Olofsson - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Following trade, Sabres’ Victor Olofsson earns another chance, scores goal

TORONTO – Prior to Wednesday’s game, Don Granato told Victor Olofsson to talk to him. The Sabres had just traded center Casey Mittelstadt. The coach needed to know if the seldom-used winger was ready to play.

Granato feared Olofsson, having last dressed for a game Feb. 15, could be put in a tough spot.

“He looked at me with 100 percent confidence and said, ‘I’m ready to go,’” Granato said after Olofsson scored the Sabres’ ... Read the full article

Sabres sad, surprised Casey Mittelstadt traded, excited for Bowen Byram

TORONTO – Sooner or later, it was going to happen. Over the past few years, as the Sabres grew into a tight-knit group, their young core remained intact. But as the team evolved and needs materialized and the salary cap became a factor again, someone would have to leave Buffalo.

On Wednesday, two days before the trade deadline, it happened. The Sabres dealt center Casey Mittelstadt, a beloved teammate and their leading scorer, to the ... Read the full article

As trade deadline approaches, Sabres captain Kyle Okposo could be dealt

BUFFALO – Can you picture Sabres captain Kyle Okposo wearing a different uniform, say, for example, the Black and Gold of the rival Boston Bruins or the colors of another Stanley Cup contender?

When Okposo, 35, signed a one-year contract to return for his eighth and perhaps final season here, it felt like he would retire with the Sabres. Over the past three years, he has very much been the face of the team, helping ... Read the full article

Jeff Skinner leaves practice injured; Sabres make roster move

BUFFALO – Sabres winger Jeff Skinner, whose 19 goals are tied for the team lead this season, left Monday’s practice with an undisclosed injury.

Coach Don Granato said following the session in LECOM Harborcenter that Skinner, 31, would undergo imaging before the Sabres left for their two-game road trip, which begins tonight against the Florida Panthers.

Early Monday afternoon, the Sabres recalled forward Tyson Jost, a sign Skinner could be unavailable.... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Owen Power returns from injury; Jacob Bryson playing regularly

BUFFALO – On Sunday morning, Sabres defenseman Owen Power did not take his usual spot on the second power-play unit, a sign he possibly needed more time to recover from his upper-body injury.

But following the pregame skate, coach Don Granato said the youngster could be ready for the Sabres’ contest against the Carolina Hurricanes at KeyBank Center.

Sure enough, Power, 21, returned their 3-2 shootout win, scoring the late tying goal and skating 23 ... Read the full article

Injuries force Sabres’ Rasmus Dahlin to handle more responsibility, ice time

BUFFALO – Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin’s instincts tell him to get after it, not to settle for the simplest play.

After all, the Swede possesses the talent to make dazzling moves and take over the ice.

“When he touches the puck, he tries to go, he tries to make the ideal play happen and he competes and fights to make the ideal play happen on each puck touch,” Sabres coach Don Granato said following Tuesday’s ... Read the full article

Sabres can’t put Ducks away in awful loss: ‘Gave them free chances’

BUFFALO – Almost halfway through Monday afternoon’s embarrassing 4-3 loss, the Sabres had the Anaheim Ducks on the ropes.

At that point, the Sabres had dominated the Ducks, outshooting them by about 20 as they generated a slew of prime scoring chances, including some breakaways.

Fourteen seconds after center Tage Thompson’s power-play goal put the Sabres’ up 2-1, the Ducks took another penalty.... Read the full article

Sabres defenseman Owen Power week to week with upper-body injury

BUFFALO – In recent weeks, Sabres defenseman Owen Power has shaken off a slow start and recaptured some of the form that helped him enjoy a dynamic rookie season.

“He’s just played with more confidence, a little bit more calm with the puck and little bit more assertiveness physically without it,” Sabres coach Don Granato said Tuesday morning after announcing Power will be sidelined week to week with an upper-body injury. “I think a combination ... Read the full article

Sabres lose again, need more compete: ‘We have to find another gear’

BUFFALO – If you believe time hasn’t run out for the 14th-place Sabres, then the clock is certainly ticking loudly. Two losses last week likely extinguished their faint hopes of entering the playoff chase.

With their season essentially on the line, the Sabres scored just two total goals. In Saturday afternoon’s 3-1 loss to the St. Louis Blues before 16,726 fans in KeyBank Center, they created offense again but refused to pay a price to ... Read the full article

Tenacity helping Sabres prospect Lukas Rousek pile up points in Rochester

BUFFALO – Seth Appert kept talking, going into detail to explain how aggressive play fueled Buffalo Sabres prospect Lukas Rousek’s recent 13-game point streak.

“On the puck, competitiveness, forechecking, puck battles,” the Americans coach said late last month in Blue Cross Arena in Rochester before the winger’s streak ended. “His battle level is dramatically higher right now than it was at any time he’s been in North America. He’s playing more competitively, he’s hunting the ... Read the full article