Luukkonen - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres to scratch Konsta Helenius, Jiri Kulich; Colten Ellis to start in goal

BUFFALO – Fresh off Thursday’s embarrassing 4-0 loss to the Dallas Stars, you expected the Sabres to change their lineup for tonight’s game against Utah Mammoth.

Sure enough, coach Lindy Ruff will be scratching young forwards Konsta Helenius, 20, and Jiri Kulich, 22, and inserting Sam Carrick and Tyson Kozak.

Meanwhile, goalie Colten Ellis is expected to start tonight. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, who played three of the first four games, has a ghastly .782 save percentage.... Read the full article

Newcomer Matt Villalta gives Rochester Amerks No. 1 goalie, Sabres depth

ROCHESTER – Having grinded in the minors for years and occasionally earned trips to the NHL, goalie Matt Villalta symbolizes the new-look Americans.

The Buffalo Sabres’ AHL affiliate still has some strong young talent, most notably defenseman Radim Mrtka, the ninth overall pick in 2025.

But the Amerks have become a veteran club this season. Their most dynamic youngsters in 2025-25 – forwards Konsta Helenius and Noah Ostlund – have graduated to Buffalo.... Read the full article

Sabres hear boos, get blanked by Stars in ugly loss: ‘Didn’t have our game’

BUFFALO – How’s this for a throwback to, uh, early last season? The Sabres performed so poorly in Thursday’s ugly 4-0 loss to the Dallas Stars that surly fans booed throughout night.

They booed as the Sabres frittered away three power plays. They booed when they left the ice down four goals at the end of the second period.

When the final horn sounded, what remained of what was a capacity crowd of 19,070 fans ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Jason Zucker progressing after surgery, has ‘soft date’ for return

BUFFALO – In the back of his mind, winger Jason Zucker said he and the Sabres have a time frame for when he can play again after undergoing sports hernia surgery in early August.

“But it’s a very soft date at this point,” Zucker said this morning in KeyBank Center.

For now, Zucker, 34, is rehabbing skating and joining his teammates for pregame skates. He participated in a gray non-contact jersey this morning as the ... Read the full article

Peyton Krebs, the Sabres’ ‘Swiss Army knife,’ has grown under Lindy Ruff: ‘He’s trusted me’

BUFFALO – As a first-line winger, a role he assumed for the Sabres late in Tuesday’s come-from-behind win, the versatile Peyton Krebs transforms his mentality.

Alongside center Tage Thompson and another scoring threat, Krebs knows he must forecheck, meaning he will have the puck less than he does skating on the third or fourth line.

“Kind of just contribute to those guys making sure they’re getting the puck,” Krebs told the Times Herald during training ... Read the full article

Year after waiver claim brought him to Buffalo, goalie Colten Ellis entrenched with Sabres, ready for first start

BUFFALO – It was exactly one year ago today – Oct. 6, 2025 – when the Sabres claimed a little-known goalie named Colten Ellis with no NHL experience off waivers.

These days, Ellis, who’s expected to make his first start this season tonight against the Minnesota Wild at KeyBank Center, is a big piece of the Sabres, having established himself as a strong option throughout a surprising rookie campaign.

“Looking back a year ago today, ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Jiri Kulich scores game-winning goal versus Blackhawks after return from blood clot: ‘Lot of emotions’

BUFFALO – The other guys, Sabres center Jiri Kulich noted, did the heavy lifting to create his first goal in 343 days, the late winner in Saturday’s thrilling 4-3 come-from-behind victory.

Seconds before he gave the Sabres their first lead in the home opener, Kulich misfired after center Tage Thompson sent him in alone on Chicago Blackhawks goalie Spencer Knight during a four-on-four.

“I was pretty pissed after the first one,” said Kulich, who was ... Read the full article

Blackhawks’ Bowen Byram to miss first game versus Sabres after trade; Jordan Greenway begins ‘new chapter’

BUFFALO – Bowen Byram’s first game here as a member of the Chicago Blackhawks will have to wait until next season.

Blackhawks coach Jeff Blashill said Byram, 25, is attending to a personal matter and will miss tonight’s game against the Sabres at KeyBank Center.

The Sabres traded Byram, who wanted an opportunity to become a No. 1 defenseman, to Chicago on June 23 in a blockbuster deal that brought the fourth overall pick ... Read the full article

Jack Quinn, the Sabres’ power play and other things to watch this season

BUFFALO – Friendly reminder, gang, while Seth Appert is the assistant coach in charge of the Sabres’ power play, it’s Lindy Ruff’s show. He’s the head coach.

Oh, and goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen posted a .909 save percentage last season. Yes, the Finn struggled at times in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. But he still enjoyed a strong campaign.

Why do these things bear repeating just one game into the season? Well, the Sabres lost Thursday’s opener ... Read the full article

Confidence, special ability to meet big moments make Sabres rookie Konsta Helenius unique talent

BUFFALO – When he hopped inside Sami Pajari’s Toyota Yaris in July, Sabres rookie Konsta Helenius figured the Finnish rally car driver would navigate a bit slower than usual through the rough terrain of the forest with a guest aboard.

Instead, Pajari, one of the world’s top-ranked racers, shocked Helenius by speeding through the course in Ylivieska, Finland.

“He did like better time than with his own passenger who’s reading the map,” Helenius recently told ... Read the full article