Kulich - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres’ UPL, Zach Benson near return; Jordan Greenway trying new treatment for injury

BUFFALO – In the near future, Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and winger Zach Benson, both of whom were injured prior to the Olympic break, could start practicing again, coach Lindy Ruff said.

Ruff said Luukkonen, whose lower-body injury forced him to miss the Milano Cortina Games, skated on his own Wednesday before the Sabres’ first post-break practice.

“He’s within days of joining us,” Ruff said following the session in LECOM Harborcenter.... 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

Sabres goalie Colten Ellis ready to start; Jiri Kulich ‘progressing’

BUFFALO – Following nearly a month on the sideline, Sabres goalie Colten Ellis is expected to start tonight’s road game against the New York Rangers, his first outing since suffering a concussion Dec. 9 in Edmonton.

A lot has happened since the rookie left the Sabres’ 4-3 overtime victory against the Oilers, a triumph that ignited a 10-game win streak.

Alex Lyon, who replaced Ellis, morphed into the NHL’s hottest goalie before suffering a lower-body ... 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

Sabres’ Lindy Ruff sad to see GM Kevyn Adams fired, faces uncertain future

BUFFALO – Coach Lindy Ruff walked into the media room, his whistle still hanging around his neck after running the Sabres’ first practice since general manager Kevyn Adams’ dismissal, and stood at the podium looking somber.

Ruff, 65, and Adams, 51, go way back and enjoyed a close working relationship.

Late in Ruff’s first tenure here, he hired Adams as a skills coach before promoting him to an assistant on his staff. Last year, Adams ... Read the full article

Josh Norris wows in return as Sabres beat Jets: ‘He was unbelievable’

BUFFALO – In his first action in almost eight weeks, center Josh Norris needed less than three minutes to give the Sabres a taste of what they had been missing for the last 24 games.

During a power play, Norris, who hadn’t played since suffering an upper-body injury opening night, skated into the right circle and adroitly fed winger Josh Doan the puck at the top of the crease.

A second later, winger Jason Zucker ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Zach Benson happy to be back after injury; Jason Zucker can play Friday following illness

BUFFALO – The oddest stretch of Zach Benson’s young career is likely over. The diminutive Sabres winger rejoined his teammates for Wednesday’s pregame skate and hopes he can play in the coming days.

Two injuries – a seemingly innocent cut that forced him to be hospitalized the day before the season opener and a lower-body ailment – have kept him out of 12 of the Sabres’ first 20 games, including the last nine after a ... Read the full article

Sabres star Tage Thompson attacking game and scoring goals as center

BUFFALO – In each of the last two games, Sabres center Tage Thompson has confidently freewheeled through the neutral zone and carried the puck with authority into enemy territory.

In Saturday’s 5-4 overtime win, he beat Detroit Red Wings star Alex DeBrincat in the left circle before cutting to the net and tucking the puck past goalie John Gibson as he fell to the ice.

The 6-foot-6, 220-pound Thompson nearly scored a similar goal in ... Read the full article

As offense struggles, Sabres need Tage Thompson, Alex Tuch to keep scoring

BUFFALO – Early in the third period of Saturday’s 6-3 loss in Carolina, the Sabres busted out of their week-long offensive slump, scoring twice to creep within one goal against the Hurricanes.

First, winger Alex Tuch beat goalie Pyotr Kochetkov from the right circle at 3:23, moving them within 4-2. Winger Tage Thompson followed up at 6:29, converting center Ryan McLeod’s nifty feed from the slot.

In a span of 3:06 the Sabres scored as ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Jiri Kulich to miss ‘significant time’ with blood clot issue

BUFFALO – Sabres center Jiri Kulich will miss “significant time” because of a blood clot issue, coach Lindy Ruff said, the latest blow for a team decimated by injuries and illness.

“I’m not going to go any further into details, but pretty serious,” Ruff said following Monday’s morning’s practice in LECOM Harborcenter.

Kulich, 21, has missed the last three games. The clot was discovered when he underwent additional testing after fluid built up in his ... Read the full article