Rochester Americans - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres make roster move by waiving Mason Geertsen

The Buffalo Sabres this afternoon waived tough guy Mason Geertsen to create roster space, most likely to activate winger Jason Zucker from injured reserve.

Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said Wednesday that Zucker, has missed the last eight games battling illness, will be available for Friday’s home game against the Chicago Blackhawks.

If Geertsen, 30, clears waivers, he will likely be assigned to the Rochester Americans.... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Zach Benson happy to be back after injury; Jason Zucker can play Friday following illness

BUFFALO – The oddest stretch of Zach Benson’s young career is likely over. The diminutive Sabres winger rejoined his teammates for Wednesday’s pregame skate and hopes he can play in the coming days.

Two injuries – a seemingly innocent cut that forced him to be hospitalized the day before the season opener and a lower-body ailment – have kept him out of 12 of the Sabres’ first 20 games, including the last nine after a ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Josh Norris, Jason Zucker skate with teammates; Michael Kesselring out injured

BUFFALO – Among the 1,300 or so players who participated in NHL preseason games, Sabres center Josh Norris stood out as perhaps the most dynamic performer.

It can be hard to put much stock in exhibition contests, but the oft-injured Norris, who participated in Monday’s pregame skate, looked ready to seize his role as the Sabres’ top pivot following a full summer of training.

Then late in the season opener Oct. 9, he suffered an ... Read the full article

Captain Rasmus Dahlin rejoins Sabres after temporary leave of absence

Captain Rasmus Dahlin rejoined the Buffalo Sabres today in Detroit after taking a temporary leave of absence to return to his native Sweden for a personal matter.

Dahlin, who left the Sabres last Friday, skated with his teammates this morning and will play against the Red Wings tonight.

The defenseman missed the first three games of Buffalo’s road trip.... Read the full article

Sabres prospect Devon Levi pulled from game during career-worst slump with Rochester: ‘He’s got to be better’

ROCHESTER – The fifth puck past Americans goalie Devon Levi, a shot from the far bottom of the right circle, forced coach Mike Leone to make a late goaltending change.

For the just the second time in his 76-game AHL career, Levi, the Buffalo Sabres’ top goalie prospect, got yanked from a game.

In Wednesday’s 6-4 loss in Blue Cross Arena, the Amerks roared back late, scoring three straight goals after the Belleville Senators ... Read the full article

Sabres prospect Konsta Helenius taking ‘big jump’ in development, playing big minutes for Rochester Amerks

ROCHESTER – Having lost three of their most talented forwards to recalls, the Americans have recently been forced to lean heavily on center Konsta Helenius, playing the Sabres prospect a whopping 23 or 24 minutes some games.

“He’s playing probably too much right now, to be honest,” Amerks coach Mike Leone told the Times Herald prior to Wednesday’s 6-4 loss to the Belleville Senators in Blue Cross Arena.

The Amerks, who have lost Josh ... Read the full article

Sabres assign free agent to Rochester

The Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday assigned forward Carson Meyer to the Rochester Americans after he cleared waivers.

Meyer, 28, began the season on injured reserve after undergoing ACL surgery last year as a member of the San Diego Gulls, the Anaheim Ducks’ AHL affiliate.

The Sabres signed Meyer on July 1 to a two-year, two-way contract worth $775,000 per season in the NHL and $375,000 per season in the minors.... Read the full article

Rasmus Dahlin taking temporary leave of absence from Sabres

BUFFALO – Captain Rasmus Dahlin is taking a temporary leave of absence from the Sabres to deal with a personal matter in Sweden, coach Lindy Ruff said Friday.

In September, Dahlin revealed his fiancée, Carolina Matovac, was rehabbing in Sweden after experiencing major heart failure and undergoing a heart transplant in the summer.

Matovac, who underwent life-saving CPR and spent weeks on life support before the transplant, is doing well.... Read the full article

Alex Lyon, Noah Ostlund get Sabres to OT before losing to Mammoth

BUFFALO – On one hand, the Sabres’ penchant for taking games to overtime is encouraging. Every point is precious, and they’ve guaranteed themselves at least one in each of their last five games.

On the other, well, how about they start winning some of those contests?

The Sabres have lost just once in regulation in their last 10 outings, yet they’re 5-1-4 in that stretch.

On Tuesday, they fell 2-1 to the Utah Mammoth when ... Read the full article

JJ Peterka won’t say if he wanted to be traded from Sabres: ‘Focus is on Utah’

BUFFALO – Utah Mammoth winger JJ Peterka wanted no part of the questions and revisiting that part of his past here.

Before the Sabres traded him on June 26, did he request to be dealt? Did he want out of Buffalo?

“I met so many great people in the organization,” Peterka replied prior to Tuesday’s game, his first at KeyBank Center as a visitor. “I made so many good friends. But, yeah, I think ... Read the full article