Okposo - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Casey Mittelstadt takes another step toward return; Alex Tuch joins Sabres

BUFFALO – Sabres coach Don Granato acknowledged that, yes, he has thought about what his lineup might look like when some of his injured players get healthy.

So Granato knows where he could put center Casey Mittelstadt and winger Alex Tuch, both of whom skated with the Sabres this morning, when they’re healthy. It was the first session with the Sabres for Tuch, who underwent offseason shoulder surgery.

Mittelstadt, who had his first contact ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Tage Thompson stays hot in win, exacts revenge on Canadiens

BUFFALO – Tage Thompson got up angry and looking for revenge after absorbing a big hit from Alexander Romanov at center ice. But instead of going after the Montreal Canadiens defenseman, the Sabres center simply skated into the offensive zone.

A few seconds later, Thompson banged his stick on the ice, calling for puck from linemate Jeff Skinner. After grabbing the pass high in the slot, Thompson beat goalie Samuel Montembeault 3:29 into the third ... Read the full article

Sabres concerned about goalie Craig Anderson’s lingering injury

BUFFALO – After Craig Anderson suffered an upper-body injury Nov. 2, the Sabres said he was day to day. But the veteran goalie, whose absence has become glaring as the rebuilding team keeps struggling, is still sidelined.

“Because of our initial report, based on where we’re at, it is a concern,” Sabres coach Don Granato said on a Zoom call this morning. “Obviously, we didn’t feel he would be out this long and it has ... Read the full article

Sabres melt down early, fall to Bruins; Aaron Dell yanked after one period

BUFFALO – In explaining why Aaron Dell would start against the Boston Bruins, coach Don Granato called him the Sabres’ “hotter” goalie.

Dell, of course, wasn’t exactly lighting it up – he began the night winless and sporting an awful .874 save percentage – this season.

But having pulled goalie Dustin Tokarski from his last two starts, Granato said he wanted to give him a chance to “sit back and breathe and get back to ... Read the full article

Casey Mittelstadt joins Sabres on ice, finally close return: ‘A huge step’

BUFFALO – After a 17-game absence, center Casey Mittelstadt joined his teammates this morning, donning a gold non-contact jersey and skating with the Sabres as they prepared for tonight’s game against the Boston Bruins.

Now, when will Mittelstadt, who suffered an upper-body injury opening night, be able to play again? He won’t return tonight.

The Sabres also play Friday, Saturday and Monday. Practice time is limited. They’re scheduled to have Thursday off.

“We haven’t really ... Read the full article

Sabres allow late goal, suffer painful loss to Rangers: ‘It stings’

For the second time in nine days, overtime felt imminent. After blowing three leads against the Rangers, the Buffalo Sabres would leave New York with at least a small reward, a well-deserved point, or perhaps a victory.

Sabres center Tage Thompson just had to keep the puck pinned against the boards behind his net for another half second or so.

“Everybody in the building knew the scenario and the clock, the situation,” Sabres coach Don ... Read the full article

Kyle Okposo feels Sabres will bounce back: ‘I have the utmost confidence’

BUFFALO – Kyle Okposo called Thursday’s ugly 5-0 loss the Calgary Flames an “outlier.” Over the first two months this season, the veteran winger believes the Sabres have consistently reached a standard that will help them generate success.

Still, every now and then there’s going to be a clunker.

“You have maybe one practice day where we stunk and then we have one game where we really stunk,” Okposo said following Friday’s practice inside KeyBank ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Henri Jokiharju practices, close to playing; Robert Hagg misses session

BUFFALO – When a puck hit Henri Jokiharju’s right ankle early on opening night, he knew he was injured. Still, the Sabres defenseman left his skate on, tightened the laces and finished the game.

“That helps you play through the game but if you take that boot off, it’ll swell and you can’t put it back on,” Jokiharju said Friday after practicing for the first time since breaking his ankle Oct. 14.

Sabres coach ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Mark Pysyk helping Rasmus Dahlin: ‘He’s like, ‘Dude, relax’

BUFFALO – This season, Rasmus Dahlin’s fourth in the NHL, the Sabres defenseman has been trying to calm down a little.

Earlier in his career, Dahlin’s competitiveness often overwhelmed him, and any mistake he made stayed with him.

“This is probably the first year I’ve been thinking about it more and more, so it’s a learning process,” Dahlin said after the Sabres prepared for tonight’s game against the Calgary Flames at KeyBank Center.

Dahlin, ... Read the full article

Sabres goalie Dustin Tokarski performs brilliantly in win: ‘It was Ticker’s show’

PITTSBURGH – When the Buffalo Sabres signed Dustin Tokarski last year, he was expected to offer them depth, most likely in the minors. He hadn’t played an NHL game since a brief relief appearance in 2016. He hadn’t earned a win since 2015.

Few figured Tokarski, a decorated AHL netminder, would receive significant action with the Sabres, let alone become one of their most important players. But incredibly, Tokarski, 32, is starting to emerge as ... Read the full article