Rochester Americans - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sean Malone has recorded 22 points in 23 games this season for Rochester.

Amerks’ Sean Malone to be sidelined six weeks after undergoing surgery

Rochester Americans center Sean Malone has undergone surgery to repair a lower-body injury and will be sidelined six weeks, coach Seth Appert said.

Malone, having scored nine goals and 22 points in 23 games, is enjoying a career-best season.

“You feel for him,” Appert said on a Zoom call this morning. “I mean, it hurts us because he was a go-to guy, he was a real leader not only in his attitude and his character, ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Peyton Krebs ‘feeling good’ but still in NHL’s COVID-19 protocol

For four days, coach Don Granato said the Buffalo Sabres have been hoping center Peyton Krebs can test out of the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol.

Granato said Krebs, who entered protocol Jan. 4, is “feeling good.”

“It’s one of those unpredictable things,” Granato said on a Zoom call this afternoon from Nashville, where the Sabres play the Predators tonight. “So he’s doing what he can. Obviously, he has to stay isolated … and keep himself in ... Read the full article

Injuries put struggling Sabres in goalie crisis: ‘It is shocking’

BUFFALO – Suddenly, having lost Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Malcolm Subban to injuries in the same game, the reeling Sabres find themselves in a goalie crisis.

Luukkonen, the Sabres’ backbone during his nine recent outings, will likely be sidelined at least a few weeks with a lower-body injury he suffered early in Tuesday’s 6-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning, according to general manager Kevyn Adams.

His replacement, Subban, sustained an upper-body injury – Adams said ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Why was Jack Quinn sent back to Amerks after one game?

BUFFALO – On Wednesday, a day after winger Jack Quinn enjoyed a terrific NHL debut, the Sabres sent the prospect back to the Rochester Americans.

Why? Given the Sabres’ recent struggles – they’re on a six-game winless skid entering tonight’s road contest – another game couldn’t have hurt, right?

Coach Don Granato said Quinn, who pumped three shots on goal and had two or three strong scoring chances, was one of the Sabres’ best players ... Read the full article

Sabres lose Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Malcolm Subban to injuries, add goalies

BUFFALO – Right now, the Sabres’ net belongs to goalies Aaron Dell and Michael Houser.

Goalies Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Malcolm Subban are both sidelined after suffering injuries in Tuesday’s 6-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Luukkonen, who suffered a lower-body injury, is listed as week to week on the team’s injury report. Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams said Luukkonen will likely miss at least a few weeks. The Finn underwent an MRI this morning.... Read the full article

Sabres’ Jack Quinn looks strong in NHL debut: ‘A real good first game’

BUFFALO – To get an understanding of how much Jack Quinn’s teammates like him, two of them, Mattias Samuelsson and Ryan Scarfo, traveled from Rochester to KeyBank Center on Tuesday to watch their friend’s NHL debut with the Sabres.

Samuelsson and Scarfo put on No. 22 Quinn white Americans jerseys backwards so the name and number faced the ice and grabbed front row seats for the pregame warm-up.

As Quinn took the customary solo lap ... Read the full article

Alex Tuch thrilled to rejoin Sabres after COVID-19 quarantine

BUFFALO – While he quarantined in his apartment, Sabres winger Alex Tuch received a few items from the rink, including some workout bands, so he could exercise a bit.

But Tuch, who said he felt symptom-free after testing positive for COVID-19 last Tuesday, did not do much formal exercising. Instead, he tried to eat healthy, sleep well and stay active around his place.

“If that meant cleaning the apartment two to three times a day, ... Read the full article

Maturity accelerated Sabres prospect Jack Quinn’s development

BUFFALO – Barely three months ago, when the Sabres informed prospect Jack Quinn he was being sent to the minors, he looked at general manager Kevyn Adams and coach Don Granato and told them he understood their decision.

Quinn’s words that day have stuck with Granato. Yes, Quinn, 20, was disappointed to be leaving. Still, he knew he had an opportunity in Rochester, where he had played 15 games for the Americans the previous season.... Read the full article

As Tage Thompson enters COVID-19 protocol, other Sabres close to leaving

BUFFALO – Coach Don Granato knew it would happen again. COVID-19 has been clobbering the NHL, forcing hundreds of players into protocol over the past several weeks, including 11 Sabres.

“When’s it going to happen to the next guy the way it’s going around the league and around the world?” Granato said following Monday’s practice. “It happens today.”

On Monday, shortly after prospect Jack Quinn joined the Sabres, top center Tage Thompson, the team’s leading ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Tage Thompson enters NHL’s COVID-19 protocol

BUFFALO – The Sabres this morning placed Tage Thompson, their top center and leading goal scorer, in the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol.

In addition to Thompson, forwards Peyton Krebs, Kyle Okposo and Alex Tuch are in protocol. Defenseman Casey Fitzgerald, who entered protocol last Monday, returned to practice this morning.

The Sabres this morning reassigned winger Jack Quinn from the Rochester Americans to the taxi squad. They will likely also need to recall another forward before ... Read the full article