WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
July Edition
Florida captain Aleksander Barkov won the Stanley Cup last month. ©2024, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Two early-season visits from the Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers are among the highlights of the Sabres’ 2024-25 schedule the NHL released Tuesday.
After beginning the season against the New Jersey Devils in Prague, Czechia, on Oct. 4 and 5, the Sabres open their schedule at KeyBank Center versus the Los Angeles Kings on Oct. 10. The Panthers, the Sabres’ Atlantic Division rival, visit Oct. 12.
The Sabres host the Panthers again Oct. ... Read the full article
Goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen should receive plenty of preseason action. ©2024, Micheline Veluvolu
The Buffalo Sabres will play six preseason games next season, including three at KeyBank Center, the team announced Monday.
Broadcast and ticket information will be announced at a later date.
The schedule is below. Home games are in bold.... Read the full article
Zemgus Girgensons has played 11 seasons in Buffalo. ©2024, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Prior to Friday’s trade deadline, Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams spoke to some teams interested in acquiring winger Zemgus Girgensons and likely could’ve received a late-round pick in exchange for the 11-year veteran.
But in Girgensons, Adams said he sees a player “so important within the fabric of this team.” After dealing captain Kyle Okposo and defenseman Erik Johnson, he couldn’t trade Girgensons simply because he has an expiring contract.
It sounds like ... Read the full article
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen wore the popular alternate “Goathead” jersey last season. ©2023, Micheline Veluvolu
When the Buffalo Sabres brought back their popular “Goathead” jersey for 12 home games last season, the black and red motif brought them some extra jam.
The Sabres registered a gaudy 10-1-1 record in their alternate uniform, recording five or more goals in nine contests and outscoring opponents 58-36. In the rest of their games at KeyBank Center, they compiled a dismal 7-19-3 mark.
So why not sport the “Goathead” more often? In the 2023-24 ... Read the full article
Stars players like Tage Thompson make the Sabres an attractive team to put on national television. ©2023, Micheline Veluvolu
The Buffalo Sabres will be appearing on 15 national television broadcasts during the upcoming season, the NHL announced Wednesday.
The schedule breaks down as follows: seven games on TNT (five exclusive, two available on MSG in Buffalo market); six on ESPN+/Hulu (subscription streaming); one on ABC; one on ESPN.
The complete schedule:... Read the full article
The Sabres will be playing five of their first six games in Buffalo next season. ©2023, Micheline Veluvolu
NASHVILLE – The Buffalo Sabres begin the 2023-24 season at home Oct. 12 against the New York Rangers and play five of their first six games at KeyBank Center.
So the 82-game schedule released Tuesday features an early opportunity for the Sabres, who struggled at home last season, to roar out of the gate.
The Sabres play five of their Atlantic Division opponents – the Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens, Ottawa Senators, Tampa Bay Lightning ... Read the full article
Ukko-Pekka Lukkonen will likely receive plenty of preseason action for Buffalo. ©2023, Micheline Veluvolu
The Buffalo Sabres will be playing seven preseason games, including a Kraft Hockeyville contest against the Toronto Maple Leafs in St. Thomas, Ontario, prior to the 2023-24 regular season, the team announced Wednesday.
The Hockeyville game, which will be played Sept. 27 at Joe Thornton Community Centre, gives the Sabres an extra preseason outing.
West Lorne, Ontario, which is about 40 miles from St. Thomas, won the annual Hockeyville contest. In addition to the having ... Read the full article
Conditions are snowy all over Buffalo. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu
Severe winter weather that has closed the Buffalo/Niagara International Airport forced the NHL to postpone Tuesday’s Sabres road game against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
No makeup date has been announced.
The devastating blizzard that battered Western New York over the weekend, dumping more than three feet of snow in some areas, has made many roads impassable. Driving bans remain in effect in Buffalo and other communities.
The French Connection statue outside KeyBank Center will likely be snow-covered this weekend. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – A winter storm forecasters say could bring 65 mph wind gusts, lake effect snow, whiteout conditions and flash freezing to the region this weekend forced the NHL to postpone Friday’s Sabres game against the Tampa Bay Lightning at KeyBank Center.
The game will be made up at 12:30 p.m. on March 4. The Sabres’ home game against the Philadelphia Flyers originally slated for that date has been rescheduled for 7 p.m. on Jan. ... Read the full article
Rasmus Dahlin and other established Sabres are scheduled to practice Sept. 22. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu
Buffalo Sabres veterans will report for their training camp physicals on Sept. 21 and have their first on-ice sessions of the new season Sept. 22 at KeyBank Center, the team announced Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Sabres rookies will practice next Wednesday at LECOM Harborcenter in advance of next Thursday’s Prospects Challenge rookie tournament opener against the Montreal Canadiens.
In other news, the Sabres will appear on national broadcasts 12 times during the upcoming season.... Read the full article
