Ostlund - Buffalo Hockey Beat

‘Fearless’ Beck Malenstyn playing gritty game, showcasing offensive flair

PITTSBURGH – Buffalo Sabres winger Beck Malenstyn figures after his recent highlight-reel goal, about 20 to 25 people contacted him to share their excitement about the prettiest of his 14 NHL goals.

“I think they were probably just as surprised as I and everybody else in the building were at the time,” Malenstyn told the Times Herald following Tuesday’s practice in KeyBank Center.

While 6-foot-3, 209-pound Malenstyn chips in the occasional goal, his bread and ... Read the full article

As Sabres get healthier, difficult roster decisions, even trade, could be made

BUFFALO – Waiving tough guy Mason Geertsen was the easy one. Difficult roster decisions loom for the Sabres as sick and injured players begin to return to the lineup.

By taking Geertsen, a healthy scratch 15 times this season, off the roster, they can activate winger Jason Zucker, 33, off injured reserve.

The Sabres, who host the Chicago Blackhawks tonight at KeyBank Center, sorely need Zucker. Their oldest and most experienced player has missed the ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Zach Benson happy to be back after injury; Jason Zucker can play Friday following illness

BUFFALO – The oddest stretch of Zach Benson’s young career is likely over. The diminutive Sabres winger rejoined his teammates for Wednesday’s pregame skate and hopes he can play in the coming days.

Two injuries – a seemingly innocent cut that forced him to be hospitalized the day before the season opener and a lower-body ailment – have kept him out of 12 of the Sabres’ first 20 games, including the last nine after a ... Read the full article

Rookies Noah Ostlund, Colten Ellis lead Sabres to complete win over Oilers: ‘Probably our best game’

BUFFALO – In the next week or so, two of the Sabres’ top forwards, Josh Norris and Jason Zucker, should be ready to play, meaning some difficult roster decisions will likely materialize.

After center Noah Ostlund’s slick two-goal performance in Monday’s 5-1 shellacking of the Edmonton Oilers, it’s hard to imagine the Sabres will create room by sending the rookie back to the Rochester Americans.

Ostlund, 21, dazzled in his 11th NHL game this season ... Read the full article

Sabres prospect Konsta Helenius taking ‘big jump’ in development, playing big minutes for Rochester Amerks

ROCHESTER – Having lost three of their most talented forwards to recalls, the Americans have recently been forced to lean heavily on center Konsta Helenius, playing the Sabres prospect a whopping 23 or 24 minutes some games.

“He’s playing probably too much right now, to be honest,” Amerks coach Mike Leone told the Times Herald prior to Wednesday’s 6-4 loss to the Belleville Senators in Blue Cross Arena.

The Amerks, who have lost Josh ... Read the full article

Rasmus Dahlin taking temporary leave of absence from Sabres

BUFFALO – Captain Rasmus Dahlin is taking a temporary leave of absence from the Sabres to deal with a personal matter in Sweden, coach Lindy Ruff said Friday.

In September, Dahlin revealed his fiancée, Carolina Matovac, was rehabbing in Sweden after experiencing major heart failure and undergoing a heart transplant in the summer.

Matovac, who underwent life-saving CPR and spent weeks on life support before the transplant, is doing well.... Read the full article

Alex Lyon, Noah Ostlund get Sabres to OT before losing to Mammoth

BUFFALO – On one hand, the Sabres’ penchant for taking games to overtime is encouraging. Every point is precious, and they’ve guaranteed themselves at least one in each of their last five games.

On the other, well, how about they start winning some of those contests?

The Sabres have lost just once in regulation in their last 10 outings, yet they’re 5-1-4 in that stretch.

On Tuesday, they fell 2-1 to the Utah Mammoth when ... Read the full article

JJ Peterka won’t say if he wanted to be traded from Sabres: ‘Focus is on Utah’

BUFFALO – Utah Mammoth winger JJ Peterka wanted no part of the questions and revisiting that part of his past here.

Before the Sabres traded him on June 26, did he request to be dealt? Did he want out of Buffalo?

“I met so many great people in the organization,” Peterka replied prior to Tuesday’s game, his first at KeyBank Center as a visitor. “I made so many good friends. But, yeah, I think ... Read the full article

Sabres recall prospect from Rochester again; Tyson Kozak close to playing

BUFFALO – Center Noah Ostlund is back with the Sabres following a five-day stint in the minors.

The Sabres this morning recalled the prospect from the Rochester Americans because forwards Jiri Kulich and Jason Zucker are sick and out for tonight’s game against the Utah Mammoth at KeyBank Center.

Coach Lindy Ruff said Kulich, who has fluid in his ears, likely won’t play in Thursday’s home contest against the St. Louis Blues. Meanwhile, Ruff said ... Read the full article

Sabres send forward prospect back to Rochester Amerks

BUFFALO – In his last outing before the Sabres returned him to the minors, center prospect Noah Ostlund enjoyed his best offensive performance in the NHL, coach Lindy Ruff said, pumping a career-high three shots on goal and attempting four.

The Swede’s effort in Tuesday’s 4-3 overtime loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets impressed Ruff, who recently placed him on a scoring line between Jason Zucker and Jack Quinn.

Ostlund, who on Thursday was sent ... Read the full article