Ruff - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen recapturing elite form of last season

BUFFALO – In winning five of his last seven starts, goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has reemerged as the Sabres’ backbone, helping them shake off a disastrous stretch in which they plummeted to the Eastern Conference basement.

Over the past three weeks, the Finn has regularly showcased the stellar form that made him one of the NHL’s elite netminders throughout the second half of last season.

Luukkonen was at his best in Thursday’s 4-0 road win over ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Mattias Samuelsson likely to miss game against Kraken

BUFFALO – Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said defenseman Mattias Samuelsson is “still pretty sick” and likely won’t play in this afternoon’s home game against the Seattle Kraken.

Samuelsson missed Thursday’s 4-0 road win over the Ottawa Senators. The Sabres had him travel back to Buffalo separately from the team.

In other news, winger Beck Malenstyn, who has missed the last two games because of illness, practiced Friday but likely won’t play today.... Read the full article

After feeling ‘little bit lost’ in his game, Sabres’ Alex Tuch busts out of slump

BUFFALO – As his slump dragged on and the losses piled up, Sabres winger Alex Tuch said he felt “a little bit lost” in his own game.

Tuch, 28, believes he often played too conservatively, focusing on his defense. He was simply trying not to be scored against before getting off the ice.

“Especially when you lose, you either go too far on your offense, too far on the defensive, and I think I wasn’t ... Read the full article

Sabres star Tage Thompson heating up after position change, feeling healthier

BUFFALO – Sabres star Tage Thompson’s recent exploits illustrate he must be feeling a heck of a lot better these days.

To wit: in Monday’s 4-3 shootout win, his one-timer that beat goalie Charlie Lindgren was clocked at 103.7 mph, the hardest shot that resulted in a goal since NHL Edge began its tracking in 2021-22.

Thompson, 27, pumped six shots on goal and played a season-high 23 minutes, 48 seconds against the Washington Capitals, ... Read the full article

Sabres earn much-needed win against Capitals; Jiri Kulich leaves with injury

BUFFALO – In earning just their 15th win in 41 attempts, a 4-3 shootout triumph over the heavyweight Washington Capitals, the Sabres should feel a glimmer of hope exactly halfway through what has been, shall we say, a challenging season.

The Sabres still sit in last place in the Eastern Conference following Monday’s victory. They must make up a six-point deficit and climb seven teams to reach the second wild card spot.

Still, if they ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Ryan McLeod looking for goals, linemates; Buffalo changes lineup

BUFFALO – For weeks, Sabres forward Ryan McLeod has moved around the lineup, skating on scoring lines and checking trios and playing center or even occasionally the wing.

McLeod, who displayed strong chemistry pivoting Jordan Greenway and Jason Zucker on the third line earlier in the season, hasn’t found a fit.

Greenway is recovering from surgery to repair a mid-body injury and has missed the last 10 games and 22 of the past 26 contests. ... Read the full article

With final playoff spot there for taking, Sabres struggling at halfway point

BUFFALO – The Sabres will hit the halfway point of another lost season having won just 14 of their first 40 games.

Six weeks ago, after earning their third straight victory and 11th overall, they held one of the Eastern Conference’s wild card spots.

Roaring into a playoff spot in late November seemed to signal the Sabres, who own an NHL-record 13-year postseason drought, had graduated to a new level. Things were starting to click ... Read the full article

After long slump, confident Jack Quinn scoring again, helping Sabres win

BUFFALO – The confidence Sabres winger Jack Quinn has recently recaptured is evident as he moves around the ice with authority and shoots and distributes the puck.

Early in Friday’s 6-2 home win over the Chicago Blackhawks, Quinn carried the puck into the offensive zone before dropping it to a trailing Dylan Cozens. As Cozens grabbed it, Quinn kept moving forward, pushing his defender back and creating extra room for his linemate to unleash the ... Read the full article

Rasmus Dahlin’s standout play quickly transforms Sabres into stronger team

BUFFALO – A healthy and confident Rasmus Dahlin has quickly transformed a Sabres team that completely unraveled in his absence.

It can be argued Dahlin’s value was never more evident than last week, when his return after battling back spasms helped the Sabres end their 13-game winless skid and throttle two opponents, outscoring them 13-3.

The Sabres, who open a four-game road trip this afternoon against the St. Louis Blues, began free-falling down the standings ... Read the full article

Sabres ride hot start, Alex Tuch’s hat trick to win over Blackhawks

BUFFALO – Alex Tuch’s estimate was just a bit off. Following his slick three-goal performance in Friday’s 6-2 annihilation of the Chicago Blackhawks, the Sabres winger said scoring his first goal at home in “several months” took a monkey off his back.

In reality, Tuch had last scored Nov. 29 in KeyBank Center. Given the Sabres’ recent 13-game winless skid and his own struggles, that probably feels like months ago.

“Doing it in front of ... Read the full article