WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
October Edition
Tage Thompson has missed the last five games. ©2024, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – In Tage Thompson’s absence, the Sabres have done well, going 4-1-0 and winning all three stops last week in California without their top center.
By the end of the trip, Thompson, who said he’s “ready to go” for tonight’s home game against the Minnesota Wild, told the Sabres he would play if they needed him.
Still, they held him out of Friday’s 3-2 overtime win against the Anaheim Ducks and Saturday’s 4-2 victory ... Read the full article
James Reimer returned to Buffalo on Wednesday. ©2024, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – On Wednesday night, hours after the Sabres reclaimed him on waivers, goalie James Reimer told his wife, April, he’s looking forward to wearing some matching gear again.
After the Anaheim Ducks claimed him from Buffalo on Oct. 7, Reimer wore the black and red pads he planned on using when the Sabres sported their third jerseys. The red clashed with the Ducks’ orange color scheme.
Instead of a painted mask, he wore a ... Read the full article
Tage Thompson has a four-game goal streak. ©2024, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Sabres center Tage Thompson and goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen both missed Wednesday’s practice and are day to day with their respective injuries. Coach Lindy Ruff said they could play in tonight’s home game against the St. Louis Blues.
That’s the good news for the Sabres. The bad? Ruff said the lower-body injury defenseman Mattias Samuelsson suffered in Monday afternoon’s 7-5 loss to the Montreal Canadiens will sideline him “weeks.” The injury, however, isn’t season-ending.... Read the full article
Rasmus Dahlin had three assists Saturday. ©2024, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – It’s pretty easy to tell when Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin is playing at his best. Look for him to be smiling and laughing.
“That’s when it’s more freedom out there, no thinking and I move my feet,” Dahlin said following Sunday’s practice in KeyBank Center.
In the weeks after Dahlin, 24, returned from a mid-body injury he suffered minutes into the first session of training camp – he mentioned he injured his back ... Read the full article
Dylan Cozens knows he must score goals. ©2024, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – In the waning minutes Tuesday, as the Stars pressed for another goal, Sabres center Dylan Cozens grabbed the puck inside the Dallas blue line with a chance to seal a victory and generate some much-needed confidence.
Cozens simply had to deposit it into the empty net 63 feet away to register his first goal this season. Instead, his shot hit the right side of the cage. Play continued, and winger Alex Tuch’s ... Read the full article
Beck Malenstyn leads Buffalo in hits. ©2024, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Through eight games, no Sabres forward has played less than Beck Malenstyn. The newcomer has eclipsed the 10-minute mark just twice. In one contest, he skated only 1 minute, 52 seconds over three shifts.
Still, Malenstyn, a physical fourth-line winger the Sabres valued so highly they traded a second-round pick to acquire him, makes use of his limited action.
Despite averaging just 8 minutes, 28 seconds per outing, he has recorded a ... Read the full article
Nicolas Aube-Kubel has played one game for Buffalo. ©2024, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – After winger Nicolas Aube-Kubel suffered a lower-body injury, believed to be a knee sprain, in the season opener Oct. 4, the Sabres said he would be sidelined three to six weeks.
On Tuesday morning, 18 days after going down, Aube-Kubel rejoined his teammates on the KeyBank Center ice prior to their 4-2 win over the Dallas Stars.
“I’m actually shocked,” Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said. “I’m really impressed that he’s back.”
Aube-Kubel, ... Read the full article
Sam Laffferty signed a two-year contract with Buffalo. ©2024, Micheline Veluvolu
PITTSBURGH – This is new for Sam Lafferty. In his previous four stops, the versatile Sabres newcomer was always one of the younger guys. He played his first NHL game barely five years ago.
But these days, Lafferty, 29, looks around Buffalo’s dressing room and mostly sees younger faces. Only winger Jason Zucker, 32, is older than Lafferty, who’s six weeks older than defenseman Connor Clifton.
At an average age of just 25.3, the ... Read the full article
Mattias Samuelsson (center) and his Buffalo teammates celebrate his goal Saturday. ©2024, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – It felt like things might be turning for the Sabres when late in Saturday’s first period, having just answered the Florida Panthers and tied the game, center Tage Thompson roared down the right wing and unleashed the puck toward the net.
During the Sabres’ three season-opening losses, the opposing goalie would’ve stopped a shot like that. This time, however, they enjoyed a little puck luck that had been non-existent.
Panthers goalie Spencer Knight, ... Read the full article
Nicolas Aube-Kubel (left) moves alongside New Jersey’s Jonas Siegenthaler last week in Prague, Czechia.
BUFFALO – Sabres winger Nicolas Aube-Kubel, who suffered a lower-body injury in Friday’s season opener, will be sidelined about three to six weeks, coach Lindy Ruff said.
There is, however, some good news. Ruff said wingers JJ Peterka (concussion) and Zach Benson (lower body) are considered day to day after suffering injuries in Prague, Czechia.
Neither practiced Tuesday in KeyBank Bank Center, the Sabres’ first session since returning from their season-opening trip.... Read the full article