Jost - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres sign Dylan Cozens to long-term contract

The Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday locked up another piece of their young core, agreeing to terms with center Dylan Cozens on a seven-year, $49.7 million contract.

Cozens, who turns 22 on Thursday, joins defenseman Mattias Samuelsson and center Tage Thompson, both of whom signed seven-year deals before the season.

The 6-foot-3, 195-pound Cozens has seized a leading role in the Sabres’ ascension into a playoff contender this season, setting career highs with 17 goals and ... Read the full article

After struggles, Sabres’ Victor Olofsson scoring goals, becoming star

BUFFALO – At times this season, Sabres winger Victor Olofsson has battled adversity and the perception he’s too one-dimensional.

For stretches, he has struggled at even strength and lost ice time, doing little to dispel the belief he’s simply a power-play guy who possesses a lethal shot.

Still, 45 games into the campaign, Olofsson has already registered a career-high 21 goals.... Read the full article

Sabres generate offense, fall to Jets, Connor Hellebuyck: ‘Like a sumo wrestler with athleticism’

BUFFALO – At 6-foot-4 and 207 pounds, Connor Hellebuyck can be an imposing presence in net. The Winnipeg Jets goalie, the 2019-20 Vezina Trophy winner, plays even bigger than his hulking size might indicate.

Just ask Sabres coach Don Granato.

“Hellebuyck looked like a sumo wrestler with athleticism,” Granato said following Hellebuyck’s stellar 39-save effort in Thursday’s 4-2 loss to the Jets. “He was good. He was big and solid.”... Read the full article

Sabres start slowly, get blanked by Flyers: ‘Emotionally drained’

BUFFALO – In a span of two days, the Sabres won a thrilling come-from-behind overtime contest before a raucous capacity crowd and got shut out in front of about 9,000 empty seats.

The ebb and flow of a grueling six-month season can create some real clunkers, and the Sabres clearly experienced a letdown on Monday in losing 4-0 to the Philadelphia Flyers at KeyBank Center.

Fresh off Saturday’s exciting 6-5 triumph against the Minnesota Wild, ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Peyton Krebs developing with Zemgus Girgensons, Kyle Okposo

BUFFALO – In the second period of Thursday’s 6-3 win, Sabres center Peyton Krebs zoomed into the Detroit zone to chase down a loose puck and drove Red Wings defenseman Moritz Seider into the boards behind the net.

Krebs, who’s four inches shorter and 17 pounds lighter than Seider, gained possession. A split-second later, linemate Zemgus Girgensons fed captain Kyle Okposo in front for the first of his three goals in the Sabres’ fifth ... Read the full article

Craig Anderson posts shutout, Sabres score six late goals in win over Kings

BUFFALO – At 41, Sabres goalie Craig Anderson hasn’t shown many signs of graying. In fact, the NHL’s oldest player can even make hockey’s toughest position look easy.

Take, for example, the 20-year veteran’s splendid 40-save performance in Tuesday’s 6-0 shellacking of the Los Angeles Kings, the 43rd shutout of his decorated career.

Anderson was the Sabres’ backbone as they struggled to generate offense early, making 16-first period stops and 30 saves through 40 minutes ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Rasmus Asplund ‘resets’ after scratches; Ilya Lyubushkin skates

BUFFALO – Late last month, Rasmus Asplund began what he called a “reset.” The Sabres winger felt the details slipping in his game, and he struggled so badly he sat out five straight games as a healthy scratch.

“I just needed to reset everything, start on a new page and get back to my game,” Asplund said prior to Tuesday’s 6-0 win over the Los Angeles Kings at KeyBank Center.

That game, the Swede said, ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Dylan Cozens becoming star between JJ Peterka, Jack Quinn

BUFFALO – Forget about Dylan Cozens’ skill set for a moment. What makes the Sabres center such a unique talent and one of the NHL’s burgeoning young stars are the intangibles he possesses.

Cozens, 21, plays a mature, tenacious style that belies his limited experience.

“He competes for the right reason being in a team sport,” Sabres coach Don Granato said following Tuesday’s practice at KeyBank Center. “He brings guys in with him, he drags ... Read the full article

Tyson Jost finding home with Sabres: ‘He brings an awful lot’

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

Sabres implode late, fall to Lightning in OT: ‘We backed off’

BUFFALO – With less than six minutes left in Monday’s 6-5 overtime loss, winger Jeff Skinner grabbed the puck near the goal line and beat goalie Brian Elliott short side, giving the Sabres what felt like a commanding two-goal lead.

After falling behind 2-0 early to the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Sabres roared back, tying the game before the first period ended and grabbing a second-period lead. When Brayden Point’s second-power play-goal knotted the game ... Read the full article