Zemgus Girgensons has missed one game. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu

Sabres likely to get two players back from injuries against Canadiens

BUFFALO – Sabres winger Zemgus Girgensons and defenseman Mattias Samuelsson will likely return from injuries for Tuesday’s road game against the Montreal Canadiens.

Both players practiced today at KeyBank Center.

Girgensons, 28, endured a hit to the head Wednesday and missed Saturday’s 5-2 road loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs.

“It was unfortunate hit,” Girgensons said of the check in Wednesday’s 4-1 road loss to the Ottawa Senators. “I finished the second and then just ... Read the full article

Mattias Samuelsson has been practicing. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu

Sabres’ Mattias Samuelsson out against Maple Leafs; Jack Quinn set to return

TORONTO – Following Friday’s practice, Buffalo Sabres coach Don Granato said if defenseman Mattias Samuelsson wanted to return from an 11-game absence tonight against the Maple Leafs, he would have to convince him he was ready right now.

But Granato had already made up his mind that Samuelsson needed more practice time after suffering a lower-body injury Oct. 22.

“He wasn’t going to convince me, he wasn’t,” Granato said after the Sabres prepared for tonight’s ... Read the full article

Eric Comrie was injured Wednesday. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu

Sabres injuries: Mattias Samuelsson close to return; Eric Comrie out ‘weeks’

BUFFALO – Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams said there’s an outside chance defenseman Mattias Samuelsson, who has missed the last 12 games recovering from a lower-body injury, could return for Saturday’s road game against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Samuelsson, 22, practiced today beside Henri Jokiharju at KeyBank Center, his first full session since getting injured Oct. 22. He started skating with his teammates again Tuesday.

The Sabres said on Tuesday they expected Samuelsson to play ... Read the full article

Mattias Samuelsson was injured Oct. 22. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu

Mattias Samuelsson skates with Sabres, nearing return from injury

BUFFALO – On some teams, injured players are rarely seen. They do their work before many of their teammates arrive at the rink and quietly leave.

Then there’s Mattias Samuelsson. For more than three weeks, as the Sabres defenseman has rehabbed from a lower-body injury he suffered Oct. 22, he remained a visible presence in the dressing room and during practice.

“You saw him every day sitting on the bench in practice and around ... Read the full article

Jack Quinn has played 12 games this season. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu

Jack Quinn out with injury; Sabres to recall one or two forwards

BUFFALO – Sabres winger Jack Quinn, who was struck in the head by the puck Saturday, is being evaluated for an undisclosed injury and likely won’t play this week, according to the team.

The rookie was hit about 12 minutes into the Sabres’ 3-1 loss to the Boston Bruins but finished the game. The Sabres, of course, were already missing another winger, captain Kyle Okposo, who’s day to day with a lower-body injury.

They ... Read the full article

Kale Clague joined Buffalo in the summer. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu

Sabres notes: Kale Clague earning keep on blue line; Rasmus Dahlin returns

BUFFALO – In his previous stops, Sabres defenseman Kale Clague couldn’t always play aggressively. That often neutralized his skating, his greatest strength.

The Sabres, however, want to attack and push the pace. If players make mistakes, coach Don Granato and his staff can live with them.

“The system (here) allows me to be aggressive, whereas maybe some teams prior I’ve been a little bit more on my heels a little bit, based on that,” Clague ... Read the full article

Owen Power has been playing big minutes as a rookie. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu

With Rasmus Dahlin, other Sabres hurt, Owen Power displaying star qualities

BUFFALO – Sooner than later, Sabres rookie Owen Power was expected to play mega minutes and emerge as a workhorse on the blue line.

But just 20 games into his NHL career? Well, Power skated a personal-high 28 minutes, 14 seconds in Saturday’s 5-3 road loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Through 12 outings this season entering tonight’s contest against the Arizona Coyotes at KeyBank Center, he has averaged 23 minutes, 9 seconds of ice ... Read the full article

Jacob Bryson (pictured) has been playing beside Rasmus Dahlin. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu

Sabres notes: Buffalo adds defenseman; Jacob Bryson seizing leading role

BUFFALO – Just nine games in, the Sabres have already dipped deep into their defense reserves. Hours before Monday’s 8-3 win over the Detroit Red Wings, they recalled Jeremy Davies from the Rochester Americans.

Davies, 25, is the ninth defenseman who has been on the roster this season.

“We’re banged up on the back end and that’s the need, pressing need right now,” Sabres coach Don Granato said Monday prior to Davies’ recall.

They summoned ... Read the full article

Jeremy Davies has played seven games in Rochester this season. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu, Rochester Americans

Ilya Lyubushkin out again; Sabres plan to add new defenseman

BUFFALO – After forward Riley Sheahan clears waivers or is claimed this afternoon, the Sabres plan to recall a defenseman from the Rochester Americans.

“We’re banged up on the back end and that’s the need, pressing need right now,” Sabres coach Don Granato said this morning.

Right now, having lost three defensemen – Henri Jokiharju, Ilya Lyubushkin and Mattias Samuelsson are all injured – the Sabres sorely help.

Their options, however, are limited. They’ve already ... Read the full article

Tage Thompson’s celebrates his game-tying goal Saturday. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu

Sabres’ Tage Thompson scores twice, buoys OT win: ‘Just a matter of time’

BUFFALO – Hours before Tage Thompson’s clutch two-goal performance in Saturday’s 4-3, come-from-behind overtime victory, Sabres coach Don Granato gave his struggling center a simple message: relax.

Thompson, fresh off a breakout 38-goal season, admittedly demands a lot from himself. After scoring just once in the first seven games, he began feeling pressure to produce.

So Granato told Thompson, who turns 25 today, to stop trying to score the perfect goal and overthinking things. Just ... Read the full article