Rochester Americans - Buffalo Hockey Beat

After UPL’s recall, Sabres plan to keep three goalies: ‘A good problem’

BUFFALO – Right now, the Sabres want to err on the side of caution. Goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, having completed his AHL conditioning assignment, is healthy and ready to play.

But given Luukkonen’s injury history – he has already gone down twice this season – the Sabres must be careful. They plan to keep three goalies.

For the time being at least, the Sabres have Luukkonen, veteran Alex Lyon and rookie Colten Ellis, who ... Read the full article

Sabres recall Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen from conditioning assignment

The Buffalo Sabres on Thursday recalled Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen from his AHL conditioning assignment with the Rochester Americans, giving them three goalies.

Luukkonen stopped 21 shots in Wednesday’s 4-2 win over the Syracuse Crunch, his first outing since suffering a lower-body injury Oct. 1 and exiting an exhibition game after one period.

The Finn, who was expected to be the Sabres’ No. 1 goalie, also missed the first week of training camp after tweaking a different ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Jiri Kulich knew he had to change; Buffalo makes roster move

BUFFALO – When Sabres center Jiri Kulich had the puck on his stick earlier this season, instead of carrying it and utilizing his speed, he quickly tried to make a play with it.

“It wasn’t my game I used to play, so I had to change something,” Kulich told the Times Herald prior to Wednesday’s game against the Detroit Red Wings in KeyBank Center.

Kulich, 21, struggled so badly Sabres coach Lindy Ruff briefly demoted ... Read the full article

Sabres goalie Colten Ellis to make first start; Buffalo to make lineup change after roster move

BUFFALO – Sixteen days and six games since the Sabres claimed Colten Ellis on waivers, the goalie will be starting his first NHL game tonight against the Detroit Red Wings.

“There’s been a lot of emotions the last couple days since finding out,” Ellis said this morning in KeyBank Center. “Something I worked my whole life for, and just super grateful and happy for the opportunity.”

So far, Ellis, 25, has backed up veteran ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen starts important season with conditioning assignment in Rochester: ‘I feel great’

ROCHESTER – On Tuesday, Buffalo Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen walked into Blue Cross Arena, donned a gray Americans practice jersey and touched the ice in the 70-year-old rink for the first time since early in the 2022-23 season.

“It’s a weird but cool feeling,” a smiling Luukkonen, who will begin an AHL conditioning assignment tonight, told the Times Herald following Tuesday’s practice. “I have so many good memories here. It’s kind of like you haven’t ... Read the full article

Sabres recall two players from Amerks

The Buffalo Sabres on Sunday recalled defenseman Zac Jones and center Noah Ostlund from the Rochester Americans.

In Saturday afternoon’s 3-0 win, defenseman Jacob Bryson entered concussion protocol after Florida Panthers winger Jonah Gadjovich hit him into the boards in the first period, knocking him out of the game.

The Sabres, who play a road game tonight against the Montreal Canadiens, did not practice Sunday. They had one extra forward, Josh Dunne, scratched against ... Read the full article

Zach Metsa realizes unlikely NHL dream with recall to Sabres: ‘I was shocked’

BUFFALO – Zach Metsa beat incredibly long odds to reach the Sabres and fulfill his unlikely dream. After all, he’s an undrafted 5-foot-9 defenseman who spent his first two pro seasons playing on an AHL contract.

Two and a half years ago, less than a week after winning a national championship with Quinnipiac University, he signed that deal and joined the Rochester Americans on a tryout before it kicked in.

Today, Metsa, having been recalled ... Read the full article

After early demotion, Sabres prospect Isak Rosen makes impact in Rochester

ROCHESTER – Instead of dazzling during training camp and forcing the Buffalo Sabres to keep him, winger Isak Rosen played three exhibition games and quietly returned to the AHL to begin his fourth season.

Before the Prospects Challenge last month, coach Mike Leone said he wanted Rosen, 22, “to kind of blow the doors off” in his fourth appearance in the rookie tournament.

The Swede, who has played 15 NHL games, hardly stood out against ... Read the full article

Sabres recall Zach Metsa from Amerks, assign defenseman to Rochester

The Buffalo Sabres on Thursday swapped defensemen with the Rochester Americans, recalling Zach Metsa and sending Ryan Johnson to their AHL affiliate.

Metsa, 26, has never played in the NHL. The Amerks recently named him captain.

The undrafted Wisconsin native began his pro career on a two-year AHL contract before earning a two-year, two-way NHL deal during the offseason.... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Ryan McLeod, other forwards struggling early; Alexandar Georgiev practices with Rochester

BUFFALO – Jiri Kulich, the Sabres’ second-youngest forward, got singled out a bit by practicing as an extra before Wednesday’s game against the Ottawa Senators.

But make no mistake, nearly every Sabres forward struggled during their dreary 0-3-0 start they carried into their contest against the Ottawa Senators.

“This isn’t about Kulich,” coach Lindy Ruff, whose Sabres began the night with just two goals all season, said Wednesday morning in KeyBank Center.... Read the full article