Kozak - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres recall prospect from Rochester again; Tyson Kozak close to playing

BUFFALO – Center Noah Ostlund is back with the Sabres following a five-day stint in the minors.

The Sabres this morning recalled the prospect from the Rochester Americans because forwards Jiri Kulich and Jason Zucker are sick and out for tonight’s game against the Utah Mammoth at KeyBank Center.

Coach Lindy Ruff said Kulich, who has fluid in his ears, likely won’t play in Thursday’s home contest against the St. Louis Blues. Meanwhile, Ruff said ... Read the full article

Heavy game helping Josh Dunne make strong case to stick with Sabres

BUFFALO – With Tuesday’s game tied in the final minutes of regulation, Sabres winger Josh Dunne grabbed the puck down low and single-handedly generated his own scoring chance.

Dunne, who scored his first NHL goal earlier in the period to restore the Sabres’ lead, utilized his 6-foot-4, 208-pound body to shield off defenders and move around before shooting on Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Jet Greaves.

“That’s my identity as a player is puck protecting and ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Noah Ostlund looking for first point; Michael Kesselring debuts

BUFFALO – So far, the scoring prowess center Noah Ostlund developed in the AHL – he recorded 18 goals and 34 points over a torrid 32-game stretch before the Sabres summoned him late last season – hasn’t translated to the NHL.

Ostlund began Tuesday’s game against the Columbus Blue Jackets in KeyBank Center, his 12th outing with the Sabres, having registered zero points.

Why has the Swede, 21, struggled to produce offense? A couple of ... Read the full article

Sabres to have healthy defense corps for first time all season

For the first time all season, the Sabres will have the six defensemen they envisioned playing together when they retooled their blue line during the offseason.

Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said this morning Michael Kesselring, who missed the first nine games with an undisclosed injury, will play tonight against the Columbus Blue Jackets at KeyBank Center.

Injuries have ravaged the Sabres from the get-go this season. Since the beginning of training camp, 13 players ... Read the full article

Mattias Samuelsson scores two goals as Sabres down Maple Leafs; Buffalo likely to make recall

BUFFALO – In his first 217 NHL games, Sabres defenseman Mattias Samuelsson scored seven times, an average of one goal every 31 outings.

He registered his first goal in his 64th appearance. He has never scored more than four times in a season.

So Samuelsson hasn’t enjoyed too many outings like his two-goal performance in Friday’s 5-3 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs before a bipartisan crowd of 17,211 fans in KeyBank Center.... Read the full article

Jack Quinn scoring goals, developing into one of Sabres’ offensive drivers

BUFFALO – Exactly one year ago, in the early stages of the roughest stretch of his career, Sabres winger Jack Quinn hadn’t scored a goal and had already been scratched.

Today, fresh off a slick one-goal, three-point outing, Quinn has scored three times – that’s as many goals as Rasmus Dahlin, Tage Thompson and Alex Tuch have combined this season – and is tied for the team lead with six points.

Quinn’s outburst has helped ... Read the full article

Goalie Colten Ellis dazzles in NHL debut, backstops Sabres to win

BUFFALO – In the opening minutes of a goalie’s NHL debut, facing a shot or two and simply feeling the puck can help him calm any nerves and settle into the game.

So as Sabres goalie Colten Ellis waited and waited for his first chance to make a save on Wednesday, it was fair to wonder how he would react.

Well, Ellis, a recent waiver claim who backed up veteran Alex Lyon in the Sabres’ ... Read the full article

After early demotion, Sabres prospect Isak Rosen makes impact in Rochester

ROCHESTER – Instead of dazzling during training camp and forcing the Buffalo Sabres to keep him, winger Isak Rosen played three exhibition games and quietly returned to the AHL to begin his fourth season.

Before the Prospects Challenge last month, coach Mike Leone said he wanted Rosen, 22, “to kind of blow the doors off” in his fourth appearance in the rookie tournament.

The Swede, who has played 15 NHL games, hardly stood out against ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Ryan McLeod, other forwards struggling early; Alexandar Georgiev practices with Rochester

BUFFALO – Jiri Kulich, the Sabres’ second-youngest forward, got singled out a bit by practicing as an extra before Wednesday’s game against the Ottawa Senators.

But make no mistake, nearly every Sabres forward struggled during their dreary 0-3-0 start they carried into their contest against the Ottawa Senators.

“This isn’t about Kulich,” coach Lindy Ruff, whose Sabres began the night with just two goals all season, said Wednesday morning in KeyBank Center.... Read the full article

Sabres’ Josh Norris out injured; Zach Benson to leave hospital

BUFFALO – Fresh off the most productive summer of his career, a healthy Josh Norris seemed poised to enjoy a breakout season as the Sabres’ new No. 1 center.

The oft-injured Norris, 26, dazzled during four preseason outings, scoring three goals and an NHL-high seven points.

But just one game into the season, he’s hurt again, joining five teammates on the sideline.

What the heck is going on?

“Maybe it’s just a test for us ... Read the full article