WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
Offseason Edition
Mattias Samuelsson blocked a shot in Tuesday’s win. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Sabres defenseman Mattias Samuelsson, who briefly left Tuesday’s 5-2 win after blocking a shot, is questionable for tonight’s game against the St. Louis Blues with a lower-body injury, coach Don Granato said.
“Mattias is hour to hour, day to day,” Granato said this morning inside KeyBank Center. “He could potentially still (play). We can’t rule him out for tonight, but it’s day to day if he’s not in there tonight.”
Update: Samuelsson ... Read the full article
Buffalo defensemen Henri Jokiharju (10) and Owen Power (25) battles for position Tuesday in Toronto against Auston Matthews (34) and Michael Bunting (58). ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Winger Alex Tuch figures the Sabres set some sort of record in Tuesday’s 5-2 road win over the Toronto Maple Leafs.
“It’s got to be the youngest D corps to ever step on the ice tonight, I feel like,” Tuch said after defenseman Owen Power, 19, made his NHL debut in Scotiabank Arena. “The oldest guy’s Casey Fitzgerald at 25.”
Incredibly, the average age of the Sabres’ defense in Tuesday’s contest ... Read the full article
Buffalo rookie Owen Power looked comfortable throughout his NHL debut Tuesday. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu
TORONTO – Almost six minutes into his debut, Sabres rookie Owen Power faced his first stiff test as an NHL defenseman, a two-on-one with the Maple Leafs’ Mark Giordano and Auston Matthews roaring toward him.
Giordano, the puck carrier, won the Norris Trophy three years ago. Matthews is hockey’s most dynamic scorer, having potted a whopping 58 goals this season.
Power, the first overall pick in 2021, did not flinch.
During one of his first ... Read the full article
Auston Matthews has already scored 58 goals this season. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu
TORONTO – Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews has ascended to a new level of superstardom this season, scoring an NHL-high 58 goals in 68 outings.
Matthews, who was held pointless in Tuesday’s 5-2 loss to the Buffalo Sabres, recently became the first player since Mario Lemieux in 1995-96 to score 50 goals over a 50-game stretch. Matthews is on pace to score 66 times this season, a number that hasn’t been reached since Lemieux scored ... Read the full article
Owen Power participated in Buffalo’s optional skate this morning in Toronto. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu
TORONTO – A lot has changed in the 30 days since the Buffalo Sabres and Maple Leafs met at the Heritage Classic.
The Sabres signed defenseman Owen Power, the first overall pick who will be making his highly anticipated NHL debut tonight. The Leafs, meanwhile, have morphed back into one of the league’s heavyweights, having won seven of their last eight games (7-0-1). They’ve scoring a whopping 43 goals in that stretch.
Since ... Read the full article
Owen Power drew a crowd following Monday’s practice. ©2022
TORONTO – No one understands the lofty expectations and accompanying pressure Buffalo Sabres rookie Owen Power must deal with better than Rasmus Dahlin.
Having also been drafted first overall, Dahlin possesses unique insight into the highs and lows and Power, 19, will endure as a young NHL defenseman.
“He’s a young kid, he’s here to learn,” Dahlin said of Power, who will be making his NHL debut tonight against the Maple Leafs at Scotiabank ... Read the full article
Henri Jokiharju has a plum assignment beside Owen Power. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu
TORONTO – Prior to Owen Power’s arrival, Buffalo Sabres defensemen Rasmus Dahlin and Henri Jokiharju both let it be known they’d love to play with the rookie, the first overall pick in 2021.
The problem? Well, Dahlin and Jokiharju were partners at the time.
“Owen’s not here and they’re already talking about, ‘When Owen gets here, I want to play with him! And I want to play with him!’” Sabres coach Don Granato said ... Read the full article
Buffalo rookie Owen Power is expected to make his NHL debut Tuesday in Toronto. ©2022, Michigan Athletics
As news of Owen Power’s signing spread Friday afternoon, Buffalo Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams said his phone began lighting up with texts from the defenseman’s new teammates.
They wanted to learn when Power, 19, would be joining the Sabres after inking his three-year, entry-level contract and how they could connect with him.
“It says a lot to me of what this group is all about,” Adams said on a Zoom call Friday. “And you ... Read the full article
Buffalo drafted goalie Erik Portillo in 2019. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu, Rochester Americans
BUFFALO – Now that the Sabres have signed defenseman Owen Power to his entry-level contract, their attention can turn to two other top college prospects, goalie Erik Portillo and defenseman Ryan Johnson.
Kevyn Adams said he has already chatted with Portillo, 21, and Johnson, 20, both of whom suffered season-ending losses Thursday at the Frozen Four.
“You want to be respectful because these guys have put their heart and soul into something and trying to ... Read the full article
Owen Power just completed his sophomore season at Michigan. ©2022, Carlin Stiehl, Mlive.com
Defenseman Owen Power is officially a member of the Buffalo Sabres.
The Sabres this afternoon signed Power, the first overall pick in 2021, to a three-year, entry-level contract.
Power, 19, played his final game for Michigan on Thursday, a 3-2 overtime loss to Denver in the national semifinal at the Frozen Four.
