Ostlund - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres’ Owen Power quietly developing into special defenseman

BOSTON – Sometimes, Buffalo Sabres coach Lindy Ruff explained, a defenseman plays so well you hardly notice him.

Ruff mentioned that in response to question about Owen Power’s performance in Tuesday’s 2-1 overtime loss to the Bruins, and if it ranked as perhaps his best outing this season.

Power, 23, hardly stood out in Game 5. His four-game assist streak ended. He registered just one shot on goal in 23 minutes, 21 seconds of ice ... Read the full article

If Sabres’ Logan Stanley can’t face Bruins, Michael Kesselring gets chance

BOSTON – Buffalo Sabres defenseman Logan Stanley will be a game-time decision tonight against the Bruins, coach Lindy Ruff said.

Ruff said Stanley, who has been sick, skated this morning. The rest of the Sabres stayed off the ice as they prepared for Game 6 of the best-of-seven first-round playoff series.

The Sabres lead 3-2 and can win a playoff series tonight for the first time since 2007.... Read the full article

Sabres lose Noah Ostlund to injury for ‘period of time’

BUFFALO – Sabres rookie Noah Ostlund will be sidelined “a period of time” after suffering a lower-body injury in Tuesday’s 2-1 overtime playoff loss to the Boston Bruins, coach Lindy Ruff said.

“The news wasn’t good, don’t exactly know how much (time),” Ruff said this morning in KeyBank Center.

With Ostlund out, center Josh Norris, who has missed the last three games, will likely move into the lineup for Game 6 of the first-round playoff ... Read the full article

Sabres lose game to Bruins in OT, Noah Ostlund to injury: ‘It doesn’t look good’

BUFFALO – Since the Sabres morphed into an NHL heavyweight almost five months ago, they’ve lost three consecutive games just once.

Their ability to quickly put away games – good and bad – has helped them showcase remarkable consistency.

For the Sabres to lose their first-round playoff series, they would have to drop three straight games.

The postseason, of course, is a different animal. Still, since early December, the Sabres, who on Tuesday lost 2-1 ... Read the full article

In Noah Ostlund, Sabres possess smart, special talent: ‘I belong here now’

BOSTON – Noah Ostlund figures by the second time the Buffalo Sabres recalled him this season, he started feeling comfortable in the NHL.

Not that the rookie looked out of the place in those early-season outings and during an eight-game look late last year, his first taste of the big leagues.

But after the Sabres summoned Ostlund from the Rochester Americans again in early November, he started scoring and earning more ice time. By later ... Read the full article

Lindy Ruff’s evolution on display as he coaches young Sabres in playoffs

BOSTON – In the aftermath of the Buffalo Sabres’ 4-2 home loss in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series, coach Lindy Ruff acknowledged that on the outside, he downplayed his team’s dreary performance a bit.

On the inside, however, players knew they played poorly on Tuesday against the Bruins after winning Game 1.

Ruff, whose Sabres roared back on Thursday and beat the Bruins 3-1 in TD Garden, grabbing a 2-1 lead in ... Read the full article

Alex Lyon, Noah Ostlund and Alex Tuch help Sabres rally to defeat Bruins, take series lead

BOSTON – Mattias Samuelsson, having broken his stick, was essentially helpless as he tried to get the puck out of his own zone. The Buffalo Sabres defenseman tried kicking it out, but that only made matters worse.

Viktor Arvidsson quickly grabbed the puck and made a beeline for Sabres goalie Alex Lyon. As the Swede roared in, captain Rasmus Dahlin slashed him, giving the Bruins a penalty shot as they enjoyed a 1-0 lead 9:50 ... Read the full article

Alex Lyon played four postseason games with Florida.

Sabres notes: Buffalo turns to Alex Lyon versus Bruins; Josh Norris misses game

BOSTON – Buffalo Sabres goalie Alex Lyon has experienced this before. Three years ago, he started three games during the Florida Panthers’ stunning first-round upset of the Bruins in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. He later had a relief appearance in the final.

Turning to Lyon on Thursday for Game 3 of the Sabres’ opening-round series felt inevitable after goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen allowed an 89-foot goal and later got pulled from Tuesday’s 4-2 home loss to ... Read the full article

Sabres will likely start goalie Alex Lyon, make lineup changes up front in Game 3 against Bruins

BOSTON – Goalie Alex Lyon is likely in for Game 3 of the Sabres’ first-round playoff series. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is likely out.

Lyon, 33, manned the net usually reserved for that night’s started during this morning’s pregame skate, meaning he’s expected to get the nod against the Bruins. The best-of-seven series is tied 1-1.

Sabres coach Lindy Ruff refused to name his starter for tonight’s game.

Lyon hasn’t started a game since allowing three goals ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Josh Norris to miss Game 3 against Bruins with injury

BOSTON – Oft-injured center Josh Norris will miss Game 3 of the Sabres’ first-round playoff series tonight with an undisclosed injury and is day to day, coach Lindy Ruff said this afternoon.

Norris crashed into the boards in Tuesday’s 4-2 home loss to the Bruins but stayed in the game.

Ruff said he doesn’t know when Norris, 26, suffered his injury.... Read the full article