Lyon - Buffalo Hockey Beat

With UPL injured, Sabres could turn to Alex Lyon, who loves underdog role

BUFFALO – Sabres goalie Alex Lyon has won 173 games in pro hockey, including 51 in the NHL.

Three years ago, the Yale product notched six straight late-season victories that propelled the Florida Panthers to an unlikely playoff berth. Four years ago, he won 12 times during the Chicago Wolves’ run to the Calder Cup and posted a shutout in the championship-clinching game.

When Lyon, 32, thinks about the finest wins of his career, a ... Read the full article

Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen being evaluated for injury; Mattias Samuelsson close to practicing

BUFFALO – Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, who left Wednesday’s 5-3 preseason loss after one period with a lower-body injury, is being evaluated today, coach Lindy Ruff said.

Ruff said the Sabres will know more about Luukkonen’s status later today. He stopped 11 of the 12 shots he faced against the Pittsburgh Penguins before Alexandar Georgiev replaced him.

Luukkonen missed the first week of training camp after tweaking a lower-body injury. Ruff said the Sabres hope ... Read the full article

Following trade and injury, Sabres’ Josh Norris settling into prominent role

BUFFALO – Sabres center Josh Norris experienced an unusual summer. For the first time in three years, he was healthy enough to enjoy a normal offseason of training.

“You kind of forget what it’s like to have a fully healthy summer and have to worry about anything physically,” Norris said following an early session of training camp in KeyBank Center. “So, yeah, I’m ready to go.”

Injuries have dogged Norris, 26, for years, limiting him ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Alex Tuch ready for preseason debut; Mattias Samuelsson injured

BUFFALO – Sabres winger Alex Tuch, who missed the first two days of training camp with an undisclosed injury, will be making his preseason debut this afternoon against the Detroit Red Wings, coach Lindy Ruff said.

Meanwhile, defenseman Mattias Samuelsson could miss the game after sitting out Friday’s practice with an upper-body injury.

“We’ll have him evaluated,” Ruff said following the session in KeyBank Center. “He had a good practice yesterday, and maybe that ... Read the full article

Sabres preseason: goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen practices; Jiri Kulich injured

BUFFALO – Goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen knows if the Sabres hope to end their embarrassing 14-year playoff drought, he must bounce back following a disappointing season in which he often struggled and briefly lost his starting job.

It can be argued no player is more integral to the Sabres’ success than Luukkonen, who failed to build on his breakout 2023-24 campaign and sat out late-season games when journeyman James Reimer took over the net.

So it ... Read the full article

After trade, career-worst season, goalie Alexandar Georgiev excited for fresh chance with Sabres

BUFFALO – Following a perfect 40-minute outing in the preseason opener, Sabres goalie Alexandar Georgiev will likely start again tonight in Detroit or Saturday afternoon at home against the Red Wings.

One week into training camp, No. 1 goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen hasn’t practiced. In the coming days, if he doesn’t return from his lower-body injury he recently tweaked, his status for the season opener Oct. 9 could be in question.

Each day the Finn misses ... Read the full article

After winning gold medal, Sabres’ Tage Thompson aims for 50 goals, playoffs

BUFFALO – Long before Sabres winger Tage Thompson scored the overtime goal that clinched Team USA’s first gold medal at the World Championship in 92 years, the demands of the tournament had left a lasting impression on him.

“I know it looks like it boils down to that one play … but it’s an accumulation of things throughout the tournament from everybody, which is something that I think I learned and took away from that ... Read the full article

Sabres preseason: Konsta Helenius has grit to complement skill, scores early

BUFFALO – With less than a minute remaining in Monday’s 4-0 road win in Columbus, Sabres prospect Konsta Helenius grabbed a pass at the blue line and skated down the right wing toward Blue Jackets goalie Jet Greaves.

A scoring opportunity in the waning seconds of the preseason opener hardly seems important, especially when you’re up 3-0.

Still, Sabres coach Lindy Ruff wanted Helenius, 19, to convert his prime chance.... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Bowen Byram aware of trade rumors during summer; Mason Geertsen Buffalo’s new ‘enforcer’

BUFFALO – You bet Sabres defenseman Bowen Byram heard his name repeatedly materialize in trade rumors during the offseason.

“I feel like I’ve been in trade rumors since I first came into the league,” Byram said Monday morning in KeyBank Center. “It’s not anything new for me. I definitely see them and whatever. But at the end of that day, I have a job to do in the summer, which is prepare for the upcoming ... Read the full article

Sabres preseason: Radim Mrtka set to debut, Alexandar Georgiev to start

BUFFALO – Bo, meet Radim. Radim, meet Bo. Now go out and play together.

In the opening days of training camp, the Sabres kept the players expected to comprise their NHL roster in one practice group. So defenseman Bowen Byram said he hadn’t met rookie Radim Mrtka until this morning.

Tonight, Byram will be tasked with skating alongside Mrtka, 18, in his NHL preseason debut on the road against the Columbus Blue Jackets.... Read the full article