Levi - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Mature effort helps Sabres rally to beat Blues in OT: ‘Learning the game’

BUFFALO – The competitive balance in the NHL has perhaps never been higher, meaning the difference between the top and bottom teams is slim.

There are no gimme games, as coaches will tell you. Still, this week, two teams – the St. Louis Blues and Montreal Canadiens – limped into KeyBank Center reeling and ripe to be exploited.

The Sabres nearly lost both games.

But forget the Sabres needed to late rally and overtime Thursday ... Read the full article

Sabres’ James Reimer geared up to be back; Tage Thompson, UPL out injured

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

Sabres boost goalie depth by claiming James Reimer on waivers

BUFFALO – Goalie James Reimer is back with the Sabres after a five-week stint playing for the Anaheim Ducks.

The Sabres on Wednesday reclaimed Reimer on waivers from the Ducks, who took the veteran Oct. 7 after Buffalo put him on the wire.

Anaheim goalie John Gibson’s recent return from an appendectomy made Reimer, 36, expendable. Reimer played two games for the Ducks, compiling a 0-2-0 mark with a 4.50 goals-against average and an .864 ... Read the full article

‘Humbled’ Sabres lose ugly contest to Canadiens, Tage Thompson to injury

BUFFALO – Almost five minutes into Monday afternoon’s ugly 7-5 loss to the Canadiens, Sabres center Tage Thompson grabbed a pass from linemate Alex Tuch inside the Montreal blue line and skated down the left wing.

Thompson cut to the net from the left circle, using one hand to fend off Canadiens star Cole Caufield and the other to guide the puck. When he reached the crease, Thompson, who later left the game injured, scored ... Read the full article

As UPL tightens grip on No. 1 job, what do the Sabres do with Devon Levi?

BUFFALO – After rotating games with Devon Levi for two weeks, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has grabbed the Sabres’ No. 1 goalie job again, starting four straight games and nine of the last 10 contests.

Luukkonen’s emergence is hardly surprising. The Finn, 25, established himself as the Sabres’ backbone and one of the NHL’s elite goalies down the stretch last season, playing 36 of the last 43 games. He thrives with the consistent action.

Entering this ... Read the full article

Sabres raise standard, defeat Senators; Henri Jokiharju, Mattias Samuelsson scratched

BUFFALO – Hours before the Sabres ended their three-game losing streak Tuesday by shellacking the Ottawa Senators 5-1, coach Lindy Ruff demanded more of his goalies, saying his team needed bigger saves at critical times.

Ruff wasn’t pinning the Sabres’ recent struggles on Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Devon Levi. In the same breath, said he needed his scorers to finish. He has been asking more of everyone as he tries to raise the Sabres’ standard.

But ... Read the full article

Dylan Cozens scores early, but mistakes doom Sabres in loss to Islanders

BUFFALO – The New York Islanders limped into town in a tailspin, having lost three straight games and scored just one goal in their last eight periods. They departed Friday filled with confidence after handing the Sabres a troubling 4-3 defeat.

Following two season-opening losses, the Sabres had found a groove, compiling a 4-2-1 mark in their next seven games. Sure, they hardly set the NHL on fire, but in these parts, a record like ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Lindy Ruff could utilize depth to change Buffalo’s lineup

BUFFALO – Right now, the Sabres’ depth offers coach Lindy Ruff some intriguing options. He has been scratching three healthy players each game, meaning he has fresh bodies he can plug into the lineup.

With another game tonight in Detroit, he can infuse some jump in a team that will likely feel fatigued following Friday’s 4-3 loss to the New York Islanders in KeyBank Center.

“In back-to-back games, we’ll have depth to put fresh bodies ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Zach Benson close to returning from injury; Devon Levi set to start

BUFFALO – For six games, winger Zach Benson gutted out a lower-body injury that hindered his performance before the Sabres yanked him from the lineup.

“It’s hard to tell a player not to play,” Sabres Lindy Ruff said this morning after Benson participated in the Sabres’ optional pregame skate in KeyBank Center. “… There’s a lot of guys that aren’t 100 percent. There’s something that might be bothering a lot of different players right now. ... Read the full article

Sabres continue troubling start, lose to Blue Jackets: ‘They won more battles’

COLUMBUS – Seventy-six games remain for the Buffalo Sabres following Thursday’s ugly 6-4 loss to the Blue Jackets, so there’s time to correct things.

But having started this season a dreadful 1-4-1, they better get going in a hurry. Right now, it sure feels a lot like past years. Not much has changed under new coach Lindy Ruff.

The Sabres are a mess defensively. Their special teams are brutal.... Read the full article