Kulich - Buffalo Hockey Beat

With JJ Peterka injured, Sabres rookie Jiri Kulich earns another chance

BUFFALO – Instead of judging Sabres rookie Jiri Kulich on the 14 minutes he nervously skated Saturday in Czechia, his home country, coach Lindy Ruff thinks back to the youngster’s recent exploits in the Prospect Challenge tournament.

“He’s looking at this (as it’s) my first real shot, there’s some nerves,” Ruff said of the forward’s second NHL game. “What I saw in Prague wasn’t the real Kulich. What we saw in that prospect camp showed ... Read the full article

Sabres focused on fixing power play: ‘Going to be great’

BUFFALO – Prior to Tuesday’s practice, the Sabres’ power-play units and coaching staff could be found across the street at LECOM Harborcenter working on the man advantage.

“I don’t know if that mock resistance by the coaches was any good, but I felt the speed coming at us was pretty good,” Sabres coach Lindy Ruff cracked.

When the regular session began at KeyBank Center, the Sabres focused on their power play for the first 43 ... Read the full article

Sabres send two players to Rochester, set 23-man roster

The Buffalo Sabres on Monday finalized their 23-man regular-season roster by loaning defenseman Kale Clague and winger Lukas Rousek to the Rochester Americans after they cleared waivers, and placing winger Nicolas Aube-Kubel on injured reserve.

Right now, the Sabres have 13 forwards, eight defensemen and two goalies. For the time being at least, rookie forward Jiri Kulich, who played his second NHL game Saturday, has a spot.... Read the full article

Sabres lose JJ Peterka to concussion, Zach Benson to lower-body injury

Three injured forwards. Two losses. One struggling team.

Any early-season optimism surrounding the Buffalo Sabres vanished during back-to-back season-opening setbacks to the New Jersey Devils in Prague, Czechia.

In Saturday’s 3-1 loss, Sabres winger JJ Peterka suffered a concussion when New Jersey Devils defenseman Brenden Dillon hit him in the head as he skated through the neutral zone, coach Lindy Ruff told reporters in Prague.... Read the full article

Amerks’ Mason Jobst has NHL contract, belief he can play for Sabres

BUFFALO – At 30, an advanced age in which a hockey player is often past his prime, center Mason Jobst sees the door to the NHL open a crack.

Jobst, you see, keeps getting better. Over the past three years, he has jumped from 15 to 38 to 50 points. He just enjoyed a career season, tying Isak Rosen for the Rochester Americans’ lead in points and scoring 22 goals, the AHL team’s second-highest total.... Read the full article

Prospect Jiri Kulich, other extra players to accompany Sabres on European trip

BUFFALO – The 27 players who practiced this morning in KeyBank Center – 15 forwards, nine defensemen and three goalies – will accompany the Sabres on their season-opening European trip, coach Lindy Ruff said.

The Sabres, who fly to Germany tonight, will bring the maximum amount of players allowed. They must trim their roster to 23, the standard regular-season size, before their opener Oct. 4 in Prague, Czechia.

Jiri Kulich, arguably the Sabres’ top forward ... Read the full article

JJ Peterka scores hat trick, shows star qualities as Sabres throttle Penguins

BUFFALO – Let’s temper any excitement over the Sabres’ 7-3 win and winger JJ Peterka’s hat trick in Saturday’s preseason opener by noting the Pittsburgh Penguins brought their B or C squad to KeyBank Center.

The Sabres, meanwhile, dressed what resembled a regular-season lineup featuring perhaps their top two lines and No. 1 goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen.

An emphatic victory was almost expected. Following a slow start, the Sabres began annihilating the visitors, scoring five times ... Read the full article

Sabres preseason: Buffalo to dress most of regulars, give Jiri Kulich first chance

BUFFALO – When coach Lindy Ruff said most of the Sabres’ regulars would dress for the preseason opener, he wasn’t kidding.

Tonight’s roster resembles a regular-season lineup, with perhaps the entire first and second lines playing against the Pittsburgh Penguins at KeyBank Center.

Assistant coach Seth Appert said No. 1 goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen will start and go the distance.

While the lineup mostly features established talent, rookie winger Jiri Kulich will receive his first action ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Rasmus Dahlin injured; Matt Savoie trade filled big need

BUFFALO – Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin’s first practice under new coach Lindy Ruff lasted just a few minutes.

Dahlin, 24, departed Wednesday’s opening session of training camp early after suffering what Ruff called a “mid-range” injury.

Ruff had no update on Dahlin, who will be examined.

“It’s just one of those things he was passing the puck and something happened,” Ruff said in KeyBank Center. “So (as a) precaution, (we) got him off.”... Read the full article

After signing contract, Sabres’ Peyton Krebs might have to battle for spot

BUFFALO – When the Sabres overhauled their third and fourth lines during the offseason by trading for Ryan McLeod and Beck Malenstyn and signing two free agents, center Peyton Krebs’ future here became uncertain.

Krebs, the Sabres’ last restricted free agent, is officially back for his fourth season, having signed a two-year, $2.9 million contract on Tuesday. But as training camp opens today with the first on-ice sessions in KeyBank Center, it’s unclear where he ... Read the full article