Minnesota Wild - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres outplay Wild, still lose in Tage Thompson’s return from injury

BUFFALO – The final outcome, a 1-0 loss to the Minnesota Wild that ended their three-game winning streak, did not discourage the Sabres.

Why should it? They outplayed the Wild from the get-go Wednesday, outshooting them 16-4 in the first period and 39-29 overall. They attempted a whopping 87 shots, 32 more than their opponent.

As Wild goalie Filip Gustavsson stymied every scoring chance, the Sabres plowed forward, refusing to deviate from their game plan ... Read the full article

In midst of slump, Sabres’ Jack Quinn looks like scoring threat again

BUFFALO – For one of the few times this season, you couldn’t miss Jack Quinn. The Sabres winger dazzled throughout the night, aggressively creating offense.

Quinn, 23, was often the best player on the ice.

While he did not score, similar efforts will almost certainly produce the goals that have been so difficult to come by this season.

“I thought it was my best game by far,” Quinn said of Friday’s 3-2 overtime road ... Read the full article

OT goal, faceoff ability illustrate rookie Jiri Kulich could stick with Sabres

BUFFALO – In just days following his recall, Sabres rookie Jiri Kulich morphed from a raw but talented neophyte into a huge contributor and trusted asset coach Lindy Ruff utilized in critical situations.

On Friday in Anaheim, Kulich’s 12th NHL outing and second as a center, his natural position, he scored in overtime to clinch the Sabres’ 3-2 win against the Ducks.

“To be honest, I was always dreaming about this moment,” Kulich said following ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Tage Thompson says he’s ready to return from lower-body injury

BUFFALO – In Tage Thompson’s absence, the Sabres have done well, going 4-1-0 and winning all three stops last week in California without their top center.

By the end of the trip, Thompson, who said he’s “ready to go” for tonight’s home game against the Minnesota Wild, told the Sabres he would play if they needed him.

Still, they held him out of Friday’s 3-2 overtime win against the Anaheim Ducks and Saturday’s 4-2 victory ... Read the full article

Sabres believe Peyton Krebs ready for offensive role; UPL set to return

BUFFALO – The confidence Sabres center Peyton Krebs displayed in grabbing the puck in his own zone, roaring up the ice and undressing a defender at the blue line has taken years to develop.

In junior hockey, sure, Krebs’ skill would allow him take over a game like he did in the second period of Thursday’s 4-0 loss to the Florida Panthers. But in the NHL, Sabres coach Don Granato explained, he has been “building ... Read the full article

Goalie Devon Levi stars in Sabres’ tight win over Wild: ‘A hell of a gut-check’

BUFFALO – At some point in Friday’s tight 3-2 win, Sabres goalie Devon Levi said the heck with it and dropped the technical aspect of his game.

The contest had become so scrambly, Levi decided it would be better to simply battle to stop the Minnesota Wild from scoring.

“Just kind of tried to keep the puck out of the net,” he said after making a season-high 33 saves.

Levi, 21, was a difference-maker Friday, ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Injured Alex Tuch misses game; Buffalo could make roster move

BUFFALO – As the Sabres convened for their optional morning skate, winger Alex Tuch emerged from the tunnel and joined his teammates on the ice.

But before the session started, Tuch, who’s battling an upper-body injury, left the ice. He missed Friday’s 3-2 win over the Minnesota Wild at KeyBank Center.

“He’s dealing with some soreness that we’re hoping resolves sooner than later,” Sabres coach Don Granato said prior to the game. “It’s gotten better.”... Read the full article

Sabres’ Alex Tuch still battling injury; Matt Savoie to make NHL debut

BUFFALO – As the Sabres convened for their optional morning skate, winger Alex Tuch emerged from the tunnel and joined his teammates on the ice.

But before the session started, Tuch, who’s battling an upper-body injury, left the ice. Coach Don Granato said he’s questionable for tonight’s game against the Minnesota Wild in KeyBank Center.

“He’s dealing with some soreness that we’re hoping resolves sooner than later,” Granato said this morning. “It’s gotten better.”

Granato ... Read the full article

Sabres goalie Devon Levi adjusting to NHL, happy to share net

BUFFALO – After starting four games in eight days to kick off his rookie season, Sabres goalie Devon Levi took a backseat, playing just one of the next nine contests.

Levi, 21, spent 12 days recovering from a lower-body injury and when he returned, goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, 24, had found a groove.

So Sabres coach Don Granato recently began rotating the young netminders. If he holds to it, Levi will play tonight’s game ... Read the full article

GM Kevyn Adams becomes emotional talking about Sabres; Trade for Jordan Greenway beefs team up

BUFFALO – Following Friday’s trade deadline, Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams was talking about his excitement for the stretch run when, suddenly, he became choked up.

For the first time in years, the Sabres are playing meaningful late-season games as they fight to end an NHL-record playoff drought. In the hours before the deadline, Adams beefed up his team by trading for hulking winger Jordan Greenway. On Monday, he acquired defenseman Riley Stillman.... Read the full article