Malenstyn - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Despite limited minutes, Sabres’ Beck Malenstyn hitting, making impact

BUFFALO – Through eight games, no Sabres forward has played less than Beck Malenstyn. The newcomer has eclipsed the 10-minute mark just twice. In one contest, he skated only 1 minute, 52 seconds over three shifts.

Still, Malenstyn, a physical fourth-line winger the Sabres valued so highly they traded a second-round pick to acquire him, makes use of his limited action.

Despite averaging just 8 minutes, 28 seconds per outing, he has recorded a ... Read the full article

Tage Thompson backs up words, scores late to help Sabres beat Stars

BUFFALO – On the bench in the third period, as the Sabres began playing a little too conservative for coach Lindy Ruff’s liking, center Tage Thompson urged his teammates to hit the accelerator again.

A 2-0 lead can vanish in a hurry, especially against a heavyweight opponent like the Dallas Stars. Ruff, of course, wants his players to keep playing aggressively when they’re ahead, a message Thompson relayed.

“He was the one guy on the ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Nicolas Aube-Kubel close to playing; Zach Benson out injured

BUFFALO – After winger Nicolas Aube-Kubel suffered a lower-body injury, believed to be a knee sprain, in the season opener Oct. 4, the Sabres said he would be sidelined three to six weeks.

On Tuesday morning, 18 days after going down, Aube-Kubel rejoined his teammates on the KeyBank Center ice prior to their 4-2 win over the Dallas Stars.

“I’m actually shocked,” Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said. “I’m really impressed that he’s back.”

Aube-Kubel, ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Sam Lafferty trades in youngster status for veteran role

PITTSBURGH – This is new for Sam Lafferty. In his previous four stops, the versatile Sabres newcomer was always one of the younger guys. He played his first NHL game barely five years ago.

But these days, Lafferty, 29, looks around Buffalo’s dressing room and mostly sees younger faces. Only winger Jason Zucker, 32, is older than Lafferty, who’s six weeks older than defenseman Connor Clifton.

At an average age of just 25.3, the ... Read the full article

Sabres start scoring, beat Panthers for first win: ‘A stress-reliever’

BUFFALO – It felt like things might be turning for the Sabres when late in Saturday’s first period, having just answered the Florida Panthers and tied the game, center Tage Thompson roared down the right wing and unleashed the puck toward the net.

During the Sabres’ three season-opening losses, the opposing goalie would’ve stopped a shot like that. This time, however, they enjoyed a little puck luck that had been non-existent.

Panthers goalie Spencer Knight, ... Read the full article

Nicolas Aube-Kubel (left) moves alongside New Jersey’s Jonas Siegenthaler last week in Prague, Czechia.

Sabres injuries: Nicolas Aube-Kubel out long-term; JJ Peterka, Zach Benson day to day

BUFFALO – Sabres winger Nicolas Aube-Kubel, who suffered a lower-body injury in Friday’s season opener, will be sidelined about three to six weeks, coach Lindy Ruff said.

There is, however, some good news. Ruff said wingers JJ Peterka (concussion) and Zach Benson (lower body) are considered day to day after suffering injuries in Prague, Czechia.

Neither practiced Tuesday in KeyBank Bank Center, the Sabres’ first session since returning from their season-opening trip.... Read the full article

Sabres lose JJ Peterka to concussion, Zach Benson to lower-body injury

Three injured forwards. Two losses. One struggling team.

Any early-season optimism surrounding the Buffalo Sabres vanished during back-to-back season-opening setbacks to the New Jersey Devils in Prague, Czechia.

In Saturday’s 3-1 loss, Sabres winger JJ Peterka suffered a concussion when New Jersey Devils defenseman Brenden Dillon hit him in the head as he skated through the neutral zone, coach Lindy Ruff told reporters in Prague.... Read the full article

Sabres newcomer Nicolas Aube-Kubel injured in season opener

Buffalo Sabres winger Nicolas Aube-Kubel suffered a lower-body in Friday’s 4-1 season-opening loss to the New Jersey Devils and will miss today’s rematch, coach Lindy Ruff told reporters in Prague, Czechia.

Ruff had no other update on Aube-Kubel. The newcomer was wearing a brace on his leg as he exited the dressing room following the game, according to The Buffalo News’ Lance Lysowski.... Read the full article

Sabres preseason: Ryan McLeod set to debut; Rasmus Dahlin skates again

BUFFALO – Two exhibition games, two regular-season lineups.

The Sabres will mostly utilize their top players again for this afternoon’s preseason contest against the Columbus Blue Jackets in KeyBank Center. They dressed most of their NHL talent for Saturday’s 7-3 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins, a game in which JJ Peterka scored three goals.

The complete lineup is below. Three notable offseason acquisitions – center Ryan McLeod, defenseman Dennis Gilbert and winger Jason Zucker – ... Read the full article

JJ Peterka scores hat trick, shows star qualities as Sabres throttle Penguins

BUFFALO – Let’s temper any excitement over the Sabres’ 7-3 win and winger JJ Peterka’s hat trick in Saturday’s preseason opener by noting the Pittsburgh Penguins brought their B or C squad to KeyBank Center.

The Sabres, meanwhile, dressed what resembled a regular-season lineup featuring perhaps their top two lines and No. 1 goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen.

An emphatic victory was almost expected. Following a slow start, the Sabres began annihilating the visitors, scoring five times ... Read the full article