Ruff - Buffalo Hockey Beat

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

Nifty goal illustrates Sabres rookie Jiri Kulich becoming two-way player

BUFFALO – The genesis of Sabres center Jiri Kulich’s second goal in Monday’s 7-1 win illustrates how much the rookie has matured over the past three months.

The Czech, 20, put the finishing touches on the Sabres’ first victory in one month by utilizing his lethal shot to beat New York Islanders goalie Ilya Sorokin from the left circle.

But 10 seconds earlier in his own zone, Kulich knocked the puck away from Mat Barzal ... Read the full article

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