Okposo - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Taylor Hall returns to practice; Sabres add three players from Amerks

BUFFALO – Winger Taylor Hall, who was added to the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol-related absences list on Feb. 2, is practicing with the Sabres this morning inside KeyBank Center.

The Sabres still have eight players in the league’s COVID protocol. They’re scheduled to host the New York Islanders on Monday.

Hall, 29, is practicing at left wing beside center Eric Staal and Sam Reinhart. Jeff Skinner, meanwhile, is at left wing with top center Jack ... Read the full article

Sabres thrilled to be back, believe they can grow from COVID adversity

BUFFALO – The COVID-19 protocols the NHL implemented this season have stymied off-ice activities.

Wanna grab a bite to eat or check out a museum on the road? Wanna stop over after practice and play Xbox? Forget about it. Socializing is kept to the bare minimum.

The Sabres added eight new faces this season, so enjoying a team dinner or group outing would’ve helped the players become familiar with each other.

“You can’t go get ... Read the full article

Why did Ralph Krueger hide Sabres’ lines from Lindy Ruff, Devils?

BUFFALO – In Sunday afternoon’s pregame warm-up, Sabres coach Ralph Krueger showcased the same lines he had utilized the previous day against the New Jersey Devils, with one exception.

Casey Mittelstadt, who was replacing Tage Thompson, skated at left wing beside top center Jack Eichel and Victor Olofsson.

Then when Sunday’s contest started, Krueger changed three of four Sabres’ lines. Only one trio from warm-ups – center Cody Eakin, left wing ... Read the full article

Casey Mittelstadt impressing Sabres, could earn more game action

BUFFALO – Having spent the entire game skating on the fourth line, Casey Mittelstadt hardly seemed like a forward Sabres coach Ralph Krueger would utilize in the waning seconds of a one-goal game.

Mittelstadt, 22, was only making his second appearance this season in Sunday afternoon’s 5-3 loss to the New Jersey Devils. The Sabres had just elevated him from the taxi squad earlier in the day.

Krueger had two former 40-goal scorers – Jeff ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Ralph Krueger explains why Dylan Cozens was scratched

Before the season, the Buffalo Sabres developed a plan to rest some of their younger players. In occasionally giving them a breather, they want to prevent the physical and mental aspects of the NHL from overwhelming them. They also want to ensure members of their taxi squad have opportunities to play.

So on Sunday afternoon, two days after winger Dylan Cozens scored his first NHL goal, the Sabres loaned the rookie to the taxi ... Read the full article

Sabres assign rookie Dylan Cozens to taxi squad, recall Casey Mittelstadt

Two days after scoring his first NHL goal, the Buffalo Sabres today sent winger Dylan Cozens to the taxi squad and recalled forward Casey Mittelstadt from the practice group.

Mittelstadt, 22, will likely make his season debut in this afternoon’s road game against the Washington Capitals. The American hasn’t played an NHL game since Dec. 10, 2019.

It’s unclear why the Sabres assigned Cozens, 19, to the taxi squad. The rookie has enjoyed regular ... Read the full article

Sabres need struggling Rasmus Dahlin to bounce back after benching

In Friday’s 4-3 shootout loss, Sabres coach Ralph Krueger benched Rasmus Dahlin, playing the struggling defenseman just one 73-second shift over the game’s final 32 minutes.

Dahlin, 20, looked lost around Buffalo’s net, allowing the Capitals to convert two easy chances he could’ve nullified. After Jakub Vrana scored 13:07 into the second period, a frustrated Dahlin smashed his stick into the ice.

His night was just about done. He only played one more ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Dylan Cozens scores pretty first goal in loss; Rasmus Dahlin benched

It ranks as one of the prettiest first goals scored by a Buffalo Sabres rookie in recent memory. Not only did winger Dylan Cozens unleash a wicked wrist shot from the right circle, he created his own goal by stripping the puck from Brian Pinho at center ice.

When Cozens, 19, scored 10:23 into second period, tying Friday’s game at 2, it appeared the Sabres had seized the momentum from the depleted Washington Capitals.

“It ... Read the full article

Sabres goalie Linus Ullmark to start against Capitals; Kyle Okposo likely out

Buffalo Sabres goalie Linus Ullmark, who missed two games earlier this week following the death of his father, will start tonight’s road game against the Washington Capitals, coach Ralph Krueger said.

“We really want him to get a win here, to play well not thinking about what’s happened,” Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin said on a Zoom call this afternoon. “We just got to make him feel comfortable everywhere.”

Ullmark, 27, faced the Capitals ... Read the full article

Linus Ullmark received Sabres’ game puck following father’s death

BUFFALO – When coach Ralph Krueger finished addressing the Sabres following Monday’s 6-1 win against the Philadelphia Flyers, he gave his captain, Jack Eichel, the floor.

Goalie Linus Ullmark was supposed to play that night, but after he learned his father had passed away earlier in the day, he and the coaches decided he should take some time off.

Ullmark, 27, stayed with the team, and when Eichel got up, he presented the Swede the ... Read the full article