WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
February Edition
Kyle Okposo scored Buffalo’s only goal Thursday. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
It was a recipe for disaster Thursday. The Buffalo Sabres played the second game of a back-to-back missing a whopping 11 players because of injury or illness.
Not surprisingly, the Sabres, who had four players make their debut a night earlier, struggled early and fell 4-1 to the New York Islanders.
In COVID times, of course, teams can find themselves down several players in a day or two.
The Sabres have built up some nice ... Read the full article
Alex Tuch, shown here in November, is fulfilling a dream by playing for Buffalo. ©2021
BUFFALO – The result doesn’t matter. That the undermanned Sabres lost 4-3, even to the reeling New Jersey Devils, wasn’t surprising. The rebuilding team has six players in the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol and played its first game in 12 days.
Wednesday was about the debuts of Alex Tuch, Peyton Krebs, JJ Peterka and what their presence represents for the Sabres’ future.
After a decade of futility, the Sabres finally seem to be adding the right ... Read the full article
Ethan Prow has spent most of his career in the AHL. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Make that four. In addition to forwards Peyton Krebs, JJ Peterka and Alex Tuch, it appears another player, defenseman Ethan Prow, will be making his Sabres debut tonight.
Like Peterka, Prow, 29, has never played in the NHL. Ironically, Peterka and Prow were teammates last season with Red Bull Munich, a Deutsche Eishockey Liga team.
The Sabres this morning recalled Prow to the taxi squad and Casey Fitzgerald to the active roster because ... Read the full article
JJ Peterka is one of Buffalo’s top prospects. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – In the Sabres’ recent history, games as significant as tonight’s can be counted on one hand. How often have three highly regarded young players – in this case, forwards Peyton Krebs, JJ Peterka and Alex Tuch – all made their debuts together?
Their presence illustrates that after a decade of futility, maybe – just maybe – a franchise known for dysfunction is starting to get things rights.
In less than a year, the ... Read the full article
Dylan Cozens entered the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol Sunday. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Sabres coach Don Granato and the five players in the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol will likely be unavailable for Wednesday’s home game against the New Jersey Devils, assistant coach Matt Ellis said.
“I believe our list is our list and we will not have anyone available from that tomorrow,” Ellis, who’s subbing for Granato, said following this morning’s practice inside KeyBank Center.
In addition to Granato, forwards Dylan Cozens, Zemgus Girgensons, Vinnie Hinostroza, Mark ... Read the full article
JJ Peterka learned he was recalled in the grocery store. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Sabres prospect JJ Peterka was grocery shopping with Linus Weissbach on Monday in Rochester when his teammate’s phone rang.
Peterka’s phone wasn’t working, so to relay some special news, Rochester Americans coach Seth Appert called Weissbach, one of the German’s roommates.
“That was kind of weird but then I got the phone and Appert told me I got called up, so it was amazing,” said a smiling Peterka, who was officially recalled this ... Read the full article
Peyton Krebs has played 16 games with Rochester. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu, Rochester Americans.
BUFFALO – The Sabres this morning added reinforcements for their depleted lineup, recalling forward prospects Peyton Krebs, JJ Peterka and Arttu Ruotsalainen from the Rochester Americans.
The Sabres, who have five forwards in the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol, practiced with just 10 forwards Monday.
Krebs, 20, played 13 games for the Vegas Golden Knights over the past two seasons. Peterka, 19, has never played in the NHL. Ruotsalainen, 24, started the season with the Sabres.
Peyton Krebs has recorded seven points in the last three games. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
ROCHESTER – At the end, after adding two more assists, Buffalo Sabres prospect Peyton Krebs showcased his underutilized shot, one-timing Sean Malone’s pass to secure the Americans’ fourth consecutive victory.
Wednesday’s overtime goal was just Krebs’ third shot on goal in the last four games. The winger, however, had recorded a whopping seven points in the last three contests entering Friday, six of them assists.
Amerks assistant coach Michael Peca, who subbed for coach ... Read the full article
Casey Mittelstadt has played just four games this season. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Sabres coach Don Granato acknowledged that, yes, sometimes it can be hard to resist the temptation to recall one of the organization’s top prospects.
“There is a big temptation, yes, yes,” Granato said following Wednesday’s practice inside KeyBank Center. “When you go to Rochester and you see the skill level of those kids … there’s a big temptation that’s tough to fight at times.”
Having lost center Casey Mittelstadt to another upper-body injury ... Read the full article
Mark Jankowski thrived in Rochester before signing with Buffalo. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu, Rochester Americans
BUFFALO – After spending nearly four straight seasons in the NHL, Sabres center Mark Jankowski found limited opportunities as a free agent during the summer. Eventually, he settled for an invitation to the New Jersey Devils’ training camp.
After the tryout expired and the Devils passed on signing him, a chance to join the Rochester Americans materialized.
Jankowski said he and the Amerks’ coaching staff talked a lot. He liked what he heard and felt ... Read the full article