Rochester Americans - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres prospect Jiri Kulich earns AHL Player of the Week honors

A terrific weekend in which Buffalo Sabres prospect Jiri Kulich scored three goals and six points as the Rochester Americans went 3-0 has earned him AHL Player of the Week honors for the period ending Sunday.

Kulich, 18, enjoyed a night of three firsts in Friday’s 8-4 home win over the Laval Rocket, recording two goals, including the game-winner, and three points.

The Czech rookie followed up by recording two assists in Saturday afternoon’s 7-1 ... Read the full article

Sabres injuries: Alex Tuch out at least few weeks; Rasmus Dahlin day to day

BUFFALO – For months, the Sabres stayed remarkably healthy, especially up front, where the forward corps remained almost intact.

But now, they’ll be without first-line winger Alex Tuch for at least a few weeks after he suffered a lower-body injury in Friday’s 3-1 road win over the Florida Panthers. General manager Kevyn Adams said Tuch, 26, is week to week and he expects him to return before the end of the regular season.

To make ... Read the full article

Sabres put Alex Tuch on injured reserve

On Saturday, a day after the Buffalo Sabres moved into a wild card spot, they placed first-line winger Alex Tuch on injured reserve.

The loss of Tuch, of course, is a potentially devastating blow as the Sabres fight for their first playoff spot in 12 years. The 26-year-old has morphed into a star this season, scoring 28 goals and 62 points. Both totals rank second on the team.

It’s unclear what happened to Tuch, who ... Read the full article

Trade to Sabres organization special for Youngstown’s Joseph Cecconi, family

ROCHESTER – Right away, Joseph Cecconi called his grandfather, Joe, to share the special news.

Throughout his grandson’s junior and college career, the elder Cecconi traveled to nearly every one of his home games. He estimates he racked up about 30,000 miles a year driving from his Youngstown home to Muskegon and Ann Arbor.

Then Joseph Cecconi turned pro in 2019 and reported to the Texas Stars, Dallas’ AHL affiliate, and the trips ended. ... Read the full article

Special mentality helped Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen earn No. 1 job

BUFFALO – The burden of expectations could’ve weighed Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen down. After all, shortly after the Sabres drafted him in the second round in 2017, he was labeled as their goalie of the future.

At times in the minors, the Finn seemed to be developing a bit slowly. Injuries and the COVID-19 pandemic limited his playing time. He sometimes struggled or performed inconsistently.

“There’s been ups and downs to it,” Luukkonen said of his ... Read the full article

Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen named top rookie for January

BUFFALO – Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, whose six wins led all first-year netminders, has earned NHL Rookie of the Month honors for January.

Luukkonen, 23, has emerged as the Sabres’ No. 1 goalie this season, becoming their backbone after being recalled from the Rochester Americans in November.

In January, the Finn was stellar, making at least 30 saves in five of his nine outings. Overall in the month, he compiled a 6-2-1 mark with ... Read the full article

Sabres prospect Jiri Kulich displaying growth with Amerks; Vinnie Hinostroza playing big minutes in Rochester

ROCHESTER – The silver medal Buffalo Sabres prospect Jiri Kulich recently earned at the World Junior Championship hasn’t changed his life much.

Of course, Kulich, 18, is proud to have scored the overtime goal against Sweden to send Czechia to its first gold medal game since 2001. But following what he called an “unbelievable” experience, he simply resumed his rookie season with the Americans.

If he had returned home earlier this month, he might’ve been ... Read the full article

Amerks Hall of Fame: Before starring role in Buffalo, Sabres could’ve lost Jason Pominville on waivers

ROCHESTER – No one, it seems, except for perhaps Jason Pominville himself, could believe the Buffalo Sabres did it.

Sure, the team was stacked up front in 2005 as the NHL emerged from the lockout. But why would they waive Pominville, one of their top prospects? He was out of options, and if they wanted to assign him to the Americans again, he would have to clear.

Every other team would have a chance to ... Read the full article

Sabres prospect Lukas Rousek earns spot in AHL All-Star Classic

ROCHESTER – Buffalo Sabres prospect Lukas Rousek has been named as a replacement for injured teammate Brandon Biro on the North Division team for the upcoming AHL All-Star Classic.

Biro, a center who has a team-high 29 points, is week to week after suffering an upper-body injury, Amerks coach Seth Appert said.... Read the full article

Sabres’ Peyton Krebs learning to utilize shot, starting to score goals

BUFFALO – If he had grabbed the puck in the same area just a few weeks earlier, Sabres center Peyton Krebs might’ve held onto it or dished it off.

Shooting likely wouldn’t have been his first choice.

But when Krebs zoomed into the Anaheim zone late in the third period Saturday afternoon, he looked hellbent on beating Ducks goalie John Gibson. After taking a few quick strides, he unleashed a wicked wrist shot from high ... Read the full article