Okposo - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres notes: Kyle Okposo returns from injury; Tyson Jost providing depth

BUFFALO – Peyton Krebs’ return to the lineup lasted one game.

Sabres captain Kyle Okposo, out six straight games recovering from a lower-body injury, played Friday against the New Jersey Devils, his first action since Nov. 10.

“Just some wear and tear I’ve been dealing with and had to give it some time to calm down,” Okposo said prior to the Sabres’ 3-1 loss at KeyBank Center. “But feeling better, ramped it up over ... Read the full article

Sabres captain Kyle Okposo to return against Devils; Jacob Bryson injured

BUFFALO – Sabres captain Kyle Okposo, out the last six games recovering from a lower-body injury, will play tonight against the New Jersey Devils, his first action since Nov. 10.

“Just some wear and tear I’ve been dealing with and had to give it some time to calm down,” Okposo said this morning at KeyBank Center. “But feeling better, ramped it up over the past few days.”

Okposo, 34, recently began skating on his ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Struggling Peyton Krebs returns from healthy scratch

BUFFALO – The Sabres recently stopped their forward rotation, so anyone who sits out as a healthy scratch these days has likely been ineffective, not caught in a numbers game.

Down the stretch as a rookie last season, center Peyton Krebs, 21, established himself as one of the Sabres’ top young forwards. But through 17 outings this year, he has struggled, mustering zero goals, three assists and just 10 shots on goal. He has ... Read the full article

Despite losing streak, Sabres sticking with plan, confident youth will grow

BUFFALO – Kevyn Adams constructed a roster filled with rookies and other neophytes in their early 20s knowing the Sabres would experience ups and downs. Still, the general manager never expected this: an eight-game losing streak following a torrid start.

Three weeks ago, it felt like the Sabres, the NHL’s youngest team, had established themselves as a legitimate playoff contender in the crowded Eastern Conference.

They throttled the Pittsburgh Penguins 6-3 on Nov. 2, improving ... Read the full article

Sabres likely to get two players back from injuries against Canadiens

BUFFALO – Sabres winger Zemgus Girgensons and defenseman Mattias Samuelsson will likely return from injuries for Tuesday’s road game against the Montreal Canadiens.

Both players practiced today at KeyBank Center.

Girgensons, 28, endured a hit to the head Wednesday and missed Saturday’s 5-2 road loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs.

“It was unfortunate hit,” Girgensons said of the check in Wednesday’s 4-1 road loss to the Ottawa Senators. “I finished the second and then just ... Read the full article

Sabres fall to Maple Leafs, losing skid hits eight: ‘It boils down to compete’

TORONTO – A frustrated Don Granato kept talking, expounding for two and a half minutes on the Buffalo Sabres’ recent lack of competitiveness following their eighth consecutive loss.

“It’s pretty simple,” the coach said after Saturday’s uninspired 5-2 setback to the Maple Leafs. “You compete, you play with energy and you’ll feel better about your game. And I think right now, you don’t feel good about your game because you’re just not going hard enough, ... Read the full article

Sabres beef up depth by claiming Tyson Jost off waivers

TORONTO – The Buffalo Sabres this afternoon added forward depth, claiming center Tyson Jost off waivers from the Minnesota Wild.

The Sabres, having recently lost captain Kyle Okposo (lower body) and winger Zemgus Girgensons (undisclosed) to injuries, are missing two of their regular forwards.

Jost, 24, might be utilized down the lineup. Veterans Anders Bjork, who this afternoon was sent to the Rochester Americans, and Riley Sheahan have been skating fourth line during the past ... Read the full article

Sabres injuries: Mattias Samuelsson close to return; Eric Comrie out ‘weeks’

BUFFALO – Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams said there’s an outside chance defenseman Mattias Samuelsson, who has missed the last 12 games recovering from a lower-body injury, could return for Saturday’s road game against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Samuelsson, 22, practiced today beside Henri Jokiharju at KeyBank Center, his first full session since getting injured Oct. 22. He started skating with his teammates again Tuesday.

The Sabres said on Tuesday they expected Samuelsson to play ... Read the full article

Mattias Samuelsson skates with Sabres, nearing return from injury

BUFFALO – On some teams, injured players are rarely seen. They do their work before many of their teammates arrive at the rink and quietly leave.

Then there’s Mattias Samuelsson. For more than three weeks, as the Sabres defenseman has rehabbed from a lower-body injury he suffered Oct. 22, he remained a visible presence in the dressing room and during practice.

“You saw him every day sitting on the bench in practice and around ... Read the full article

Sabres recall forwards from Amerks

BUFFALO – The Sabres this morning recalled forwards Anders Bjork and Riley Sheahan, both of whom started the season in the NHL but did not play, from the Rochester Americans.

The Sabres, having lost captain Kyle Okposo (lower body) and rookie Jack Quinn (undisclosed) to injuries, had only 11 healthy forwards. They host the Vancouver Canucks tonight at KeyBank Center.

Bjork, 26, and Sheahan, 30, both cleared waivers earlier this season.... Read the full article