Luukkonen - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres beat Penguins to move into first place; Buffalo makes trades

PITTSBURGH – Thirty-eight seconds into Thursday’s second period, as Buffalo Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin and Evgeni Malkin began battling at the net and cross-checking each other, the Penguins star slashed his opponent on the neck.

Malkin’s ill-advised decision ended his night – he earned a match penalty and could have a suspension coming – and ignited the Sabres in a game that was tied at 1.

“After that we got it going pretty good,” coach ... Read the full article

With Tyson Kozak injured, Sabres will turn to versatile Josh Dunne

PITTSBURGH – In center Tyson Kozak’s absence tonight, the Buffalo Sabres will turn to the versatile Josh Dunne, one of their biggest surprises this season.

Kozak aggravated something and is day to day, Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said, so for the third time in the last five games, Dunne will earn duty on the fourth line.

After beginning the season with the Rochester Americans, Dunne, 27, has emerged as what Ruff called “a real ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Tage Thompson enjoyed time alongside Jack Eichel at Olympics: ‘Going full circle’

BUFFALO – During their brief time together here, Sabres center Tage Thompson said he looked up to Jack Eichel.

Thompson, 28, is just a year younger than Eichel, who’s now starring for the Vegas Golden Knights. Still, in 2018-19, their only full season as teammates, Eichel was a budding superstar and the face of the franchise. Thompson, meanwhile, was a neophyte simply trying to stick in the NHL.

As a developing power forward, Thompson said ... Read the full article

After stunning turnaround, Sabres join NHL’s elite: ‘Do something real special’

BUFFALO – Over the past three months, as the Sabres have morphed into a heavyweight that appears capable of wreaking havoc in the postseason, coach Lindy Ruff has contemplated his team’s unique transformation.

The Sabres haven’t infused talent through a trade, big or small, or altered the roster in any significant fashion.

Every player who will face the Vegas Golden Knights tonight at KeyBank Center had a roster spot opening night or began the season ... Read the full article

Sabres goalie Alex Lyon stays hot in win over Panthers, approaching NHL record

After inking a two-year, $3 million contract, Buffalo Sabres goalie Alex Lyon has quietly emerged as one of the NHL’s best bargains and perhaps the top free agent signing of last summer.

To wit: for $1.5 million this season, Lyon has compiled a 15-8-3 record with a 2.69 goals-against average, a .913 save percentage and two shutouts in 28 games.

Lyon dazzled in Friday’s 3-2 triumph over the Florida Panthers, stopping 27 shots to register ... Read the full article

Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin excited for long-awaited run to playoffs; Tage Thompson set to play

BUFFALO – As captain Rasmus Dahlin, still in full practice gear and sweaty from a long session, stood behind a podium fielding questions, the topic turned to the Sabres’ upcoming stretch of 25 games in 50 days to close the regular season.

For the first time in Dahlin’s career – he and center Tage Thompson, having both arrived in 2018-19, are the team’s longest-tenured players – the Sabres are in the driver’s seat for ... Read the full article

When will Tage Thompson return to the Sabres following the Olympics?

BUFFALO – In last Wednesday’s quarterfinal game between Team Sweden and Team USA at the Olympics, Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin said center Tage Thompson, his close friend and NHL teammate, had an opportunity to thump him.

“He decided not to hit me one time in the corner … so that was nice,” Dahlin said following Monday’s practice in LECOM Harborcenter, his first session after returning from the Milano Cortina Games. “I think he had a ... Read the full article

Sabres star Tage Thompson, Team USA win gold medal in dramatic fashion

BUFFALO – When practice was set to begin at 10:30 Sunday morning, only two Sabres players, goalies Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Alex Lyon, had hit the ice alongside the coaching staff in LECOM Harborcenter.

The rest of the team was watching the dramatic conclusion of the gold medal clash between and Team USA and Team Canada at the Milano Cortina Games.

As overtime began, everyone on the ice skated to one end to watch a television ... Read the full article

After injury costs him Olympics, Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen focused on earning playoff spot

BUFFALO – When reality set in and Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen realized his lower-body injury would force him to miss the Olympics, he felt crushed.

Luukkonen had long hoped he could represent Team Finland at the Milano Cortina Games, and early last month, he earned a coveted roster spot.

Then on Jan. 27 in Toronto, nine days before the NHL paused its season for the tournament, he tweaked something early in the Sabres’ ... Read the full article

Sabres’ UPL, Zach Benson near return; Jordan Greenway trying new treatment for injury

BUFFALO – In the near future, Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and winger Zach Benson, both of whom were injured prior to the Olympic break, could start practicing again, coach Lindy Ruff said.

Ruff said Luukkonen, whose lower-body injury forced him to miss the Milano Cortina Games, skated on his own Wednesday before the Sabres’ first post-break practice.

“He’s within days of joining us,” Ruff said following the session in LECOM Harborcenter.... Read the full article