Rochester Americans - Buffalo Hockey Beat

In Noah Ostlund, Sabres possess smart, special talent: ‘I belong here now’

BOSTON – Noah Ostlund figures by the second time the Buffalo Sabres recalled him this season, he started feeling comfortable in the NHL.

Not that the rookie looked out of the place in those early-season outings and during an eight-game look late last year, his first taste of the big leagues.

But after the Sabres summoned Ostlund from the Rochester Americans again in early November, he started scoring and earning more ice time. By later ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Noah Ostlund could return from injury Thursday

BUFFALO – Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said rookie forward Noah Ostlund, who has missed the last 12 games with an upper-body injury, is “real close” to playing.

“I would consider him a possibility for tomorrow,” Ruff said this afternoon in KeyBank Center.

The Sabres play Game 3 of their first-round playoff series Thursday in Boston against the Bruins. The best-of-seven series is tied 1-1.... Read the full article

Injured Sabres Noah Ostlund, Alex Lyon return to practice; Buffalo could make lineup change for Game 1 of playoffs

BUFFALO – Expect to see rookie forward Noah Ostlund return from his upper-body injury during the Sabres’ first-round series against the Boston Bruins in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Ostlund, 22, practiced as an extra Saturday, his first session since going down March 25 late in a 4-3 overtime loss to the Bruins.

The best-of-seven series starts tonight at KeyBank Center.... Read the full article

Grinding in minors and paying dues molded Sabres’ Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen into special NHL goalie

BUFFALO – In those early years, as he grinded in the minors and his paid dues, Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen said it could be difficult to see the big picture.

Luukkonen, having developed into one of hockey’s top prospects and been anointed the Sabres’ goalie of the future, kept hearing the same thing.

“You’re a young guy, everybody tells you this and that and that you’re going to be great,” Luukkonen said following Sunday’s practice ... Read the full article

Sabres reassign top defense prospect to Rochester Amerks

The Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday reassigned top defense prospect Radim Mrtka from his junior team, the Seattle Thunderbirds, to the Rochester Americans.

Mrtka, the ninth overall pick in 2025, began the season in Rochester before the Sabres sent him to Seattle.

Seattle’s season ended Friday in the first round of the Western Hockey League Playoffs.... Read the full article

Rookie Zach Metsa back with Sabres, perhaps for good

OTTAWA – By Sunday night, after Buffalo Sabres defenseman Zach Metsa completed a grueling stretch of the three games in three days with the Rochester Americans, he was spent.

“Just mentally and emotionally, you’re just kind of drained after the third game,” the defenseman told the Times Herald prior to Thursday’s game against the Senators in the Canadian Tire Centre.

In his brief return to the minors, Metsa, 27, received the full AHL experience, playing ... Read the full article

Sabres sign prospect Max Strbak to entry-level contract

The Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday signed defense prospect Max Strbak, a second-round pick in 2023, to a three-year, entry-level contract.

Strbak, 20, will be joining the Rochester Americans for the remainder of the season on an amateur tryout, meaning his deal will kick in next season.

His college career ended Saturday when Ohio State University defeated the Spartans 4-3 in overtime of the NCAA regional final.... Read the full article

Sabres recall rookie Zach Metsa from Rochester Amerks

The Buffalo Sabres this afternoon recalled rookie defenseman Zach Metsa following a three-game weekend stint with the Rochester Americans.

Metsa, Rochester’s captain, registered zero points as the Amerks compiled a 2-1-0 mark.

The Sabres on Thursday assigned Metsa to the AHL so he could play big minutes instead of sitting out in Buffalo as a healthy scratch.... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Jordan Greenway skating with ‘zero pain,’ says he can play again this season

BUFFALO – Sabres winger Jordan Greenway can’t explain why his latest rehab regimen has worked so well when the others he tried failed to alleviate his pain.

These days, Greenway, who said he played through “terrible pain” after undergoing two sports hernia surgeries, feels the best he has in years. He sounds happy and relieved as he nears his return to the lineup after missing the last 23 games.

“I’m skating with zero pain, really, ... Read the full article

Why did the Sabres send Zach Metsa back to the Rochester Amerks?

BUFFALO – The Sabres had the option to send rookie Zach Metsa back to the minors, so they figured what the heck, why not take it?

Instead of scratching the defenseman, by assigning him to the Rochester Americans as they did Thursday, he can play big minutes this weekend.

“He’ll play 20-plus minutes, which will be great for him,” Ruff said this morning in KeyBank Center, where the Sabres host the Detroit Red Wings tonight.... Read the full article