Peterka - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres change lines in midst of slow start, insist they won’t panic

BUFFALO – For the time being, Dylan Cozens might be a winger again, having joined Sabres center Tage Thompson and Jordan Greenway on a line during Friday’s practice.

Of course, in the near future, Cozens will likely shift back to center, his natural position. The Yukon native, fresh off a 31-goal breakout season, is a budding star. Thompson and Cozens give the Sabres one of the NHL’s best one-two punches down the middle.

But having ... Read the full article

Sabres rookies Zach Benson, Devon Levi miss practice with injuries

BUFFALO – Sabres winger Zach Benson and goalie Devon Levi both missed Friday’s practice because of lower-body injuries and are considered day to day, according to the team.

Both rookies finished Thursday’s 4-3 loss to the Calgary Flames in KeyBank Center.... Read the full article

Sabres keep rallying, fall short in sloppy loss to Flames: ‘Wanted an easier game’

BUFFALO – Scoring goals won’t be a problem for the Sabres this season, veteran defenseman Erik Johnson said. It’s preventing them that worries him.

“Until we have a commitment to team defense we won’t accomplish much,” Johnson said following Thursday’s 4-3 loss to the Calgary Flames.

To wit: with the game knotted at 2 late in the second period, the disjointed Sabres allowed a breakaway and an odd-man rush. They escaped the period tied, but ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Tyson Jost replaces Victor Olofsson; Jonas Johansson earns No. 1 job for Lightning

BUFFALO – In training camp, Sabres coach Don Granato said he believed winger Victor Olofsson would grow this year after having the summer to process his late-season struggles.

Over the years, Olofsson, 28, has shown he’s cognizant of his deficiencies and willing to evolve. Last season, despite losing his spot in the lineup late, he scored 21 even-strength goals, two more than he had in the previous two years combined.

But three games into the ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Victor Olofsson to be healthy scratch against Lightning

BUFFALO – Just three games into the new season, Sabres winger Victor Olofsson, a healthy scratch down the stretch last year, will be taking a seat again.

The 0-2 Sabres plan to scratch Olofsson for tonight’s game against the Tampa Bay Lightning and insert center Tyson Jost, who sat out the first two contests.

Jost replaced Peyton Krebs this morning between Zemgus Girgensons and captain Kyle Okposo. Meanwhile, Krebs moved up to Olofsson’s spot ... Read the full article

Sabres fall in early hole, lose opener; Zach Benson sharp in NHL debut

BUFFALO – A 2-0 deficit early in the first period. Just nine shots on goal more than halfway through the game.

At times, Thursday’s highly anticipated season opener felt like a throwback to the Sabres’ dreary days of the not-so-distant past.

They got going a bit as the game progressed, scoring late in the second period and making things interesting against the New York Rangers. Still, it was too little, too late, and they fell ... Read the full article

In locking up Owen Power and Rasmus Dahlin, Sabres put two ‘pillars in place’

BUFFALO – Scan through each NHL roster and try to pick out every so-called franchise defenseman. Most teams don’t have one.

In Owen Power and Rasmus Dahlin, the Sabres possess two.

This week, Power and Dahlin each signed long-term contract extensions, ensuring two foundational pieces can remain teammates through the 2030-31 season.... Read the full article

Prospect Brandon Biro impressive as he fights for another shot with Sabres

BUFFALO – Having undergone season-ending surgery as the Rochester Americans began the Calder Cup Playoffs, Sabres prospect Brandon Biro had a tough time watching his teammates compete.

Biro, 25, stayed with the Amerks throughout the spring, sharing in the emotions that accompanied their wins and losses. He never lost his competitiveness.

“The tough part was I didn’t think there was any chance I was going to be able to be back at all in the ... Read the full article

Sabres prospect Zach Benson could earn more preseason action; Matt Savoie close to returning

BUFFALO – In the beginning of training camp, coach Don Granato said the Sabres penciled prospect Zach Benson in for three preseason games, a number he will hit tonight against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

But Benson, the 13th overall pick this year, has looked so impressive in his early action he might earn more games. The Sabres have three more after tonight’s in Pittsburgh.

“Now, based on how he’s playing, there’s intrigue that he may get ... Read the full article

Sabres begin training camp with Devon Levi, prospects and Victor Olofsson in spotlight

BUFFALO – The deepest and most talented Sabres team since the rollicking post-lockout days of the mid-2000s will hit the ice today shouldering the expectation it can end the franchise’s embarrassing 12-year playoff drought.

Coming off a season in which they fell one win short of the postseason, the Sabres begin training camp with three sessions at KeyBank Center.

They have a whopping 64 players on their camp roster: seven goalies, 21 defensemen and 36 ... Read the full article