Krueger - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres notes: Linus Ullmark wants to show teammates ‘two wins’ in Sweden

BUFFALO – When the Sabres visit Stockholm later this week, Swedish goalie Linus Ullmark would like to show his teammates something special in the historic city.

“Two wins,” said Ullmark, who backed up Carter Hutton for Saturday’s 1-0 loss to the New York Islanders inside KeyBank Center.

Ullmark’s words underscore that while an in-season trip to Europe might be special, the Sabres plan to take it seriously.

The Sabres, who leave for Sweden today, play ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Brandon Montour, Jimmy Vesey to return against Islanders

BUFFALO – For the first time this season, the Sabres have hit a rut.

At 9-3-2 overall, they’re still in terrific shape, mind you. But they’ve lost three of their last four games (1-2-1), getting outscored 14-7 by their opponents.

A day after allowing four goals in the opening 10:44 of their 6-1 loss to the Washington Capitals 6-1, the Sabres face the scorching New York Islanders.

The Islanders have won eight straight games entering ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Rasmus Ristolainen happy with Ralph Krueger: ‘I like whatever he does’

BUFFALO – Instead of offering a short reply, Sabres defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen kept talking, going into detail why he enjoys playing for Ralph Krueger, his fifth coach in seven years.

By his standards, Ristolainen, a man of few words, was gushing.

“I like whatever he does,” Ristolainen said Thursday inside KeyBank Center. “I like how he communicates with us. I like the way he talks. He talks really powerfully and everyone listens. He’s kind of ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Jimmy Vesey practices, hopes to return Saturday

BUFFALO – So much for Jimmy Vesey being week-to-week. The Sabres winger practiced this morning inside LECOM HarborCenter and would like to return from his upper-body injury Saturday against the New York Islanders.

“I got to see the doctor to get cleared,” Vesey said inside KeyBank Center. “If not Saturday, hopefully soon.”

Sabres coach Ralph Krueger said Vesey is now day-to-day.

Vesey was injured in last Thursday’s 6-2 loss, his first game in New York ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Evan Rodrigues generating confidence after slow start

BUFFALO – In their first 13 games, the Sabres have showcased one of the NHL’s slickest offenses, scoring 43 goals, an average of 3.3 a game.

At their current pace, they would score 271 times over 82 contests, their highest full-season total since 2006-07.

Five Sabres have already scored at least 10 points. Fifteen players have registered at least four points.

Only one Sabre who has played more than two games is still pointless: winger ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Brandon Montour ready to play

BUFFALO – The Sabres plan to ease Brandon Montour into the lineup, so the defenseman likely won’t play back-to-back games this weekend.

Montour, 25, injured his left hand in a preseason game Sept. 17, costing him most of training camp and the first 13 games this season.

Asking him to play Friday against the Washington Capitals and Saturday versus the New York Islanders would be a bit much.

“He’s definitely doubtful for two games this ... Read the full article

Despite loss to Coyotes, Sabres finish October in NHL’s top spot

BUFFALO – Jack Eichel’s 23rd birthday started off splendidly, with the Sabres captain scoring a power-play goal just minutes in Monday’s 3-2 shootout loss to the Arizona Coyotes.

When winger Jeff Skinner made 2-0 later in the first period, it seemed like the Sabres could cruise to their sixth straight home win to open the season.

But the Sabres, the NHL’s biggest early-season surprise, have an alarming penchant for squandering two-goals leads.

It happened Monday ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: John Gilmour seizes early chance after waiting 11 games

BUFFALO – John Gilmour had never waited so long to play a game. After appearing in the Sabres’ preseason finale Sept. 27, the defenseman sat out 11 contests before making his season debut Friday.

So Gilmour, the Sabres’ spare defender, patiently waited 28 days for his opportunity to materialize as the blue line remained healthy.

Gilmour, of course, acknowledged being a healthy scratch can be difficult. But he still reveled in the Sabres’ early-season success.... Read the full article

Sabres’ goalie rotation has helped boost early-season success

BUFFALO – After watching Linus Ullmark’s 41-save shutout Friday, Sabres goalie Carter Hutton will start again tonight, his eighth nod this season.

Thanks to their two-game trip to Sweden next week, the Sabres’ schedule is jam-packed.

So through 12 games, Sabres coach Ralph Krueger has mostly rotated the netminders, trying to balance their workload. Krueger even sticks to the goalie plan he and assistant coach Mike Bales have devised following shutouts.

“It’s something that ... Read the full article

Phil Housley happy for Sabres’ success, doesn’t want to dwell on past

BUFFALO – After the Sabres fired Phil Housley on April 7, he wasn’t sure if he wanted to coach again.

Housley’s dismissal after two losing seasons hit him hard. The Sabres, a team he starred for in the 1980s, and Buffalo are close to his heart.

The Hall of Fame defenseman desperately wanted to lead the Sabres back to glory.

“It’s funny, because you sort of think of what you could’ve done differently,” Housley said ... Read the full article