Johansson - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres GM Jason Botterill would like to add forward before trade deadline

BUFFALO – Even after acquiring Michael Frolik earlier this month, Sabres general manager Jason Botterill would like to add another forward before the Feb. 24 trade deadline.

The Sabres’ depth up front, of course, was weak before Vladimir Sobotka and Tage Thompson both suffered season-ending injuries in November.

Right now, Victor Olofsson is week-to-week with a lower-body injury. Evan Rodrigues has been a huge disappointment, scoring just two goals and often sitting out as a ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Kyle Okposo hit hard by Kobe Bryant’s death: ‘He was a titan’

BUFFALO – Kyle Okposo grew up a rabid basketball fan in the 1990s and said he played the sport “way before” he took up hockey. The Sabres winger still loves talking about the NBA of his youth and its stars.

So the death of 41-year-old basketball legend Kobe Bryant has impacted Okposo. He sounded emotional this afternoon discussing Bryant, who died in helicopter crash Sunday in Los Angeles with his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, and seven ... Read the full article

Jeff Skinner close to playing with make-or-break stretch ahead for Sabres

BUFFALO – This upcoming stretch will likely decide the Sabres’ season. They play nine of their first 10 games following the NHL All-Star break at KeyBank Center, where they’ve compiled a terrific 14-6-3 mark this season.

The odds, of course, are slim the Sabres, who trail the Florida Panthers by 10 points for the Atlantic Division’s final playoff spot, can roar back into the race.

But given their upcoming slate of home games and winger ... Read the full article

Amerks recall Sabres goalie prospect Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen from ECHL

The Rochester Americans, who have allowed 18 goals over a four-game losing streak, recalled top Buffalo Sabres goalie prospect Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen from the ECHL this morning.

Amerks general manager Randy Sexton recently said Luukkonen, 20, would play games with Rochester during the second half of the season. So despite the Amerks’ struggles, this could be part of the Sabres’ original plan for Luukkonen.

Update: Sexton told The Buffalo News that Luukkonen will spent a week ... Read the full article

Sabres newcomer Michael Frolik arrives in Buffalo ready for new opportunity

BUFFALO – Michael Frolik’s whirlwind Tuesday started around 6:30 a.m. in Toronto. After waking up, the Sabres newcomer headed to the U.S. Embassy.

After a trip back to the hotel, Frolik returned around 3 or 4 p.m. and picked up his visa – he said it was approved in just one day – and left for Buffalo. But traffic added nearly an hour to the drive, so the Czech arrived around 7:30 p.m.

Five days ... Read the full article

Sabres use special teams, secondary scoring to beat Panthers

BUFFALO – By the final minutes of Saturday afternoon’s 3-2 win, most of the crowd of 17,731 had seen enough of the Sabres and departed KeyBank Center.

It was nothing against them. The spirited fans enjoyed the Sabres’ second straight victory – it was one of the noisiest contests this season – but they had somewhere to go.

The Bills’ AFC Wild Card game against the Houston Texans would be starting soon, and fans wanted ... Read the full article

Replacing rookie Victor Olofsson will be tough for Sabres

BUFFALO – Winger Victor Olofsson’s absence for the next five to six weeks could extinguish the Sabres’ playoff hopes. From the get-go, they’ve relied on the Swedish rookie to score goals.

Now, the lower-body injury he suffered in Thursday’s 3-2 overtime win against the Edmonton Oilers could sideline him until mid-February, the Sabres announced Friday.

Having scored 16 goals and 35 points in 42 games, including six power-play goals in the first seven contests, Olofsson ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Conor Sheary finally starting to showcase more offense

BUFFALO – In his five-year NHL career, Sabres winger Conor Sheary said he had never experienced being a healthy scratch until last month.

“That was something different for me,” said Sheary, who sat out three times over a six-game stretch.

But in his first half season as Sabres coach, Ralph Krueger has established he’s willing to scratch anyone.

Krueger benched forward Evan Rodrigues on opening night and has kept sitting him out for months. In ... Read the full article

Stunner: Sabres blow three-goal lead, fall to Lightning

BUFFALO – Halfway through Tuesday’s shocking 6-4 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning, Sabres captain Jack Eichel showcased why he might be underutilized as a penalty killer.

With the Sabres up 3-1, Eichel pounced on a loose puck in his own zone and zoomed down the ice. When the slick center hit the right circle, he undressed defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk before skating through the slot and backhanding a shot by goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy for his ... Read the full article

With Jeff Skinner injured, Sabres revamp lines to generate offense

BUFFALO – Forget that Jeff Skinner hadn’t scored in 11 games before suffering an upper-body injury Friday. Forget that after enjoying his first 40-goal campaign, the Sabres winger has only produced 11 goals in 39 contests this season.

Skinner, who will be sidelined three to four weeks, the Sabres announced Saturday, can be a lethal scorer. In his last few outings, he channeled his 2018-19 form, showcasing the tenacious style that helped make him ... Read the full article