Ottawa Senators - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres win again, sweep season series from Senators; Tyson Kozak injured

OTTAWA – The Buffalo Sabres’ recent victories – Tuesday’s 5-2 win over the Senators was their second straight and fifth in their last six games – come with a caveat. They fell out of playoff contention long ago, meaning the contests, at least standings-wise, are meaningless.

The pressure has been off the Sabres for weeks. Playing looser surely helps them.

Still, these wins illustrate coach Lindy Ruff’s message is sinking in. While it took months, ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Jack Quinn on torrid streak, still disappointed in season: ‘Pretty brutal’

OTTAWA – In the midst of a career-best stretch, fresh off consecutive three-point outings, Buffalo Sabres winger Jack Quinn’s disappointment is still evident.

Quinn, 23, entered Tuesday’s game against the Senators at the Canadian Tire Centre on a tear, having scored four goals and eight points in his last four outings.

But in what was expected to be a breakout season, he has struggled at both ends of the ice – he began Tuesday’s game ... Read the full article

Sabres expected to go with hot goalie again, start James Reimer

OTTAWA – Right now, Buffalo Sabres veteran James Reimer, having won four straight starts, is one of the NHL’s hottest goalies.

So forget the Sabres signed Reimer to occasionally spell Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. He gives them their best chance to win, so he’ll keep playing over Luukkonen, who has been struggling.

Reimer, 37, is expected to start for the sixth time in eight games tonight against the Senators at the Canadian Tire Centre.... Read the full article

Sabres’ Jacob Bernard-Docker earning regular duty after trade; Noah Ostlund honored for hot stretch

OTTAWA – In the time he spent earlier this season recovering from a high ankle sprain and also regularly watching games as a healthy scratch, Buffalo Sabres newcomer Jacob Bernard-Docker tried to reflect and understand why he had lost his spot in the lineup.

Bernard-Docker, a right-shot defenseman the Sabres acquired March 7 in the trade that sent center Dylan Cozens to the Senators, said he realized he needed to be harder to play against.... Read the full article

Coach Lindy Ruff wins 600th game with Sabres, feels hope for future

BUFFALO – Lindy Ruff is admittedly a bit stubborn. The veteran coach believes he can fix anything, even his current team, which still sits in last place following Tuesday’s 3-2 win over the Ottawa Senators, his 600th victory with the Sabres.

After becoming the second coach in NHL history to reach the milestone with one team, Ruff compared taking over the Sabres this season in the midst of their NHL-record 13-year playoff drought to driving ... Read the full article

Before trade to Senators, Dylan Cozens wanted to find solution with Sabres

BUFFALO – Center Dylan Cozens, one of the Sabres’ core assets just a few weeks ago, emerged from the visiting dressing room clad in black, red and gold gear and walked to a backdrop adorned with logos of the Ottawa Senators.

Then Cozens, sporting a backwards baseball hat and his customary smile, began answering questions about the deadline trade that sent him to the Sabres’ Atlantic Division rival.

“It still really doesn’t feel real ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Josh Norris frustrated by injury; Buffalo recalls prospect

BUFFALO – The Sabres and Josh Norris want to be smart about his mid-body injury, so while the newcomer marked tonight’s game against the Ottawa Senators on the calendar after they recently traded him, he won’t rush back for it.

If everything goes well, then perhaps Norris, 25, will be ready for next Tuesday’s game in Ottawa.

That, of course, is a big if.

Tonight’s game will be the sixth straight contest the center has ... Read the full article

Sabres prospect Konsta Helenius moves to wing, learning to evolve in Rochester

ROCHESTER – When Americans coach Mike Leone examines Buffalo Sabres prospect Konsta Helenius’ entire rookie season – his adjustment to the rigors of the AHL over his first six months and 55 games in North America – he sees what he called a “net positive.”

Helenius, 18, arrived possessing notable pro experience, having spent two seasons playing in Liiga, a top-tier pro circuit in his native Finland.

By his second year with Jukurit, he ... Read the full article

To acquire Josh Norris and change core, Sabres had to trade Dylan Cozens

Kevyn Adams wanted to make it clear he wasn’t looking to deal center Dylan Cozens as he worked to improve the Buffalo Sabres before Friday’s trade deadline.

But as the general manager went about trying to make a big move to change the dynamic of a last-place team that will miss the playoff for the 14th consecutive season, he found conversations started around Cozens.

In Cozens, he possessed a 24-year-old second-line center who has a ... Read the full article

Sabres trade Dylan Cozens to Senators, get Josh Norris, Jacob Bernard-Docker

Two seasons ago, in the midst of a breakout 31-goal campaign, the Buffalo Sabres labeled center Dylan Cozens as one of their cornerstones, awarding him a seven-year contract extension.

Today, after two disappointing seasons, Cozens is gone, having been traded to the Ottawa Senators with defenseman Dennis Gilbert and a second-round pick in 2026 in exchange for center Josh Norris and defenseman Jacob Bernard-Docker.

The trade deadline hits at 3 p.m.... Read the full article