Luukkonen - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres place Casey Fitzgerald on waivers, create roster spot

BUFFALO – The Sabres this afternoon waived defenseman Casey Fitzgerald, a move that creates a roster spot for them to recall goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen from the Rochester Americans.

Update: Defenseman Henri Jokiharju, out since suffering a lower-body injury on Dec. 9, has been activated from injured reserve and taken Fitzgerald’s roster spot, according to the team’s website.

Update: General manager Kevyn Adams said on today’s “Jeff Marek Show” on 590 The Fan that Luukkonen ... Read the full article

After sending Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen to Amerks, expect more moves as Sabres try to keep three goalies

BUFFALO – By loaning goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen to the Rochester Americans to create a roster spot for Eric Comrie, the Sabres bought themselves some time.

Right now, the Sabres have a full 23-man roster. If they wanted to activate Comrie from injured reserve and keep Luukkonen, they might’ve had to waive a young defenseman and risk losing him.

The Sabres can send Luukkonen, 23, to the AHL without waivers, so his assignment on Monday ... Read the full article

Sabres send Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen to Rochester, activate Eric Comrie

BUFFALO – The Sabres late this afternoon assigned goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen to the Rochester Americans, a move that allows them activate Eric Comrie from injured reserve.

Comrie, 27, has missed the last 20 games recovering from a lower-body injury he suffered on Nov. 16. He will likely dress as Craig Anderson’s backup tonight against the Philadelphia Flyers at KeyBank Center.

Given Luukkonen’s hot streak – he has won six straight starts and eight of his ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Eric Comrie set to return from conditioning stint in Rochester

BUFFALO – When the Sabres convene for their pregame skate this morning, Eric Comrie will likely be one of three goalies on the ice as they prepare for the Philadelphia Flyers.

On Friday, Comrie made the third and likely final start of his conditioning assignment with the Rochester Americans, stopping 24 shots in a 3-2 home loss to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.

He did not dress for Saturday’s 4-3 road win over the Syracuse Crunch.... Read the full article

Brilliant outing by Rasmus Dahlin leads Sabres past Wild in OT: ‘He was a force’

BUFFALO – By the end of one of the most brilliant performances by a Sabres defenseman in their 53-year history, Rasmus Dahlin was exhausted.

Dahlin, having surpassed a minute on the ice, desperately wanted to get to the bench for a breather late in Saturday’s frantic overtime against the Minnesota Wild.

“I was going to, but I have to play defense,” Dahlin said following his dynamic two-goal, five-point performance in the Sabres’ thrilling 6-5 win. ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Henri Jokiharju nears return from lower-body injury

BUFFALO – Sabres defenseman Henri Jokiharju, sidelined since suffering a lower-body injury on Dec. 9, could play in about a week, coach Don Granato said.

Jokiharju, 23, joined his teammates this morning and skated in a contact role as they prepared for tonight’s game against the Minnesota Wild. The Finn has missed the last nine games.

“When a player gets back into practice, that window is really short at this point, as long as he ... Read the full article

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen’s emergence gives Sabres good goalie problem

BUFFALO – Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen’s emergence as the Sabres’ No. 1 goalie has created a good problem the team will likely have to address in the coming days.

Luukkonen, having won five straight starts and seven of his last eight entering tonight’s home game against the Minnesota Wild, has possibly entrenched himself in the NHL. The Finn, 23, has developed into the Sabres’ backbone and one of their biggest difference-makers over the past month.

His splendid ... Read the full article

Sabres send Eric Comrie to Rochester on AHL conditioning assignment

The Buffalo Sabres on Saturday sent goalie Eric Comrie, who suffered a lower-body injury on Nov. 16, to the Rochester Americans on a conditioning assignment.

Comrie, who has missed the last 17 games, started practicing again in mid-December. He can stay with the Amerks for a maximum of 14 days, according to the collective bargaining agreement.

The Amerks play a road game on Saturday afternoon against the Toronto Marlies.

Update: Comrie started and made ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Kyle Okposo scores hat trick in emotional win following blizzard

BUFFALO – The symbolism wasn’t lost on coach Don Granato. In Thursday’s emotional 6-3 victory over the Detroit Red Wings, the Sabres’ first game since a devastating blizzard ravaged the region, captain Kyle Okposo led the way, scoring a hat trick.

Okposo, the Sabres’ heart and soul, has embedded himself and his family in the community, Granato said, making his year-round home here.

“This is life and lots of people in life and death situations, ... Read the full article

Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen maturing, making case to stick in NHL

BUFFALO – Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen needed time to adjust. In his first outings after the Sabres recalled him, the goalie occasionally looked a little wonky.

The Finn wasn’t much of a difference-maker.

Luukkonen, 23, had played just 13 NHL games, the last coming more than 10 months earlier, before Eric Comrie’s lower-body injury thrust into the starting role in late November. Having been labeled as the Sabres’ goalie of the future, when he’s summoned to Buffalo, ... Read the full article