McLeod - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres Josh Norris skating again; Tyson Kozak close to returning from injury

BUFFALO – Sabres center Josh Norris, who suffered an upper-body injury opening night, is progressing and has started skating again, coach Lindy Ruff said.

“I’ve talked to him, he said he’s feeling better,” Ruff said following Wednesday’s practice in KeyBank Center. “He’s not in that feeling great category yet, but he’s feeling better. And (we) really just want to keep progressing him with no setbacks.”

Ruff said has he no timetable for Norris’ return. He ... Read the full article

After trade from Mammoth, Josh Doan, Michael Kesselring happy with Sabres

BUFFALO – Sabres newcomers Josh Doan and Michael Kesselring clearly had a blast last season helping the Utah Mammoth establish roots in the franchise’s first year in Salt Lake City following 28 years in Arizona.

Tonight’s game at KeyBank Center, their first meeting against their former team since being traded to the Sabres, has likely been circled on the schedule for months.

On Sunday night, Kesselring said he and Doan texted with Utah center ... Read the full article

Sabres blow late lead, lose in OT again; Josh Dunne, fourth-liners wreak havoc

BUFFALO – The Sabres’ recent run – after Tuesday’s 4-3 overtime loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets, they’ve earned points in six of their last seven games – illustrates the significant improvements they’ve made in the last two weeks.

Following their wretched 0-3-0 start, they’ve recovered and positioned themselves in the thick of things at 4-4-2.

Still, if they hope to surge up the standings, they must start closing out games and burying their scoring ... Read the full article

Mattias Samuelsson scores two goals as Sabres down Maple Leafs; Buffalo likely to make recall

BUFFALO – In his first 217 NHL games, Sabres defenseman Mattias Samuelsson scored seven times, an average of one goal every 31 outings.

He registered his first goal in his 64th appearance. He has never scored more than four times in a season.

So Samuelsson hasn’t enjoyed too many outings like his two-goal performance in Friday’s 5-3 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs before a bipartisan crowd of 17,211 fans in KeyBank Center.... Read the full article

Jack Quinn scoring goals, developing into one of Sabres’ offensive drivers

BUFFALO – Exactly one year ago, in the early stages of the roughest stretch of his career, Sabres winger Jack Quinn hadn’t scored a goal and had already been scratched.

Today, fresh off a slick one-goal, three-point outing, Quinn has scored three times – that’s as many goals as Rasmus Dahlin, Tage Thompson and Alex Tuch have combined this season – and is tied for the team lead with six points.

Quinn’s outburst has helped ... Read the full article

Sabres newcomer Josh Doan displaying offensive growth: ‘Just seen a glimpse’

BUFFALO – At each level before he reached the NHL – junior, college and the AHL – Sabres winger Josh Doan showcased offensive growth in his second season.

With the Chicago Steel, he shook off a frustrating five-goal rookie year and scored 31 times. As a sophomore at Arizona State University, he upped his goal total from 12 to 16.

In his first taste of the pros, Doan registered three goals in 14 games for ... Read the full article

Sabres roar back to beat Senators, earn first win: ‘Building came to life’

BUFFALO – The four-goal second period that buoyed the Sabres to Wednesday’s much-needed 8-4 come-from-behind win can be traced to, of all things, winger Alex Tuch’s penalty.

With the Sabres trailing 2-1 at the 5:48 mark and down a man, Tuch was whistled for a slashing call he found, at the time, a little weak.

Tuch, who rarely barks at officials, emphatically pleaded his case.... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Ryan McLeod, other forwards struggling early; Alexandar Georgiev practices with Rochester

BUFFALO – Jiri Kulich, the Sabres’ second-youngest forward, got singled out a bit by practicing as an extra before Wednesday’s game against the Ottawa Senators.

But make no mistake, nearly every Sabres forward struggled during their dreary 0-3-0 start they carried into their contest against the Ottawa Senators.

“This isn’t about Kulich,” coach Lindy Ruff, whose Sabres began the night with just two goals all season, said Wednesday morning in KeyBank Center.... Read the full article

Sabres preseason: Buffalo loses another player to injury, gets one back

BUFFALO – Another day, another injury for the Sabres.

Coach Lindy Ruff said this morning winger Zach Benson has “a little bit of an ailment that we’re keeping him off the ice for.” He said the injury is only a “short-term thing.”

Benson joins defensemen Mattias Samuelsson (upper body) and Owen Power (strain) and forwards Jordan Greenway (mid body) and Noah Ostlund (undisclosed) on the sideline.... 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