Jokiharju - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres concerned about Jake McCabe’s injury; Buffalo recalls defensemen

Sabres defenseman Jake McCabe, who left Saturday afternoon’s 3-2 win against the New Jersey Devils after suffering a lower-body injury, has returned to Buffalo for an MRI, coach Ralph Krueger said.

Krueger said the Sabres will have an update on McCabe’s status prior to Monday’s road game against the New York Islanders.

“I’ll be honest with you, (I’m) not very optimistic about the diagnosis that’ll come out of this, but let the medical team ... Read the full article

Taylor Hall returns to practice; Sabres add three players from Amerks

BUFFALO – Winger Taylor Hall, who was added to the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol-related absences list on Feb. 2, is practicing with the Sabres this morning inside KeyBank Center.

The Sabres still have eight players in the league’s COVID protocol. They’re scheduled to host the New York Islanders on Monday.

Hall, 29, is practicing at left wing beside center Eric Staal and Sam Reinhart. Jeff Skinner, meanwhile, is at left wing with top center Jack ... Read the full article

Storm forces Sabres to change plans; Sam Reinhart will travel with team

The Sabres will be staying at home today and plan to fly to New York on Tuesday morning for their 6 p.m. game against the Islanders.

With Winter Storm Orlena battering parts of the New York City area, most flights in and out the region have been canceled.

The Sabres planned to travel to New York this afternoon. Instead, they practiced inside KeyBank Center.... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Rasmus Ristolainen wreaking havoc on power play

BUFFALO – As a defenseman, Rasmus Ristolainen understands how a big body in front of the net can be a weapon during a power play.

“If some other teams, they have some good net-front presence, I know how hard it is to play when there’s guys standing in front of the net screening (the) goalie all the time,” the Sabres veteran said after scoring a power-play goal in Sunday afternoon’s 5-3 loss to the New ... Read the full article

Sabres recall Casey Mittelstadt from taxi squad; Sam Reinhart out again

BUFFALO – The Sabres recalled Casey Mittelstadt this morning from the taxi squad, so the forward will play in this afternoon’s game against the New Jersey Devils, right?

Well, while Mittelstadt is back on the roster, coach Ralph Krueger wouldn’t reveal his lineup, including today’s starting goalie. He said 13 forwards and seven defensemen will skate in the pregame warm-up inside KeyBank Center.

Update: Mittelstadt warmed up at left wing beside top center Jack Eichel ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Jeff Skinner replaces Tage Thompson on top line

BUFFALO – After skating on the fourth line all season, Sabres winger Jeff Skinner found himself in a familiar spot with top center Jack Eichel late in Saturday afternoon’s 4-3 shootout win over the New Jersey Devils.

After Tage Thompson struggled filling in for injured winger Sam Reinhart, Sabres coach Ralph Krueger promoted Skinner to the first line for the third period at KeyBank Center.

“We just weren’t pleased with five-on-five scoring-chance production so we ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Sam Reinhart questionable for Saturday’s game

BUFFALO – Sabres winger Sam Reinhart missed today’s practice with an upper-body injury and is questionable for Saturday afternoon’s game against the New Jersey Devils.

“We’ll make that call tomorrow morning,” Sabres coach Ralph Krueger said on a Zoom call following this afternoon’s practice at KeyBank Center.

Krueger said Reinhart, who finished Thursday’s 3-2 overtime loss to the New York Rangers, is day to day. Reinhart recorded a goal and two points Thursday.

Tage Thompson... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Curtis Lazar transformed body for gritty fourth-line role

BUFFALO – Curtis Lazar relishes playing a heavy style as the Sabres’ fourth-line center and utilizing his 6-foot frame to disrupt the opposition.

“I take a lot of pride in providing that sandpaper for our team up front and trying to create room for some of our skill guys, knowing that if guys are going to go out there, then you have to deal with me,” Lazar said on a Zoom call Wednesday.

But after ... Read the full article

Coach Ralph Krueger more comfortable with Sabres’ start this season

Last season, as the Buffalo Sabres roared out of the gate, starting 9-2-1, coach Ralph Krueger said he felt everything was coming too easy for his team.

“I was never extremely comfortable as a coach,” Krueger said on a Zoom call this morning of his first weeks leading the Sabres.

The Sabres, of course, would plummet down the standings, missing the playoffs for the ninth consecutive season. They finished 30-31-8, meaning they won just 35.6% ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Henri Jokiharju misses practice; Matt Irwin impresses Ralph Krueger

BUFFALO – An upper-body injury kept Sabres defenseman Henri Jokiharju from practicing today for the second straight day.

Jokiharju, 21, missed Tuesday’s 3-2 win over the New York Rangers.

“It’s truly a monitoring of day to day of when the right moment is to bring him back him in,” Sabres coach Ralph Krueger said on a Zoom call. “We’ll see how he is in the morning, but we thought it was better to have another ... Read the full article