Montreal Canadiens - Buffalo Hockey Beat

D injuries could force Sabres to make trade; Peyton Krebs returns to lineup

BUFFALO – Just two weeks into the season, having lost Mattias Samuelsson, Henri Jokiharju and two more defensemen in the minors to injuries, the Sabres are considering adding depth to their blue line, Kevyn Adams said.

The general manager said prior to Tuesday’s 3-2 loss to the Montreal Canadiens at KeyBank Center that Samuelsson, who suffered a lower-body injury in Saturday’s 5-1 win over the Vancouver Canucks, will be sidelined “a few weeks.”

“But much ... Read the full article

After losing Mattias Samuelsson, Henri Jokiharju, Sabres could add another D

The general manager said this morning Samuelsson, who suffered a lower-body injury in Saturday’s 5-1 win over the Vancouver Canucks, will be sidelined “a few weeks.”

“But much better than maybe originally we thought,” he said. “So a few ... Read the full article

Sabres prospect Matej Pekar close to playing, ready to be pest for Amerks

By late last winter, Buffalo Sabres prospect Matej Pekar had lost confidence his ailing shoulders could hold up for the final stretch of the grueling AHL season.

Pekar, an ultra-aggressive agitator, thrives on contact. But his shoulders had become so wonky he said each one would often come out of its socket.

“Playing through it at the end, it wasn’t great, I would say,” he told the Times Herald on Wednesday. “It was just ... Read the full article

Sabres look awful early, lose to surging Canadiens: ‘We were sloppy’

It took time for the Montreal Canadiens to experience the surge that often accompanies a coaching change. Martin St. Louis lost the first three games of an interim gig that increasingly looks like it will become permanent.

Wednesday’s 4-0 win over the Buffalo Sabres was the Canadiens’ fourth straight triumph. They had just eight victories all season before beating the St. Louis Blues last Thursday.

The Sabres annihilated the Canadiens earlier this season, outscoring them ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Kyle Okposo likely out tonight; Brandon Biro to make NHL debut

Buffalo Sabres winger Kyle Okposo missed this morning’s pregame skate in Montreal because of illness and likely won’t play tonight against the Canadiens, coach Don Granato said.

“I don’t expect him for tonight but he’s still a possibility,” Granato said on a Zoom call from the Bell Centre.

With Okposo probably out and winger Victor Olofsson (illness) also sidelined, Granato said he expects forward Brandon Biro to make his NHL debut tonight.

... Read the full article

Rasmus Dahlin’s return gives struggling Sabres boost: ‘Our top defenseman’

BUFFALO – In his fourth season, Rasmus Dahlin has emerged as the Sabres’ most valuable player and one of the NHL’s premier young defensemen.

At 21, Dahlin, who will likely return from upper-body injury tonight, is a budding star.

“He has clearly, definitively established himself as our top defenseman,” Sabres coach Don Granato said following Tuesday’s practice inside KeyBank Center.

Dahlin’s absence in Sunday’s 7-3 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets was glaring. With the ... Read the full article

Penn State product Brandon Biro offers Sabres intriguing talent

BUFFALO – Whether it’s tonight against the Montreal Canadiens or later during the Sabres’ five-game road trip, center Brandon Biro will likely make his NHL debut soon.

Biro, 23, has been on a tear for the Rochester Americans, compiling nine goals and 31 points in his last 28 games. The Penn State product figured to earn a look from the Sabres sooner or later.

On Tuesday, with winger Victor Olofsson sidelined by a non-COVID illness, ... Read the full article

Dynamic four-goal game shows Sabres’ Jeff Skinner back as elite scorer

In the two seasons following his scintillating 40-goal campaign in 2018-19, it appeared Sabres winger Jeff Skinner would never recapture the scoring prowess he possessed throughout that career year.

Skinner, who enjoyed a dynamic afternoon in Sunday’s 5-3 win, scoring a career-high four goals and adding an assist, looked finished as an elite NHL scorer.

Last season, Skinner scored just seven times in 53 games and was scratched three times. In 2019-20, he recorded 11 ... Read the full article

Casey Fitzgerald’s aggressive, agitating style earning notice from Sabres, others

BUFFALO – By the end of that night in Vegas, every member of the Golden Knights knew when Sabres rookie Casey Fitzgerald, the undersized defenseman playing just his seventh NHL game, was on the ice.

“And they didn’t like it,” Sabres coach Don Granato said following Saturday’s practice at LECOM Harborcenter. “It was the better players, that was the beauty of it. We can play him against better players and they’re looking over their ... Read the full article

Could Sabres look to Amerks goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen for help?

BUFFALO – Given the Sabres’ recent goaltending woes, the rebuilding team could be forced to award prospect Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen a look soon.

Maybe Luukkonen would stay for just a game or two. Or perhaps he might receive regular action while No. 1 goalie Craig Anderson, 40, recovers from his upper-body injury.

The Sabres, as evidenced by the ugly 2-9-1 streak they carry into tonight’s game against the Montreal Canadiens at KeyBank Center, need help ... Read the full article