WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
Stanley Cup Playoffs Edition
Carter Huttom has played three games this season. ©2019, Janet Schultz
BUFFALO – Other than switching to goalie Carter Hutton this afternoon against the Dallas Stars, the Sabres will utilize the same lineup as the past two games inside KeyBank Center.
That means forward Curtis Lazar, who was recalled from Rochester Americans on Sunday, will be scratched.
Despite the Stars’ sorry 1-4-1 record, they possess a lot of talent.
“They’re a much, much better team that their record,” said coach Ralph Krueger, whose Sabres have ... Read the full article
Curtis Lazar has played three games with the Amerks. ©2019, Micheline Veluvolu, Rochester Americans
BUFFALO – The Sabres recalled forward Curtis Lazar from the Rochester Americans this afternoon.
Lazar, 24, will likely accompany the Sabres on their three-game western road trip that begins Wednesday to serve as their extra forward.
The Amerks scratched Lazar from today’s road game against the Hartford Wolf Pack.
The Sabres have had only 12 healthy forwards since winger Conor Sheary suffered an upper-body injury last week. Sheary skated on his own today.... Read the full article
Victor Olofsson has roared out of the gate. ©2019, Hickling Images
BUFFALO – Winger Kyle Okposo still remembers the first time he and some other Sabres watched rookie Victor Olofsson shoot the puck.
It was training camp in 2018, and Olofsson had just arrived for his first North American season after leading the Swedish Hockey League in goals.
What Okposo and the others saw wowed them.
“We were just like, ‘Who is this kid who can shoot the puck like this?’” Okposo said Thursday inside KeyBank ... Read the full article
Ralph Krueger is in his first season coaching the Sabres. ©2019, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Six years ago, Ralph Krueger’s job as a consultant for Team Canada’s Olympic entry at the Sochi Games offered the Sabres coach a chance to discuss hockey with some the game’s greatest minds.
Mike Babcock, Ken Hitchcock, Claude Julien and former Sabres coach Lindy Ruff all served on Canada’s coaching staff.
“It was the best hockey coaching symposium you could go through with that group because of the way everybody exchanged everything,” Krueger ... Read the full article
Conor Sheary has an upper-body injury. ©2019, Hickling Images
BUFFALO – Right now, the Sabres don’t plan to recall a forward to replace winger Conor Sheary, who’s week-to-week after suffering an upper-body injury Monday, the team announced this morning.
The Sabres have 12 healthy forwards for tonight’s game against the Montreal Canadiens, which is enough for coach Ralph Krueger and general manager Jason Botterill.
Evan Rodrigues, a healthy scratch the first three games, practiced Tuesday in Sheary’s spot at right wing beside ... Read the full article
Carter Hutton started Thursday’s game. ©2019, Janet Schultz
BUFFALO – After outplaying Carter Hutton last month, Sabres goalie Linus Ullmark took a backseat Thursday, watching his partner’s splendid 28-save performance from the bench.
Coach Ralph Krueger said everything would be up for competition during training camp, and based on their preseason numbers, Ullmark deserved to start the Sabres’ 50th anniversary season opener.
But the decision, of course, wasn’t quite that simple.
Hutton, 33, played a career-high 50 games and started regularly for the ... Read the full article
Marcus Johansson has impressed coach Ralph Krueger. ©2019, Hickling Images
PITTSBURGH – Marcus Johansson rarely displays much emotion. In good times and bad, the Buffalo Sabres center usually keeps an even keel.
Still, Ralph Krueger could tell being named one of the Sabres’ two alternate captains earlier this week had special meaning to Johansson.
“His Swedish persona (was) able to kind of tuck it away in the talk with me, but I thought he was extremely honored,” Krueger said prior to Thursday’s 3-1, season-opening win ... Read the full article
Victor Olofsson spent last season in Rochester. ©2019, Micheline Veluvolu, Rochester Americans
PITTSBURGH – As expected, the Sabres recalled winger Victor Olofsson and defenseman Henri Jokiharju from the Rochester Americans this morning.
In paper moves to get under the salary cap before Tuesday’s roster deadline, the Sabres sent Olofsson and Jokiharju to the AHL.
The Sabres also assigned the three players they summoned Tuesday – forwards Jean-Sebastien Dea and Curtis Lazar and defenseman Lawrence Pilut – to the Amerks.... Read the full article
Jake McCabe joined the Sabres late in 2013-14. ©2019, Hickling Images
BUFFALO – New Sabres coach Ralph Krueger announced today he has named center Marcus Johansson and defenseman Jake McCabe alternate captains for the 2019-20 season.
“We feel that that’s a strong group for the ice,” Krueger said following today’s practice inside KeyBank Center.
Johansson and McCabe replace defenseman Zach Bogosian and winger Kyle Okposo.... Read the full article
Victor Olofsson played six games with the Sabres last season. ©2019, Hickling Images
BUFFALO – Everyone can see Victor Olofsson’s dynamic ability to shoot the puck has helped him develop into an elite goal scorer.
The quick release. The accuracy and speed.
Few players can unleash the puck like the 24-year-old Sabres rookie.
“He’s a pure goal scorer,” Sabres captain Jack Eichel said following Tuesday’s practice inside KeyBank Center.
Olofsson’s lethal shot has helped him morph from an unknown seventh-round pick into a first-line NHL winger.
Still, a ... Read the full article