Buffalo captain Rasmus Dahlin battles New Jersey’s Jack Hughes last week in Prague, Czechia. ©2024, Micheline Veluvolu

Sabres focused on fixing power play: ‘Going to be great’

BUFFALO – Prior to Tuesday’s practice, the Sabres’ power-play units and coaching staff could be found across the street at LECOM Harborcenter working on the man advantage.

“I don’t know if that mock resistance by the coaches was any good, but I felt the speed coming at us was pretty good,” Sabres coach Lindy Ruff cracked.

When the regular session began at KeyBank Center, the Sabres focused on their power play for the first 43 ... Read the full article

Devon Levi made 25 saves Monday. ©2024, Micheline Veluvolu

Devon Levi happy to compete with UPL, sharp as Sabres beat Blue Jackets

BUFFALO – For years, Sabres goalie Devon Levi has been a workhorse, starting game after game.

At Northeastern, Levi played 89 percent of the Huskies’ games. After turning pro late in 2022-23, he started seven of the Sabres’ final eight contests and the first four last season before suffering an injury.

When Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen seized the No. 1 job late last fall, the Sabres assigned Levi to the Rochester Americans to play regularly, occasionally recalling ... Read the full article

Rasmus Dahlin was injured Wednesday. ©2024, Micheline Veluvolu

Sabres preseason: Ryan McLeod set to debut; Rasmus Dahlin skates again

BUFFALO – Two exhibition games, two regular-season lineups.

The Sabres will mostly utilize their top players again for this afternoon’s preseason contest against the Columbus Blue Jackets in KeyBank Center. They dressed most of their NHL talent for Saturday’s 7-3 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins, a game in which JJ Peterka scored three goals.

The complete lineup is below. Three notable offseason acquisitions – center Ryan McLeod, defenseman Dennis Gilbert and winger Jason Zucker – ... Read the full article

JJ Peterka (77) skates to the bench after scoring Saturday. ©2024, Micheline Veluvolu

JJ Peterka scores hat trick, shows star qualities as Sabres throttle Penguins

BUFFALO – Let’s temper any excitement over the Sabres’ 7-3 win and winger JJ Peterka’s hat trick in Saturday’s preseason opener by noting the Pittsburgh Penguins brought their B or C squad to KeyBank Center.

The Sabres, meanwhile, dressed what resembled a regular-season lineup featuring perhaps their top two lines and No. 1 goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen.

An emphatic victory was almost expected. Following a slow start, the Sabres began annihilating the visitors, scoring five times ... Read the full article

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen will start tonight. ©2024, Micheline Veluvolu

Sabres preseason: Buffalo to dress most of regulars, give Jiri Kulich first chance

BUFFALO – When coach Lindy Ruff said most of the Sabres’ regulars would dress for the preseason opener, he wasn’t kidding.

Tonight’s roster resembles a regular-season lineup, with perhaps the entire first and second lines playing against the Pittsburgh Penguins at KeyBank Center.

Assistant coach Seth Appert said No. 1 goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen will start and go the distance.

While the lineup mostly features established talent, rookie winger Jiri Kulich will receive his first action ... Read the full article

Jeff Skinner endured a down season in 2023-24. ©2024, Micheline Veluvolu

Kevyn Adams aware of rumors Sabres could buy out Jeff Skinner

BUFFALO – General manager Kevyn Adams knows there are rumors the Sabres could buy out winger Jeff Skinner, who has three seasons remaining on his eight-year, $72 million contract.

Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman on Tuesday called a buyout “a possibility,” igniting speculation about the 14-year veteran’s future.

Skinner, 32, certainly fits the criteria of a player the Sabres, who have missed the playoffs an NHL-record 13 straight seasons, would consider cutting loose.

He struggled last season, ... Read the full article

Dylan Cozens scored nine goals for Team Canada. ©2024, Micheline Veluvolu

After difficult season, Sabres’ Dylan Cozens stars for Team Canada

Nine goals scored in 10 outings, two more than any player in the World Championship. A six-game goal streak. An overtime winner. A gaudy 30 percent shooting percentage.

While Sabres center Dylan Cozens fell short of earning a medal in the tournament – Team Canada finished fourth, losing Sunday’s bronze medal game 4-2 to Buffalo defenseman Rasmus Dahlin and Team Sweden – he ended his season on a high note.

Cozens struggled with the Sabres ... Read the full article

Dylan Cozens has excelled at the World Championship. ©2024, Micheline Veluvolu

Sabres’ Dylan Cozens thriving for Team Canada at World Championship

Buffalo Sabres center Dylan Cozens often plays his best when he’s ticked off, so it wasn’t surprising he responded by scoring a power-play goal for Team Canada in Sunday’s 3-2 win after Team Switzerland’s Kevin Fiala kneed him.

Shortly after Fiala, a winger with the Los Angeles Kings, was ejected, Cozens scored his second of the game and sixth of the World Championship in Czechia.

The Yukon native, of course, just endured a difficult year ... Read the full article

Lindy Ruff talks Tuesday. ©2024, Micheline Veluvolu

Ex-Sabres Jason Pominville, Ryan Miller know Lindy Ruff can succeed in Buffalo

BUFFALO – Before the Sabres re-hired Lindy Ruff, one of the coach’s prominent former players, Jason Pominville, said he texted some friends and told them, “It has to be him. They have to bring him back.”

“Like, this is the time to bring him back,” Pominville wrote to them.

He had no inside information during the Sabres’ search for Don Granato’s replacement. The former winger simply knew Ruff could help a young, talented ... Read the full article

Mattias Samuelsson played just 41 games this season. ©2024, Micheline Veluvolu

After battling injuries, Sabres’ Mattias Samuelsson mentally stronger

BUFFALO – The days and weeks after Sabres defenseman Mattias Samuelsson underwent season-ending right shoulder surgery took a mental toll on him.

He wore a sling for six weeks, forcing him to use just his left arm. When the team traveled for road games, he stayed in Buffalo.

It made for a frustrating and lonely time.

“It was some hard days there, for sure,” Samuelsson said Thursday as the Sabres held end-of-season meetings in KeyBank ... Read the full article