Sandstrom - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres notes: Mattias Samuelsson set to play after breaking bone in foot

BUFFALO – In his last outing on Feb. 2, Mattias Samuelsson blocked a shot, something he has done 55 times this season. This time, however, the puck hit the oft-injured Sabres defenseman in just the right spot, breaking a bone in his foot.

“So the foot just blew up,” Samuelsson said following Tuesday’s practice in KeyBank Center, his first session since going down. “I couldn’t really put it in my skate.”

The 6-foot-4, 227-pound Samuelsson ... Read the full article

Sabres transactions: Buffalo sends two players to Rochester Amerks

The Buffalo Sabres on Sunday sent rookie forward Tyson Kozak and goalie Felix Sandstrom back to the Rochester Americans.

Neither played in Saturday’s 6-4 road loss to the Nashville Predators, the Sabres’ final game before beginning a two-week break for the 4 Nations Face-Off. They don’t play again until Feb. 22.

Kozak, 22, played in eight games during his recall before battling the flu and leaving the lineup. Overall, he has compiled one goal and ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Tage Thompson practices, likely ready to play after suffering concussion

BUFFALO – On Monday, a day after New Jersey Devils pest Stefan Noesen hit Tage Thompson in the head, knocking him out of the Sabres’ 4-3 win, the winger said he was starting to feel the effects of the concussion he suffered.

In the dressing room following the hit and later that night at home, Thompson, who returned to practice Friday, said he felt “totally fine.”

“Then second day it kind of hit me pretty ... Read the full article

Rochester goalie Felix Sandstrom races from vacation in Florida to join Sabres

BUFFALO – Goalie Felix Sandstrom was relaxing with his girlfriend poolside Tuesday at his hotel in Fort Lauderdale, enjoying some sunshine during the AHL All-Star break, when his phone rang. The Sabres, having lost Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen to a minor injury, needed him to get to KeyBank Center in a hurry.

Suddenly, his vacation in Florida was over.

Sandstrom had to travel about 1,300 miles to Buffalo to back up goalie James Reimer that night against ... Read the full article

After weak response to illegal hit on Tage Thompson, Sabres hold meeting: ‘Won’t happen again’

BUFFALO – No one would reveal any details of the meeting.

But on Monday, less than a day after an illegal hit knocked Tage Thompson out of their 4-3 win, the Sabres canceled practice and instead discussed why they did not go after Stefan Noesen following his suspension-worthy check to their leading scorer’s head.

“It was dealt with yesterday. Everything,” Sabres winger Alex Tuch said prior to Tuesday’s 3-2 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets ... Read the full article

Sabres prospect Anton Wahlberg using size, skill to make impact as rookie in Rochester

ROCHESTER – Americans rookie Anton Wahlberg’s ability to impact games without scoring makes him a unique prospect for the Buffalo Sabres.

To wit: in the third period of Sunday afternoon’s 2-1 overtime loss, coach Mike Leone said the 6-foot-4, 198-pound winger leveled one of the Toronto Marlies and generated three or four scoring chances simply by “playing to his identity and his strengths.”

“With his physical tools, he’s able to get in on the forecheck, ... Read the full article

Sabres prospect Isak Rosen generated offense for Rochester, tried to evolve before recall to Buffalo

ROCHESTER – Don’t let Isak Rosen’s numbers fool you. The four goals and team-leading 13 points the Buffalo Sabres prospect has scored in 14 games illustrate just part of his performance this season.

Rosen, who on Monday was recalled by the Sabres, has been an offensive driver for the Americans in the opening weeks of his third AHL season.

Still, other aspects of the winger’s game need work.... Read the full article

Sabres send Devon Levi to Rochester; Buffalo recalls prospect with Jordan Greenway injured

BUFFALO – Before Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen suffered an injury, Devon Levi played just four of the Sabres’ first 15 games, hardly an ideal workload for a young goalie.

Levi, 22, must play regularly. Starting once over a three-week stretch, as he did after allowing six goals in a loss Oct. 17, doesn’t help him. Having recently added veteran James Reimer from waivers, the Sabres have an established backup option behind Luukkonen, who has recovered from his ... Read the full article

Sabres’ James Reimer geared up to be back; Tage Thompson, UPL out injured

BUFFALO – On Wednesday night, hours after the Sabres reclaimed him on waivers, goalie James Reimer told his wife, April, he’s looking forward to wearing some matching gear again.

After the Anaheim Ducks claimed him from Buffalo on Oct. 7, Reimer wore the black and red pads he planned on using when the Sabres sported their third jerseys. The red clashed with the Ducks’ orange color scheme.

Instead of a painted mask, he wore a ... Read the full article

Sabres boost goalie depth by claiming James Reimer on waivers

BUFFALO – Goalie James Reimer is back with the Sabres after a five-week stint playing for the Anaheim Ducks.

The Sabres on Wednesday reclaimed Reimer on waivers from the Ducks, who took the veteran Oct. 7 after Buffalo put him on the wire.

Anaheim goalie John Gibson’s recent return from an appendectomy made Reimer, 36, expendable. Reimer played two games for the Ducks, compiling a 0-2-0 mark with a 4.50 goals-against average and an .864 ... Read the full article