Ostlund - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres bounce back after rare loss, beat Maple Leafs in shootout

BUFFALO – You must go back more than three months – 97 days and 38 games, to be exact – to find the last time the Sabres lost two consecutive contests in regulation.

A heck of lot has gone into their stunning 30-6-2 run that has vaulted them into first place in the Atlantic Division. They’ve excelled in essentially every facet of the game.

Their ability to quickly bounce back and handle the mental gymnastics ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Luke Schenn teammates with another Doan; Alex Tuch misses game with injury

BUFFALO – Jeska Peczek recently told her husband, Sabres defenseman Luke Schenn, you can tell you’re getting old when a former teammate’s son welcomes you to your new team.

“At one point, it’s Shane Doan and his wife welcoming you to the team (the Arizona Coyotes), and next thing you know, it’s Josh and his girlfriend,” Schenn said Thursday prior to making his Sabres debut in a 2-1 loss to the Washington Capitals in KeyBank ... Read the full article

Noah Ostlund’s response after slash on Rasmus Dahlin displays Sabres’ growth: ‘We’re a pack’

BUFFALO – When Sabres rookie Noah Ostlund saw his captain, Rasmus Dahlin, down on the ice and the referee’s arm up, instinct took over.

“I thought it was something ugly,” Ostlund said of Brayden Point’s slash on Dahlin early in the second period of Saturday’s 6-2 road win over the Tampa Bay Lightning.

So the 5-foot-11, 180-pound Ostlund, who did not see the slash, immediately went after Point, hoping to cross-check him.... Read the full article

Sabres blow late lead, lose tight game to Canadiens: ‘A matter of inches’

BUFFALO – A high-stakes late-January game in a packed, noisy building. The Sabres have waited for what feels like forever for nights like Saturday.

“We love playing these games,” captain Rasmus Dahlin said after the Sabres’ entertaining 4-2 loss to the Montreal Canadiens ended their five-game win streak. “These are the type of games we want to be in.”

They’re also games the Sabres, who have registered an NHL-best 20-4-1 record since Dec. 9, must ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Zach Metsa feeling more comfortable in NHL; Michael Kesselring happy to record first point

TORONTO – Zach Metsa’s first tour around the NHL has given him a special opportunity to visit come of hockey’s most hallowed rinks and soak in each unique experience.

“I’ve been fired up for it,” the Buffalo Sabres rookie told the Times Herald prior to Tuesday’s game against the Maple Leafs. “I’m lucky.”

Metsa, 27, made his big league debut in Montreal’s Bell Centre and earlier this month played his first game at New York’s ... Read the full article

Early in first recall, Sabres rookie Konsta Helenius shows he’s special talent

MONTREAL – As coach Lindy Ruff closed his remarks following Tuesday’s 5-3 win, he congratulated the Buffalo Sabres’ slick new line of neophytes for a “hell of a night,” then reached into his pocket and tossed rookie Konsta Helenius the puck for his first NHL point, an assist on Noah Ostlund’s early goal.

As Helenius’ teammates cheered, Ruff dug back into his pocket and lobbed Helenius the puck he whistled by Nashville Predators goalie Jusse ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Josh Norris week to week with injury; Konsta Helenius ready to make NHL debut, Alex Lyon healthy

BUFFALO – Sabres center Josh Norris is now likely week to week with an upper-body injury.

After the oft-injured Norris left Wednesday’s 5-2 win over the Philadelphia Flyers in the second period, the Sabres labeled his status as day to day.

“He’s kind of gone more from the day to day that it looks like now it might be longer,” Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said following Sunday’s practice in KeyBank Center. “I can’t really peg ... Read the full article

Sabres roar back against Wild, lose in OT; Josh Norris misses second game

BUFFALO – It was about to be one heck of a penalty kill for the Sabres. Defenseman Mattias Samuelsson cleared the puck down down the ice, seemingly extinguishing the power play the Minnesota Wild carried into Saturday afternoon’s overtime.

But Wild goalie Filip Gustavsson skated out to the left circle and quickly flung the puck up to Kirill Kaprizov at the Buffalo blue line as the Sabres changed. Kaprizov skated in and fed Mats Zuccarello, ... Read the full article

Mature, consistent game as No. 1 center helps Sabres prospect Konsta Helenius earn first recall from Rochester

BRIGHTON – Center prospect Konsta Helenius’ first recall to Buffalo could be brief. Right now, the Sabres are scorching, having won 15 of their last 17 games, and coach Lindy Ruff hasn’t tinkered with his lineup much over the past five weeks.

If Sabres center Josh Norris, who’s day to day with an upper-body injury, heals quickly, Helenius, 19, could be returned to the Rochester Americans without playing a game.

The Sabres, who host the ... Read the full article

Sabres will likely play rookie Colten Ellis against Panthers, make lineup change

BUFFALO – Tonight’s contest begins a dizzying stretch of eight games over the next 13 days for the Sabres, including three in the next four days.

So expect both of their goalies, Colten Ellis and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, to earn starts throughout one of the busiest stretches this season.

Ellis, who this morning manned the net usually reserved for that night’s starter, is expected to face the Florida Panthers tonight at KeyBank Center.

“We’ve kind of ... Read the full article