Ruff - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres need Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen to recapture dynamic form of last season

BUFFALO – The goal outburst that helped the Sabres end their 13-game winless skid overshadowed goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen’s stellar performance heading into the Christmas break.

Luukkonen, 25, quietly enjoyed one of his strongest outings this season in Monday’s 7-1 road win against the New York Islanders, stopping 27 shots and allowing one goal or less for just the fifth time in 24 games.

If the Sabres make an unlikely climb up the standings – they ... Read the full article

Rasmus Dahlin’s dynamic game helps Sabres end winless skid

The Buffalo Sabres’ season changed the instant their captain, Rasmus Dahlin, began battling back spasms.

After Dahlin, 24, departed in the third period Dec. 3, the Sabres quickly unraveled, blowing a three-goal lead to the Colorado Avalanche and suffering the fourth loss in what would stretch into a shocking 13-game winless skid.

Counting the Colorado game, the Sabres went 0-7-2 without Dahlin, their most dynamic defensemen.... Read the full article

Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin ready to play after being scratched Saturday

Buffalo Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin will play tonight against the Islanders after sitting out Saturday’s 3-1 loss to the Boston Bruins, coach Lindy Ruff told reporters in New York.

Dahlin, the Sabres’ top defenseman, returned for Friday’s 6-3 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs after missing seven games with back spasms.

“The plan all along way that he wouldn’t play the back to back,” Sabres coach Lindy Ruff told reporters.... Read the full article

Sabres scratch Rasmus Dahlin following return from injury

Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin’s absence from Saturday’s 3-1 loss to the Bruins was planned, coach Lindy Ruff told reporters in Boston following Buffalo’s 13th consecutive defeat.

Dahlin returned Friday after missing seven games because of back spasms, skating 27 minutes, 33 seconds in the Sabres’ 6-3 home loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs.

While the Sabres leaned on their top defenseman heavily – he played his second-highest total this season – they apparently want to ... Read the full article

Sabres don’t get breaks against Maple Leafs, lose 12th straight game

BUFFALO – Considering the Sabres’ sorry state these days, their quick response to the Toronto Maple Leafs’ goal 89 seconds into Friday’s 6-3 loss was notable.

Early in their 12th consecutive loss, the Sabres countered after Bobby McMann scored, seemingly tying the game at the 2:34 mark when winger Alex Tuch converted linemate Jason Zucker’s nifty pass.

Then following the celebration, the officials huddled. What was going on?

A linesperson saw Zucker’s stick hit Toronto ... Read the full article

Sabres coach Lindy Ruff wants Zach Benson to take fewer penalties

BUFFALO – When Sabres coach Lindy Ruff reshuffled his lines earlier this week, he awarded winger Zach Benson a plum assignment alongside center Tage Thompson and Alex Tuch.

Barely six minutes into Tuesday’s 6-1 road loss to the Montreal Canadiens, his second game on the line, Benson, 19, was whistled for holding.

“He was going to be in that top line,” Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said in KeyBank Center. “As soon as he took a ... Read the full article

Sabres to make lineup changes; Devon Levi ‘could be an option’ for Bruins

BUFFALO – Sabres center Ryan McLeod, who has an undisclosed injury, participated in this morning’s optional skate and will be a game-time decision tonight against the Toronto Maple Leafs, coach Lindy Ruff.

McLeod missed Thursday’s practice for maintenance.

The Sabres, who own an 11-game winless streak (0-8-3), will receive some much-needed help tonight, as captain Rasmus Dahlin is ready to play. Their top defenseman missed eight games battling back spasms.... Read the full article

As Sabres struggle, Lindy Ruff turns to leaders ‘to be the difference-makers’

BUFFALO – How the Sabres lost their 11th consecutive game and the timing of it seemed like it would ignite change in what is quickly becoming another lost season.

Getting throttled 6-1 by the Canadiens on Tuesday and kicked into the Eastern Conference basement was embarrassing enough.

The Sabres fell behind 19 seconds into the game and got run out of the Bell Centre a day after Terry Pegula flew to Montreal to address the ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Jordan Greenway to undergo surgery, miss ‘significant’ time; Rasmus Dahlin set to play

BUFFALO – Winger Jordan Greenway, the Sabres’ top penalty killer and one of their most physical forwards, will be undergoing surgery to repair a mid-body injury and be sidelined a “significant amount of time,” coach Lindy Ruff said.

“I don’t have a time frame for it, but it’s a good period of time,” Ruff said following Thursday’s practice in KeyBank Center.

Ruff said he believes Greenway, 27, will play again this season.

The injury recently ... Read the full article

Sabres implode against Canadiens, lose 11th straight game: ‘No spark’

MONTREAL – You want to see some downright awful hockey? You want to watch a team that has completely unraveled possibly hit its nadir?

Watch the Buffalo Sabres’ utterly embarrassing performance in their 11th consecutive defeat, Tuesday’s ugly 6-1 loss to the lightweight Canadiens.

Prior to the game, the Sabres sounded like owner Terry Pegula’s visit a day earlier energized them. Perhaps his presence and words instilled some much-needed confidence and would shake them out ... Read the full article