Lyon - Buffalo Hockey Beat

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

Undersized Sabres D Zach Metsa earns respect for fight with Mathieu Olivier: ‘Extremely courageous’

BUFFALO – No one expected it. After all, Sabres defenseman Zach Metsa doesn’t fight much. As a pro, he said he had only scrapped once before taking on heavyweight Mathieu Olivier in Thursday’s season opener in Columbus.

As a rookie with the Rochester Americans, the 5-foot-9, 201-pound Metsa said he fought a member of the Syracuse Crunch whose name he doesn’t remember.

“I think he was No. 18,” Metsa said Saturday in KeyBank Center.

In ... Read the full article

Injured Sabres Alex Lyon, Jason Zucker skate with teammates; Buffalo likely to make lineup change

BUFFALO – In the coming days or weeks, the Sabres could be faced with a good problem: they might have too many players.

Goalie Alex Lyon (left shoulder) and winger Jason Zucker (offseason sports hernia surgery) both joined their teammates for this morning’s optional pregame skate as the they prepared for tonight’s game against the Minnesota Wild.

Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said there’s no timetable for Lyon’s return to the lineup, while Zucker could still ... 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

Months after trade, Sabres sign Louis Crevier to contract extension

Throughout training camp, whenever reporters asked coach Lindy Ruff about defenseman Louis Crevier, one of the Sabres’ offseason additions, he lauded his smart, efficient style.

Crevier, who arrived in Buffalo in the blockbuster trade that sent defenseman Bowen Byram to the Chicago Blackhawks, clearly made a strong first impression on Ruff and the Sabres.

On Thursday morning, hours before their season opener in Columbus against the Blue Jackets, the Sabres illustrated just how much they ... Read the full article

With Olen Zellweger out, Sabres could recall defenseman for opener

BUFFALO – Mattias Samuelsson practiced Wednesday and could play in tonight’s season opener in Columbus. Meanwhile, newcomer Olen Zellweger missed the session and won’t face the Blue Jackets, Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said.

With only six defensemen – Samuelsson is on injured reserve, while Zellweger is on the 23-man roster despite having recently suffered a concussion – Ruff said the Sabres could recall another one before tonight’s contest.

Update: The Sabres this morning recalled defenseman ... Read the full article

Mattias Samuelsson might be ready for opener; Sabres make roster move

BUFFALO – Injured Sabres defenseman Mattias Samuelsson could play in Thursday’s season opener against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Samuelsson, who suffered a lower-body injury blocking a shot in the second preseason game, skated on his own Tuesday and could practice with the Sabres on Wednesday, coach Lindy Ruff said.

If the Sabres’ top shutdown defender can’t play in Columbus, Ruff expects him to return in the near future.... Read the full article

Sabres’ initial 2026-27 roster has goalies Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Alex Lyon

The Buffalo Sabres’ initial 23-man roster for the 2026-27 season released Monday features three goalies, six defensemen and 14 forwards.

Goalies Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Alex Lyon and defenseman Olen Zellweger, all of whom suffered injuries in preseason games last week, are listed on the roster.

One rookie, forward Konsta Helenius, made the team.... Read the full article

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen leaves game injured as Sabres end preseason

BUFFALO – When the Sabres open the regular season Thursday in Columbus, Colten Ellis could be their starting goalie.

A trying preseason in which they lost five significant players to injury in four games, including top goalies Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Alex Lyon, has mercifully ended.

In Saturday afternoon’s 3-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins, Ruff said Luukkonen, who has a history of injuries, left 3:47 into the third period when he tweaked something on ... Read the full article

Signing Matt Grzelcyk shows Sabres in full Stanley Cup mode; Olen Zellweger could be back for opener

BUFFALO – When the Sabres announced Friday they had signed veteran Matt Grzelcyk to a one-year, $850,000 contract, it felt like they might also reveal they expected at least one of their two injured defensemen, Mattias Samuelsson and Olen Zellweger, to be sidelined longer than they expected.

But Samuelsson and Zellweger, both of whom went down in Tuesday’s 5-1 preseason win over the Columbus Blue Jackets, are doing well.

Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said Samuelsson, ... Read the full article