WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
Post-Deadline Edition
Tage Thompson (72) battles with Pittsburgh’s Kevin Hayes on Thursday.
BUFFALO – In the Sabres’ final outing before the Milano Cortina Games, center Tage Thompson showcased why he earned a coveted spot on Team USA’s stacked Olympic squad.
Thompson was often the best player on the ice in Thursday’s 5-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins, scoring his 30th goal and narrowly missing a few more prime chances.
The American certainly outplayed the Penguins’ two biggest stars, Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.
On most nights, that ... Read the full article
Rasmus Dahlin loves playing in games like Saturday’s. ©2026, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – A high-stakes late-January game in a packed, noisy building. The Sabres have waited for what feels like forever for nights like Saturday.
“We love playing these games,” captain Rasmus Dahlin said after the Sabres’ entertaining 4-2 loss to the Montreal Canadiens ended their five-game win streak. “These are the type of games we want to be in.”
They’re also games the Sabres, who have registered an NHL-best 20-4-1 record since Dec. 9, must ... Read the full article
Josh Norris has missed the last eight games. ©2026, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Right now, there’s no firm timeline for Josh Norris to return to the lineup. The oft-injured center participated in this morning’s pregame skate and plans to practice Sunday before the Sabres begin their two-game Florida road trip.
“Just keep evaluating and see where we’re at,” Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said this morning in KeyBank Center.
Ruff said Norris is day to day.... Read the full article
Alex Lyon has won 10 straight games. ©2026, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – When the Sabres signed goalie Alex Lyon as a free agent last summer, they likely envisioned an important but secondary role for the veteran journeyman.
In addition to serving as Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen’s backup, he could push the Finn and provide some internal competition, perhaps steal some playing time.
The Sabres thought highly enough of Lyon, a fierce competitor, that they awarded him a two-year, $3 million contract.... Read the full article
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen ws injured Tuesday. ©2026, Miicheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, who suffered a lower-body injury early in Tuesday’s 7-4 road win, will be sidelined at least a week, coach Lindy Ruff said.
“Then we’ll look at it after that,” Ruff said this morning in KeyBank Center.
The Sabres have five games left before the Olympic break, starting with tonight’s against the Los Angeles Kings.
After next Thursday’s home game against the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Sabres don’t play ... Read the full article
Alex Lyon has quickly found a home in Buffalo. ©2026, Micheliine Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Early Sunday, less than a day after Sabres goalie Alex Lyon tied the franchise’s all-time record for most consecutive wins, his phone rang. On the other end, Gerry Desjardins, who had owned the mark for 49 years, wanted to chat.
For about the next 20 minutes, Lyon, 33, and Desjardins, 81, talked about the craft of goaltending and the unique mentality needed to play hockey’s most demanding position.
“It was interesting that we ... Read the full article
Buffalo drafted Viktor Neuchev in 2022. ©2026, Micheline Veluvolu, Rochester Americans
Jarmo Kekalainen on Saturday added defense depth in his first trade as Buffalo Sabres general manager, acquiring Gavin Bayreuther from the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for forward prospect Viktor Neuchev.
Bayreuther, 31, has been assigned to the Rochester Americans.
Having lost Jacob Bryson to an upper-body injury in Thursday’s 4-2 win against the Montreal Canadiens, the Sabres needed another left-shot defenseman in the organization.... Read the full article
Konsta Helenius has been scratched the last two games with Buffalo. ©2026, Micheline Veluvolu, Rochester Americans
BUFFALO – Sabres center Josh Norris is now likely week to week with an upper-body injury.
After the oft-injured Norris left Wednesday’s 5-2 win over the Philadelphia Flyers in the second period, the Sabres labeled his status as day to day.
“He’s kind of gone more from the day to day that it looks like now it might be longer,” Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said following Sunday’s practice in KeyBank Center. “I can’t really peg ... Read the full article
Colten Ellis hasn’t played since Dec. 9. ©2026, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Following nearly a month on the sideline, Sabres goalie Colten Ellis is expected to start tonight’s road game against the New York Rangers, his first outing since suffering a concussion Dec. 9 in Edmonton.
A lot has happened since the rookie left the Sabres’ 4-3 overtime victory against the Oilers, a triumph that ignited a 10-game win streak.
Alex Lyon, who replaced Ellis, morphed into the NHL’s hottest goalie before suffering a lower-body ... Read the full article
Buffalo recalled Zach Metsa again early last month. ©2026, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – In his first days here, Sabres defenseman Zach Metsa acknowledged his new surroundings felt “a little bit intimidating.”
“You come to a new spot, new group, new guys around you,” Metsa told the Times Herald prior to scoring his first NHL goal and point in Tuesday’s 5-3 win over the Vancouver Canucks in KeyBank Center.
As an older, under-the-radar prospect who played on an AHL contract for two seasons, Metsa, 27, usually spent ... Read the full article