating, his greatest strength.
The Sabres, however, want to attack and push the pace. If players make mistakes, coach Don Granato and his staff can live with them.
“The system (here) allows me to be aggressive, whereas maybe some teams prior I’ve been a little bit more on my heels a little bit, based on that,” Clague ... Read the full article
Jeff Skinner has been creating more plays. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Jeff Skinner’s stat line looks a little different this season. Through 10 games, the Sabres winger has registered two goals and eight assists.
Why is that unusual? Well, only three times in 12 NHL seasons – in his first two years and again in 2017-18 – has Skinner finished with more assists than goals.
Over his career, Skinner, an aggressive, shifty presence, has scored 300 goals and registered 252 assists. He’s known more ... Read the full article
Sidney Crosby has dominated Buffalo throughout his career. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – The Pittsburgh Penguins limped into town this morning in the midst of one of their worst stretches in recent memory.
In Tuesday’s 6-5 home loss to the Boston Bruins, they blew three-goal second-period lead before falling in overtime. At least the Penguins earned a point, ending their four-game regulation losing streak.
They lost every game of their western road trip late last month, scoring just six goals.... Read the full article
Jacob Bryson (pictured) has been playing beside Rasmus Dahlin. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Just nine games in, the Sabres have already dipped deep into their defense reserves. Hours before Monday’s 8-3 win over the Detroit Red Wings, they recalled Jeremy Davies from the Rochester Americans.
Davies, 25, is the ninth defenseman who has been on the roster this season.
“We’re banged up on the back end and that’s the need, pressing need right now,” Sabres coach Don Granato said Monday prior to Davies’ recall.
They summoned ... Read the full article
