Olofsson | Buffalo Hockey Beat

Hapless Sabres lose again, endure brutal weekend: ‘I’m very embarrassed’

BUFFALO – Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin looked and sounded disgusted following another dispirited shutout loss.

The hapless Sabres endured a brutal weekend, losing by scores of 3-0 to the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday and Sunday afternoon at KeyBank Center.

They’ve looked downright awful since their COVID-19 pause ended two weeks ago, losing seven of their nine outings.

At this point, 19 games into another dreary season, simply scoring a goal would be an accomplishment for ... Read the full article

Sabres get blanked by Flyers; Ralph Krueger says lineup changes coming

BUFFALO – The Sabres’ grueling schedule doesn’t let up for weeks. Fresh off Saturday afternoon’s ugly 3-0 loss to Philadelphia, they play the Flyers again today, their ninth game in 14 days since their COVID-19 pause ended.

The Sabres, incredibly, don’t have two consecutive days off until the first week of April. They have four more games next week. The jam-packed slate doesn’t offer them an opportunity to reset and enjoy any quality practice time.... Read the full article

Jack Eichel questionable for weekend; Sabres could have reinforcements

BUFFALO – Sabres goalie Linus Ullmark will likely miss this weekend’s two-game series against the Philadelphia Flyers, coach Ralph Krueger said. Meanwhile, captain Jack Eichel is questionable for the home contests.

Both players have lower-body injuries and did not practice today inside KeyBank Center.

Ullmark, the Sabres’ No. 1 goalie, left Thursday’s 4-3 overtime loss to the New Jersey Devils after the first period. Kruger said Ullmark was having X-rays done this afternoon.

“We’re not ... Read the full article

Sabres lose Jack Eichel, Linus Ullmark to injuries, game to Devils

BUFFALO – Sabres forward Riley Sheahan knew captain Jack Eichel was a little banged up heading into Thursday’s game against the New Jersey Devils.

Still, Sheahan, a fourth-line winger, never expected he would be thrust into Eichel’s spot as the No. 1 center following the pregame warm-up.

“I … saw the lineup had changed and my name was up there with (Victor Olofsson) and (Sam Reinhart),” Sheahan, who opened the scoring, said on a Zoom ... Read the full article

Lower-body injury forces Sabres to scratch Jack Eichel against Devils

BUFFALO – A lower-body injury forced the Sabres to make captain Jack Eichel a late scratch for tonight’s game against the New Jersey Devils.

The center did not skate this morning but participated in the pregame warm-up before the Sabres announced he would not play.

Eichel appeared to hurt his ankle in a collision with New Jersey’s Nico Hischier in Tuesday’s 4-1 win over the Devils. He winced in pain but remained in the game.... Read the full article

Sabres bounce back to beat Devils, close road trip on high note

With the losses and injuries mounting, few expected the Buffalo Sabres, a team known for wilting under adversity, would close what had been a disappointing road trip by putting together one of their best efforts this trying season.

But the Sabres, fresh off a setback coach Ralph Krueger called the most painful of their 10 this year, responded with a complete team effort Tuesday, beating the New Jersey Devils 4-1 at Prudential Center.

Victor Olofsson ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Jeff Skinner could be healthy scratch against Islanders

Over his first nine NHL seasons, Buffalo Sabres winger Jeff Skinner produced one season of at least 31 goals for each of the four head coaches he played under.

Skinner scored 31 times as a rookie 10 years ago for Paul Maurice. He enjoyed a 33-goal campaign in 2013-14 under Kirk Muller and recorded 37 goals in 2016-17 for Bill Peters.

Following his arrival from the Carolina Hurricanes in 2018, Skinner scored a career-high 40 ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Buffalo’s early goal buoys win; Taylor Hall honored by Devils

When defenseman Colin Miller converted winger Taylor Hall’s pass early in Saturday afternoon’s 3-2 win, coach Ralph Krueger said joy swept over the Buffalo Sabres’ bench.

For the first time in more than 259 minutes of play, Buffalo had finally seized the lead.

“Guys were just like, ‘Wow, when was the last time this happened?’” Krueger said on a Zoom call after the Sabres defeated the New Jersey Devils.

It hadn’t happened since Jan. 30, ... Read the full article

Sabres trying to generate offensive confidence: ‘Definitely some fragility’

In watching the Buffalo Sabres lose again and fail to score an even-strength goal, coach Ralph Krueger learned how fragile his team’s psychological state is right now.

Since the Sabres returned from a two-week COVID-19 pause Monday, they’ve showcased an anemic offense, recording zero even-strength goals and just two overall in their three games.

Winger Victor Olofsson has provided the Sabres’ only offense, scoring a power-play goal Monday and again in Thursday’s 3-1 road loss ... Read the full article

Sabres can’t exploit rookie goalie, get blanked by Islanders

BUFFALO – Barely 20 seconds after the Sabres fell behind 2-0 early Tuesday, winger Taylor Hall roared in on goalie Ilya Sorokin with an opportunity to ignite himself and his reeling team.

Hall has struggled to score this season, registering just one goal way back on opening night. The Sabres desperately need the 2017-18 NHL MVP to exploit a rookie in a critical moment like that breakaway.

But Sorokin, who earned his first NHL win ... Read the full article