WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
Stanley Cup Playoffs Edition
Konsta Helenius played nine games for Buffalo earlier this season. ©2026, Micheline Veluvolu
MONTREAL – A week ago, shortly after center Konsta Helenius arrived in Buffalo to serve as a Black Ace, the Sabres promoted the rookie to the main practice group.
While the Sabres boast depth up front, Helenius, who turned 20 on Monday, is a high-end young talent. By moving him up, they illustrated he could be an option during the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
On Tuesday, in Game 4 of the Sabres’ second-round series, Helenius made ... Read the full article
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen hasn’t played since Game 2 of the first round. ©2026, Micheline Veluvolu
MONTREAL – Based on their morning skate, the Buffalo Sabres plan to make three lineup changes tonight for Game 4 of their second-round series against the Canadiens, including switching goalies to Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen.
After the losing the last two games by a combined score of 11-3, the Sabres, who trail 2-1 in the best-of-seven series, also plan to dress rookie center Konsta Helenius and veteran defenseman Luke Schenn, a two-time Stanley Cup winner who offers ... Read the full article
Buffalo Jason Zucker has struggled during the playoffs. ©2026, Micheline Veluvolu
MONTREAL – In October, just a few games into the season, Sabres coach Lindy Ruff might offer little or no information about his lineup. So right now, in the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, he’s not going to divulge anything.
The Sabres, having fallen behind 2-1 to the Canadiens in the best-of-seven series and been outscored 11-3 in losing the last two games, might be ready to change some things for Game 4 ... Read the full article
Alex Lyon made 28 saves in Game 3. ©2026, Micheline Veluvolu
MONTREAL – Center Tage Thompson sat at his stall on Sunday, sounding unshaken as he calmly answered questions from a throng of reporters following the Buffalo Sabres’ ugly 6-2 loss to the Canadiens.
In losing by four goals for the second consecutive game, the Sabres fell behind 2-1 in the best-of-seven second-round series.
In the Canadiens, the Sabres, the NHL’s best team over the last five months, have possibly met their match.... Read the full article
The Bell Centre is the NHL’s noisiest rink. ©2026
MONTREAL – How crazy might it get tonight inside the Bell Centre?
The NHL’s largest rink becomes raucous on a weeknight in November. How loud might the more than 21,000 fans get for Game 3 of the second-round series in the Stanley Cup Playoffs between their beloved Canadiens and the Buffalo Sabres?
“Our building’s been great,” Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said this morning in the 4 Seasons Hotel Montreal. “I think theirs will be equal, ... Read the full article
Alex Lyon won three games in the first round. ©2026, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – It can be easy to forget now. Goalie Alex Lyon just performed dynamically while winning three games and backstopping the Sabres to their first postseason series win in 19 years.
But a few weeks ago, Lyon, 33, was a bit of an afterthought as the Sabres entered the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2011.
In his last three starts of the regular season, he struggled mightily, posting a ghastly 6.24 ... Read the full article
Alex Lyon won both of his starts in Boston. ©2026, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Alex Lyon loves to talk. Off the ice, the loquacious Sabres goalie, an affable, down-to-earth personality, always seems to offer some thoughtful words.
On planes rides, winger Josh Doan often has discussions with Lyon, who attended Yale University, about hockey and other subjects.
“We negotiate pretty good,” Doan said in KeyBank Center, where if the Sabres beat the Boston Bruins tonight in Game 5, they will win their first series in the Stanley ... Read the full article
Peyton Krebs opened the scoring Sunday afternoon. ©2026, Micheline Velovolu
BOSTON – Just over four minutes into Sunday afternoon’s 6-1 annihilation of the Bruins, Buffalo Sabres center Tage Thompson hectored an opponent along the wall, freeing the puck for linemate Alex Tuch to grab in the offensive zone.
When Tuch reached the right circle, he fed winger Peyton Krebs in the slot, and the winger quickly beat goalie Jeremy Swayman.
The goal at 4:17, the Sabres’ first in the opening 20 minutes during the Stanley Cup ... Read the full article
Noah Ostlund looked impressive in his postseason debut Thursday. ©2026, Micheline Veluvolu
BOSTON – Mattias Samuelsson, having broken his stick, was essentially helpless as he tried to get the puck out of his own zone. The Buffalo Sabres defenseman tried kicking it out, but that only made matters worse.
Viktor Arvidsson quickly grabbed the puck and made a beeline for Sabres goalie Alex Lyon. As the Swede roared in, captain Rasmus Dahlin slashed him, giving the Bruins a penalty shot as they enjoyed a 1-0 lead 9:50 ... Read the full article
Alex Lyon played four postseason games with Florida.
BOSTON – Buffalo Sabres goalie Alex Lyon has experienced this before. Three years ago, he started three games during the Florida Panthers’ stunning first-round upset of the Bruins in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. He later had a relief appearance in the final.
Turning to Lyon on Thursday for Game 3 of the Sabres’ opening-round series felt inevitable after goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen allowed an 89-foot goal and later got pulled from Tuesday’s 4-2 home loss to ... Read the full article