WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
February Edition
Tage Thompson (72) battles with Pittsburgh’s Kevin Hayes on Thursday.
BUFFALO – In the Sabres’ final outing before the Milano Cortina Games, center Tage Thompson showcased why he earned a coveted spot on Team USA’s stacked Olympic squad.
Thompson was often the best player on the ice in Thursday’s 5-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins, scoring his 30th goal and narrowly missing a few more prime chances.
The American certainly outplayed the Penguins’ two biggest stars, Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.
On most nights, that ... Read the full article
Michael Kesselring sat out Tuesday’s game. ©2026, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Instead of dressing defenseman Michael Kesselring for Tuesday’s 4-3 overtime loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning, Sabres coach Lindy Ruff gave the newcomer a chance to reset.
Having battled injuries all year, Kesselring hasn’t found much of a groove. Since training camp, he has dealt with a knee injury and a high ankle sprain he re-injured.
In his first 23 outings, he showcased glimpses of what made him a coveted return in the ... Read the full article
Josh Norris has missed the last 11 games. ©2026, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Oft-injured Sabres center Josh Norris won’t return to the lineup before the Olympic break.
Coach Lindy Ruff said this morning that Norris, who has missed the last 11 games with an upper-body injury, will sit out tonight’s contest against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Norris began practicing again last week.... Read the full article
Zach Metsa began the season in Rochester. ©2026, Micheline Veluvolu
TORONTO – Zach Metsa’s first tour around the NHL has given him a special opportunity to visit come of hockey’s most hallowed rinks and soak in each unique experience.
“I’ve been fired up for it,” the Buffalo Sabres rookie told the Times Herald prior to Tuesday’s game against the Maple Leafs. “I’m lucky.”
Metsa, 27, made his big league debut in Montreal’s Bell Centre and earlier this month played his first game at New York’s ... Read the full article
Josh Doan has enjoyed a breakout season. ©2026, Micheline Veluvolu
MONTREAL – Skill is just one part of Buffalo Sabres winger Josh Doan’s repertoire and why he earned a long-term contract extension during his breakout season.
At 23, barely 100 games into his NHL career, Doan possesses maturity that belies his age and limited experience.
“I think character sets him apart,” Sabres general manager Jarmo Kekalainen said on Thursday, a day after Doan signed a seven-year, $48.75 million extension. “His work ethic, he comes to ... Read the full article
Michael Kesselring has played just 17 times this season. ©2026, Micheline Veluvolu
MONTREAL – Buffalo Sabres defenseman Michael Kesselring said it three times.
“I’m starving,” he said this afternoon following the Sabres’ pregame skate in the Bell Centre. “I’m starving. I’m starving.”
The oft-injured Kesselring, having played just 17 games this season, is starving for some action and to make an impact. More than three months into his first campaign with Buffalo, he’s starving to simply record his first point.
Following a two-game absence, Kesselring, 25, could ... Read the full article
Josh Doan has scored 15 goals this season. ©2026, Micheline Veluvolu
MONTREAL – When the Buffalo Sabres traded for Josh Doan almost seven months ago, they acquired an intriguing but unproven young winger who had never played a full NHL season.
Defenseman Michael Kesselring, not Doan, who on Wednesday signed a seven-year, $48.75 million contract extension, was viewed as the centerpiece of the blockbuster deal that sent winger JJ Peterka to the Utah Mammoth.
But to complete the trade, former Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams insisted ... Read the full article
Tage Thompson just enjoyed a terrific week. ©2026, Micheline Veluvolu
A dynamic stretch in which Sabres center Tage Thompson scored three goals and an NHL-high nine points in four games has earned him First Star honors for the week ending Sunday.
Thompson, 28, enjoyed one of the best outings of his career in Thursday’s 5-3 win over the Montreal Canadiens, scoring his ninth career hat trick and hitting the five-point mark for the third time.
The American registered his 200th career goal and his 22nd ... Read the full article
Minnesota celebrates Mats Zuccarello’s overtime goal on Buffalo goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen on Saturday afternoon. ©2026, Micheline Velvolu
BUFFALO – It was about to be one heck of a penalty kill for the Sabres. Defenseman Mattias Samuelsson cleared the puck down down the ice, seemingly extinguishing the power play the Minnesota Wild carried into Saturday afternoon’s overtime.
But Wild goalie Filip Gustavsson skated out to the left circle and quickly flung the puck up to Kirill Kaprizov at the Buffalo blue line as the Sabres changed. Kaprizov skated in and fed Mats Zuccarello, ... Read the full article
Maxim Afinogenov talks Thursday. ©2026, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Other than a bit of a receding hairline, former winger Maxim Afinogenov looks pretty much like he did 20 or so years ago, when his slick exploits electrified Sabres fans.
Heck, Afinogenov looks like he could still lace up the skates and dazzle a bit, even at age 46. The Russian played until 2019-20 – he spent 10 seasons in the Kontinental Hockey League after leaving North America – before retiring.
The COVID-19 ... Read the full article