Kozak - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres notes: Josh Norris healthy and thriving one year after trade

PITTSBURGH – One year and just 27 games later, Buffalo Sabres center Josh Norris is happy, healthy and geared up to potentially experience the postseason for the first time in his six-year NHL career.

“I’ve really enjoyed my time (in Buffalo),” Norris said prior to Tuesday’s 3-2 win over the Vegas Golden Knights at KeyBank Center. “The locker room is unbelievable, and it’s honestly so much fun coming to the rink every day.”

Still, his ... Read the full article

With Tyson Kozak injured, Sabres will turn to versatile Josh Dunne

PITTSBURGH – In center Tyson Kozak’s absence tonight, the Buffalo Sabres will turn to the versatile Josh Dunne, one of their biggest surprises this season.

Kozak aggravated something and is day to day, Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said, so for the third time in the last five games, Dunne will earn duty on the fourth line.

After beginning the season with the Rochester Americans, Dunne, 27, has emerged as what Ruff called “a real ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Jordan Greenway seeking more info on injury; Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen misses practice

BUFFALO – If the Sabres need him, winger Jordan Greenway could play, coach Lindy Ruff said.

“But he’s really being hampered,” Ruff said following this afternoon’s short practice in KeyBank Center.

Greenway, who has undergone surgery to repair a sports hernia twice in about the last 13 months, has recently been on a load-management plan.

The Canton native doesn’t play on back-to-back days and often sits out practices to rest or do off-ice work.... Read the full article

As he battles injuries, Sabres’ Michael Kesselring ‘starving’ to make impact

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

Sabres notes: Jacob Bryson scores rare goal; Buffalo makes roster move

BUFFALO – From his spot on the bench, Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said he could see the puck would hit the top right corner of the net past the screened goalie as soon as it left defenseman Jacob Bryson’s stick.

“Basically, he had eyes up, he saw his mark and hit it,” Ruff said of Bryson’s wrist shot from the left point early in Monday’s 4-3 loss to the Florida Panthers.

Bryson’s goal, just his ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Zach Metsa impressive in limited action; Buffalo adds defender

BUFFALO – In his first days here, Sabres defenseman Zach Metsa acknowledged his new surroundings felt “a little bit intimidating.”

“You come to a new spot, new group, new guys around you,” Metsa told the Times Herald prior to scoring his first NHL goal and point in Tuesday’s 5-3 win over the Vancouver Canucks in KeyBank Center.

As an older, under-the-radar prospect who played on an AHL contract for two seasons, Metsa, 27, usually spent ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Alex Lyon, Michael Kesselring progressing from injuries

BUFFALO – Sabres goalie Alex Lyon, who hasn’t played since suffering a lower-body injury late in last Monday’s 4-2 win over the St. Louis Blues, is day to day, coach Lindy Ruff said.

“It doesn’t look like anything too major,” Ruff said following Monday’s practice in KeyBank Center.

Ruff said Lyon and defenseman Michael Kesselring, who left Wednesday’s 4-1 win over the Dallas Stars with a lower-body injury, are both “progressing” from their respective injuries.... Read the full article

Sabres’ Josh Dunne seizing chances in NHL as he heads home to St. Louis

BUFFALO – Sabres center Josh Dunne figures at least 50 supporters, perhaps as many as 100, will be on hand tonight at the Enterprise Center to watch him play his first NHL regular-season game in St. Louis.

Following Sunday’s practice, Dunne, 27, was still working on an exact number, reaching out to people and receiving texts.

“But that’s all part of the fun,” Dunne, whose Sabres carry an eight-game win streak into tonight’s contest against ... Read the full article

Sabres send prospects to Rochester, get injured players back

BUFFALO – The Sabres on Sunday sent prospects Ryan Johnson and Isak Rosen back to the Rochester Americans.

They recalled Johnson, 24, before Saturday’s 4-1 win over the Boston Bruins because captain Rasmus Dahlin’s absence left them with just six defensemen.

Dahlin, who visited his fiancée, Carolina Matovac, in Sweden over the Christmas break, is expected to rejoin the Sabres today in St. Louis for the start of their three-game road trip.... Read the full article

Sabres GM Jarmo Kekalainen says new adds necessary, willing to make more

OTTAWA – For now, the roster will stay intact. Why would new general manager Jarmo Kekalainen mess with it? The Buffalo Sabres carried a six-game win streak into Tuesday’s contest against the Senators.

“There’s no need to disrupt anything right now with the good flow going,” Kekalainen said prior to Tuesday’s game in the Canadian Tire Centre.

Over the final two periods of Sunday’s 3-1 win in New Jersey, the Sabres’ third straight win under ... Read the full article