Ruff - Buffalo Hockey Beat

‘Humbled’ Sabres lose ugly contest to Canadiens, Tage Thompson to injury

BUFFALO – Almost five minutes into Monday afternoon’s ugly 7-5 loss to the Canadiens, Sabres center Tage Thompson grabbed a pass from linemate Alex Tuch inside the Montreal blue line and skated down the left wing.

Thompson cut to the net from the left circle, using one hand to fend off Canadiens star Cole Caufield and the other to guide the puck. When he reached the crease, Thompson, who later left the game injured, scored ... Read the full article

Sabres to make lineup change against Canadiens

BUFFALO – Sabres defenseman Mattias Samuelsson, who sat out the last three games as a healthy scratch, will be playing in this afternoon’s game against the Montreal Canadiens, coach Lindy Ruff said.

“First pass and then kill plays,” Ruff said this morning in KeyBank Center of what he wants to see from Samuelsson. “Big body, be physical when you have the moment to be physical.”

Update: Samuelsson and center Tage Thompson, who scored his ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Mattias Samuelsson must ‘raise the standard’ after healthy scratch

BUFFALO – Mattias Samuelsson knew it could happen. The Sabres defenseman has struggled from the get-go this season, losing ice time under new coach Lindy Ruff.

Still, he figured he would be playing Tuesday against the Ottawa Senators as the Sabres tried to end their three-game losing streak.

“I wouldn’t say it was a complete shock, but no, I didn’t expect it yesterday,” Samuelsson said of being a healthy scratch for the Sabres’ 5-1 win... Read the full article

Sabres raise standard, defeat Senators; Henri Jokiharju, Mattias Samuelsson scratched

BUFFALO – Hours before the Sabres ended their three-game losing streak Tuesday by shellacking the Ottawa Senators 5-1, coach Lindy Ruff demanded more of his goalies, saying his team needed bigger saves at critical times.

Ruff wasn’t pinning the Sabres’ recent struggles on Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Devon Levi. In the same breath, said he needed his scorers to finish. He has been asking more of everyone as he tries to raise the Sabres’ standard.

But ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Jacob Bryson made most of time as scratch; Connor Clifton must ‘elevate his play’

BUFFALO – As he morphed from a regular into the Sabres’ seventh or eighth defenseman over the past two years, Jacob Bryson developed a unique skill.

Bryson believes he can be scratched for long stretches – in the most recent instance, he went 42 days between playing games – and rejoin the lineup ready to contribute, no easy task.

“I honestly think it’s a skill I’ve brought to my game over the last couple years,” ... Read the full article

Sabres scratch Henri Jokiharju, Mattias Samuelsson against Senators

BUFFALO – The struggling Sabres shook up their lineup for tonight’s game against the Ottawa Senators by scratching defensemen Henri Jokiharju and Mattias Samuelsson.

Both players participated in the team’s optional morning skate in KeyBank Center and are believed to be healthy.

This marks the second straight game coach Lindy Ruff, whose Sabres have a three-game losing streak, has scratched at least one regular defenseman. He benched Connor Clifton for Saturday’s 2-1 road loss to ... Read the full article

Sabres create roster spot by loaning rookie Jiri Kulich to Rochester

BUFFALO – The Sabres this afternoon sent rookie forward Jiri Kulich to the Rochester Americans, creating a roster spot for winger Zach Benson.

Coach Lindy Ruff said following this morning’s skate he would talk to Benson, who has missed the last five games with a lower-body injury, to see how he felt.

Kulich, 20, compiled one goal in eight games as he moved in and out of the lineup over the last month. In ... Read the full article

As Sabres struggle, Lindy Ruff wants to raise standard: ‘OK … not good enough’

BUFFALO – If you examine each loss during the Sabres’ current three-game skid, sure, positives can be found.

On Friday, they opened the scoring against the New York Islanders and staged a late comeback. Last Monday, they roared back from a two-goal deficit versus the Florida Panthers.

In Saturday’s 2-1 loss in Detroit, they grabbed an early lead and outshot the Red Wings.

What do the 4-7-1 Sabres have to show for those games? Nothing.... Read the full article

Sabres’ Zach Benson a ‘possibility’ to return from injury against Senators

BUFFALO – Sabres winger Zach Benson, out the last five games with a lower-body injury, is a “possibility” to return for tonight’s game against the Ottawa Senators, coach Lindy Ruff said.

Benson, 19, practiced Monday at left wing alongside center Dylan Cozens and Jack Quinn, his first full session since leaving the lineup Oct. 22. He also skated on the second power-play unit.

Update: Ruff said following this morning’s pregame skate he would see how ... Read the full article

Dylan Cozens scores early, but mistakes doom Sabres in loss to Islanders

BUFFALO – The New York Islanders limped into town in a tailspin, having lost three straight games and scored just one goal in their last eight periods. They departed Friday filled with confidence after handing the Sabres a troubling 4-3 defeat.

Following two season-opening losses, the Sabres had found a groove, compiling a 4-2-1 mark in their next seven games. Sure, they hardly set the NHL on fire, but in these parts, a record like ... Read the full article