Lyon - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Conor Timmins skates with Sabres after breaking leg; Alex Tuch likely to return from injury

BUFFALO – Sabres defenseman Conor Timmins said when he and teammate Jordan Greenway got their skates tangled and he fell to the ice almost three months ago, he could feel his leg break.

“When I fell there, it became unbearable,” Timmins said of the pain experienced Dec. 18 late in the Sabres’ 5-3 win over the Philadelphia Flyers.

Earlier that night, Timmins, 27, said he had blocked a shot that “did a little damage.” Still, ... Read the full article

Sabres’ win streak hits eight games as Jack Quinn scores first hat trick; Logan Stanley makes debut after trade

BUFFALO – To coach Lindy Ruff, the Sabres’ long win streaks this season – for the first time in franchise history, they have two of at least eight games – illustrate the high level of consistency they’ve showcased over a torrid three-month stretch.

“That’s the reason you can win that number of games,” Ruff said after Tuesday’s 6-3 victory over the San Jose Sharks in noisy KeyBank Center pushed their latest run to eight games.... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen battles through chaos to earn win

BUFFALO – In a game he called the craziest of his life, as chaos enveloped around his crease and the Tampa Bay Lightning scored seven times, Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen tried to forget about the score and simply focus on making the next save.

“At a certain point, you just have to think about, ‘We can win this game,’ and give the team a chance to kind of keep the score close and try to ... Read the full article

After defeating Predators, Sabres have first-place showdown versus Lightning: ‘Going to have incredible energy’

BUFFALO – Since the Sabres last appeared in the playoffs, they have played 1,138 regular-season games, none as big as tonight’s contest against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

If the Sabres defeat the Lightning at KeyBank Center, they will own sole possession of first place in the Atlantic Division at the latest point in a season since April 10, 2010.

Right now, the teams, having each earned 82 points, are tied for the top spot.

Over ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Josh Norris healthy and thriving one year after trade

PITTSBURGH – One year and just 27 games later, Buffalo Sabres center Josh Norris is happy, healthy and geared up to potentially experience the postseason for the first time in his six-year NHL career.

“I’ve really enjoyed my time (in Buffalo),” Norris said prior to Tuesday’s 3-2 win over the Vegas Golden Knights at KeyBank Center. “The locker room is unbelievable, and it’s honestly so much fun coming to the rink every day.”

Still, his ... Read the full article

On Tage Thompson’s night, Sabres ride early emotion, continue torrid run by beating Vegas

BUFFALO – For the first 26 minutes of Tuesday’s tight 3-2 victory, the Sabres rode the energy created by an emotional pregame ceremony honoring Sabres center Tage Thompson and other members of Team USA’s gold medal-winning squad.

Winger Jason Zucker scored barely four minutes into the contest, igniting the capacity crowd of 19,070 fans in noisy KeyBank Center.

When Thompson’s wicked wrist shot from the right circle extended their lead to 3-0 5:44 into the ... 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 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 prospect Devon Levi happy with Rochester, no longer feels ‘rushed’

BRIGHTON – These days, Devon Levi possesses a narrow focus. Naturally, the Buffalo Sabres prospect thinks about his future. But by embracing what the present offers him, he believes he can achieve his ultimate goal of becoming an elite NHL goalie.

Almost three years after nearly backstopping the Sabres to an unlikely playoff berth just weeks out of college, Levi, 24, has spent all season with the Rochester Americans.

“I know that over time I’ll ... Read the full article