Okposo - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres coach Don Granato grateful for support as brother, Tony, battles cancer

BUFFALO – Having battled cancer in 2005, Sabres coach Don Granato understands what his older brother, Tony, is experiencing right now.

On Sunday, Tony, 59, announced in a post on X, formerly Twitter, that he has been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and would be taking a temporary leave of absence from his job as an analyst with NBC Sports Chicago.

The last three or four weeks, Don Granato said, have been challenging.... Read the full article

Sabres’ Eric Robinson scores in win, making fast impact in Buffalo

BUFFALO – In Eric Robinson’s first days here, the Sabres have started playing a more tenacious, direct style. It’s no coincidence.

High compete, Sabres coach Don Granato said, rubs off.

“We haven’t had enough of that, we’ve had it intermittent,” Granato said following Monday’s 5-2 win over the Arizona Coyotes, a game in which Robinson scored one goal and three points.

With Robinson, the Sabres have possessed it regularly. They’re 2-0-1 since they traded a ... Read the full article

Despite missed chances, Sabres keep forging identity in loss to Canadiens

BUFFALO – The final result, a 3-2 shootout loss to the Montreal Canadiens, stings. The Sabres squandered opportunities all night, pumping a season-high 48 shots on goal and failing to convert six power plays, including one that carried into overtime.

In Saturday’s shootout, they needed one stop to secure back-to-back wins for just the second time this season.

Still, in losing for the sixth time in eight outings (2-5-1), the Sabres at least carried over ... Read the full article

Sabres acquire Eric Robinson in trade with Blue Jackets

BUFFALO – In Eric Robinson, the Sabres on Wednesday traded for a third- or fourth-line winger capable of killing penalties and providing some much-needed energy.

Having lost four straight games and five of their last six, the reeling Sabres needed to make a move, and while the 6-foot-2, 201-pound Robinson is hardly a star, he can certainly help.

In recent games, they’ve looked soft, regularly losing battles and showcasing little pushback. With veteran winger Zemgus ... Read the full article

Sabres fall behind early again, lose to Red Wings: ‘I didn’t like our game’

BUFFALO – Well, it’s hard to say the Sabres lack consistency. Their win-one, lose-one start feels like a distant memory. These days, count on them falling behind early and losing.

In Tuesday’s 5-3 loss to the Detroit Red Wings, their fourth straight setback and fifth in the last six games, the reeling Sabres trailed 2-0 by the 8:25 mark.

If you’re keeping track, opponents have outscored the Sabres an astounding 13-1 in the first period ... Read the full article

Sabres roar back after Kyle Okposo talk, beat Penguins; Buffalo likely to recall forward from Amerks

BUFFALO – By the end of Friday’s second period, the Sabres had reached what captain Kyle Okposo acknowledged was a desperate situation.

Most of the season, they haven’t showcased the aggressive style that made their offense so lethal last year. They’ve struggled to score goals and find any consistency.

After 40 minutes against the Penguins, the Sabres trailed 2-0 and were in danger of losing for the fifth time in six outings.... Read the full article

Sabres’ Alex Tuch returns from injury, should play against Jets

BUFFALO – Alex Tuch thought his upper-body injury would heal a bit faster. The Sabres winger never anticipated missing three contests, including captain Kyle Okposo’s 1,000th NHL game.

“It was something that we didn’t want to flare up again,” Tuch said following Thursday’s practice in KeyBank Center. “We just wanted to make sure to keep it under control. … Just wanted to be 100 percent. It was really tough on me to miss Okie’s 1,000th ... Read the full article

Sabres lose game to Bruins, star Tage Thompson to injury that will sideline him ‘significant time’

BUFFALO – The game, a 5-2 shellacking from the heavyweight Boston Bruins after the Sabres celebrated captain Kyle Okposo’s 1,000th NHL appearance, was bad enough.

But they also lost top center Tage Thompson on Tuesday to an upper-body injury coach Don Granato said will probably sideline their most dynamic scorer “significant time.”

Thompson, 26, left the game just over 11 minutes into the second period after blocking Charlie McAvoy’s shot with his left hand or ... Read the full article

Captain Kyle Okposo helped transform Sabres on way to 1,000 NHL games

BUFFALO – If Kyle Okposo had his way, there might not be any celebration. The captain is grateful, mind you. It’s just that the spotlight makes him a bit uncomfortable, and tonight he will be front and center as the Sabres celebrate his 1,000th NHL game.

“I understand it’s a big thing, it’s a big deal,” Okposo said following Monday’s practice. “It’s OK to get recognized, and I’m going to try to enjoy it as ... Read the full article

Sabres display skill, not enough work, in loss; Peyton Krebs scratched

PITTSBURGH – On the surface, pumping 35 shots on goal looks good, like the Buffalo Sabres created enough offense to win. Perhaps they just ran into a hot goalie.

While Penguins netminder Tristan Jarry played well in Saturday’s 4-0 win, he hardly stood on his head. The Sabres simply made it too easy for him in front of the 18,429 fans in PPG Paints Arena.

“We used our skill to create stuff but we didn’t ... Read the full article