Miller - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres prospect Devon Levi feels ‘lucky’ to earn Budweiser can by holding Alex Ovechkin goalless

Buffalo Sabres goalie prospect Devon Levi considers himself fortunate. In his one career appearance against Alex Ovechkin, the greatest goal scorer in NHL history never landed his wicked one-timer on net.

“I’m one of the lucky ones,” joked Levi, who has spent most of this season starring for the Rochester Americans.

On Nov. 22, 2023, Levi made 26 saves in his 15th start for the Sabres, a 4-3 overtime road loss to Ovechkin’s Washington Capitals.... Read the full article

Sabres legend Ryan Miller happy in role as goalie scout and development coach with Sharks

ROCHESTER – Right now, Buffalo Sabres legend Ryan Miller is busy interviewing goalie prospects and writing reports, his final preparations for the NHL Draft.

Later this month, Miller, 44, will be in Texas watching prospects at the World Under-18 Junior Championship.

These days, Miller, who retired in 2021, works as a goalie scout and development coach for the San Jose Sharks. It’s a job, given his long and successful career and cerebral approach to hockey, ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen making game-changing saves, finding form

BUFFALO – In earning his third win in his last four starts, Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen enjoyed another light workload, facing just 19 shots in nearly 65 minutes of action in Monday’s 3-2 overtime win against the Boston Bruins.

Still, the Sabres’ first road victory since Jan. 21 stands out as one of the Finn’s most notable outings in recent months.

As he has endured an inconsistent and underwhelming campaign, only occasionally recapturing his dynamic ... Read the full article

Upon return from Olympics, Pittsburgh fans greeted Sabres goalie and Team USA star Ryan Miller as hero

Fifteen years have passed since former Buffalo Sabres star Ryan Miller nearly backstopped Team USA to an Olympic gold medal at the 2010 Vancouver Games.

While the Americans fell short – Pittsburgh Penguins superstar Sidney Crosby scored the iconic overtime goal for Team Canada – Miller was treated as a hero upon his return to the NHL.

This appeared in the March 3, 2010 paper after Miller rejoined the Sabres and received a rousing ovation ... Read the full article

When goalie Ryan Miller joined Sabres as rookie, Rob Ray tested him

BUFFALO – The talented rookie arrived just as the graying enforcer was about to leave. For 16 games over parts of three months in 2002-03, the careers of two Sabres Hall of Famers – goalie Ryan Miller and tough guy Rob Ray – overlapped.

Miller was a 22-year-old prospect up from the Rochester Americans for his first taste of the NHL. Ray, meanwhile, was a 34-year-old tough guy on his last legs.

“He was an ... Read the full article

Sabres hope shifting struggling Dylan Cozens to wing can ignite him

BUFFALO – History says Dylan Cozens’ position change will be temporary. Shifting him from center to right wing is a slump-busting move by Sabres coach Lindy Ruff.

Centers, of course, are always at a premium and Cozens, 23, has been entrenched as the Sabres’ second-line pivot for years. It’s just that 10 games into the season, having scored zero goals, he’s in a rut.

Ruff needs to ignite the Yukon native, so in Thursday’s ... Read the full article

Adversity in Rochester helped Sabres’ Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen develop into top NHL goalie

BUFFALO – It’s hardly surprising Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen established himself as one of the NHL’s elite starters down the stretch last season. As a teenager, he emerged as a dynamic prospect, earning the label as the Sabres’ goalie of the future.

The Finn was expected to develop into a special talent.

No one, however, likely anticipated his path to becoming the Sabres’ No. 1 netminder would be fraught with so much adversity.... Read the full article

Sabres’ Alex Tuch motivated after down season: ‘I know I need to be better’

BUFFALO – Alex Tuch always starts with himself. The Sabres winger knows he underperformed last season, failing to meet high expectations following his career year. Then he looks at the entire team and challenges everyone to be better.

The disappointment he experienced last season – his own struggles and the Sabres’ lackluster 84-point finish – drives him.

“First and foremost, I know I need to be better,” Tuch said last month after training camp opened ... Read the full article

Sabres make big commitment to goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen with hefty five-year contract

Barely nine months ago, goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen’s future with the Buffalo Sabres seemed in doubt.

When goalie Devon Levi arrived from college late in 2022-23, the Finn became a spare part. After watching the final seven games that season, he backed up or was scratched for the first six contests of 2023-24.

So on one hand, yes, the five-year, $23.75 million contract Luukkonen signed on Wednesday is a bit surprising. The Sabres clearly wanted Levi, ... Read the full article

Ex-Sabres Jason Pominville, Ryan Miller know Lindy Ruff can succeed in Buffalo

BUFFALO – Before the Sabres re-hired Lindy Ruff, one of the coach’s prominent former players, Jason Pominville, said he texted some friends and told them, “It has to be him. They have to bring him back.”

“Like, this is the time to bring him back,” Pominville wrote to them.

He had no inside information during the Sabres’ search for Don Granato’s replacement. The former winger simply knew Ruff could help a young, talented ... Read the full article