Luukkonen - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Injury gave Sabres’ Mattias Samuelsson chance to reset mentally, find game

BUFFALO – Looking back on it, Sabres defenseman Mattias Samuelsson considers the lower-body injury he suffered earlier this season to be a blessing in disguise.

A few months ago, Samuelsson, 24, acknowledged he was “just in my head about a lot of things.”

“Worrying about things we can’t control,” he told the Times Herald following Thursday’s practice in KeyBank Center. “When you’re like that, you’re obviously not playing your best and not playing free.”... Read the full article

Ryan McLeod’s three goals help Sabres beat Hurricanes; Buffalo records zero shots in odd third period

BUFFALO – In these parts, there are rarely normal games. The Sabres, you see, often make things interesting. They like to do things differently.

In beating the Carolina Hurricanes 4-2 on Wednesday, they took a 3-0 lead into the third period before gutting out a much-needed win despite recording zero shots on goal in the final 20 minutes.

How did the Sabres score late without the benefit of a shot? Well, as center Ryan McLeod ... Read the full article

Sabres blow another lead, implode late in loss to Kraken: ‘Hard one to explain’

BUFFALO – Don’t blame the Sabres’ problems on talent. They possess plenty of it. No, their sorry standing and penchant for blowing multi-goal leads can be traced to between the ears.

They’re fragile mentally, and at the first sign of adversity they often crumble.

Saturday afternoon’s embarrassing 6-2 loss to the hapless Seattle Kraken, a game in which the Sabres led 2-0 in the first period, only reinforced that.

“Mental, all mental,” captain Rasmus Dahlin ... Read the full article

Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen recapturing elite form of last season

BUFFALO – In winning five of his last seven starts, goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has reemerged as the Sabres’ backbone, helping them shake off a disastrous stretch in which they plummeted to the Eastern Conference basement.

Over the past three weeks, the Finn has regularly showcased the stellar form that made him one of the NHL’s elite netminders throughout the second half of last season.

Luukkonen was at his best in Thursday’s 4-0 road win over ... Read the full article

Sabres earn much-needed win against Capitals; Jiri Kulich leaves with injury

BUFFALO – In earning just their 15th win in 41 attempts, a 4-3 shootout triumph over the heavyweight Washington Capitals, the Sabres should feel a glimmer of hope exactly halfway through what has been, shall we say, a challenging season.

The Sabres still sit in last place in the Eastern Conference following Monday’s victory. They must make up a six-point deficit and climb seven teams to reach the second wild card spot.

Still, if they ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Ryan McLeod looking for goals, linemates; Buffalo changes lineup

BUFFALO – For weeks, Sabres forward Ryan McLeod has moved around the lineup, skating on scoring lines and checking trios and playing center or even occasionally the wing.

McLeod, who displayed strong chemistry pivoting Jordan Greenway and Jason Zucker on the third line earlier in the season, hasn’t found a fit.

Greenway is recovering from surgery to repair a mid-body injury and has missed the last 10 games and 22 of the past 26 contests. ... Read the full article

Sabres ride hot start, Alex Tuch’s hat trick to win over Blackhawks

BUFFALO – Alex Tuch’s estimate was just a bit off. Following his slick three-goal performance in Friday’s 6-2 annihilation of the Chicago Blackhawks, the Sabres winger said scoring his first goal at home in “several months” took a monkey off his back.

In reality, Tuch had last scored Nov. 29 in KeyBank Center. Given the Sabres’ recent 13-game winless skid and his own struggles, that probably feels like months ago.

“Doing it in front of ... Read the full article

Sabres need Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen to recapture dynamic form of last season

BUFFALO – The goal outburst that helped the Sabres end their 13-game winless skid overshadowed goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen’s stellar performance heading into the Christmas break.

Luukkonen, 25, quietly enjoyed one of his strongest outings this season in Monday’s 7-1 road win against the New York Islanders, stopping 27 shots and allowing one goal or less for just the fifth time in 24 games.

If the Sabres make an unlikely climb up the standings – they ... Read the full article

Sabres don’t get breaks against Maple Leafs, lose 12th straight game

BUFFALO – Considering the Sabres’ sorry state these days, their quick response to the Toronto Maple Leafs’ goal 89 seconds into Friday’s 6-3 loss was notable.

Early in their 12th consecutive loss, the Sabres countered after Bobby McMann scored, seemingly tying the game at the 2:34 mark when winger Alex Tuch converted linemate Jason Zucker’s nifty pass.

Then following the celebration, the officials huddled. What was going on?

A linesperson saw Zucker’s stick hit Toronto ... Read the full article

Sabres coach Lindy Ruff wants Zach Benson to take fewer penalties

BUFFALO – When Sabres coach Lindy Ruff reshuffled his lines earlier this week, he awarded winger Zach Benson a plum assignment alongside center Tage Thompson and Alex Tuch.

Barely six minutes into Tuesday’s 6-1 road loss to the Montreal Canadiens, his second game on the line, Benson, 19, was whistled for holding.

“He was going to be in that top line,” Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said in KeyBank Center. “As soon as he took a ... Read the full article