WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
September Edition
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
The Sabres have eight afternoon games at home this season. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu
MONTREAL – A four-game western road trip in October, two early-season four-game home stands and eight afternoon contests at KeyBank Center are among the highlights of the 82-game 2022-23 Buffalo Sabres schedule the NHL released Wednesday.
The Sabres open the campaign Oct. 13 at home against the Ottawa Senators and also host the Florida Panthers the afternoon of Oct. 14 before beginning a four-game trip Oct. 18 against superstar Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers.... Read the full article
Goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen could receive plenty of preseason action. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – The Sabres will play six preseason games, including three at KeyBank Center, prior to the 2022-23 regular season, the team announced Thursday.
For the second straight season, the Sabres will play every game in an NHL arena. Broadcast and ticket information will be announced at a later date.
For the second straight year, the Sabres don’t play the Toronto Maple Leafs. The rivals usually play a home-and-home series.
The schedule:
Sept. 25: Buffalo ... Read the full article
Dylan Cozens (center) and the Sabres had two games against the Canadiens rescheduled.
The NHL on Wednesday announced five Buffalo Sabres games postponed because of COVID-19 problems have been rescheduled and two other dates on the 2021-22 schedule have been moved so the team can complete its 82-game schedule by April 29.
The updated schedule:
– The home game against the Columbus Blue Jackets originally scheduled for Dec. 20 will now be played at 7 p.m. on Feb. 10.
Dylan Cozens entered the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol Sunday. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Sabres coach Don Granato and the five players in the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol will likely be unavailable for Wednesday’s home game against the New Jersey Devils, assistant coach Matt Ellis said.
“I believe our list is our list and we will not have anyone available from that tomorrow,” Ellis, who’s subbing for Granato, said following this morning’s practice inside KeyBank Center.
In addition to Granato, forwards Dylan Cozens, Zemgus Girgensons, Vinnie Hinostroza, Mark ... Read the full article
Don Granato is in his first season as Buffalo’s permanent coach. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
On Sunday, following a six-day pause, the Buffalo Sabres planned to reconvene and practice. Still, given how COVID-19 has been decimating NHL teams, it felt like their return to the ice could be delayed.
Sure enough, barely two hours before their scheduled 3 p.m. session, the Sabres canceled it. About 90 minutes later, they announced coach Don Granato and forwards Dylan Cozens and Mark Jankowski have entered the league’s COVID-19 protocol.
Right now, all three ... Read the full article
Zemgus Girgensons entered COVID-19 protocol last week. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
The Buffalo Sabres this afternoon canceled a practice scheduled for 3 p.m.
Following a four-day Christmas/COVID-19 break, NHL teams can reconvene today for testing, practice and travel.
Right now, the Sabres have three players – wingers Zemgus Girgensons, Vinnie Hinostroza and Jeff Skinner – in the league’s COVID-19 protocol.
The Sabres possibly want to wait for test results before resuming practice.
Their next scheduled game is Wednesday against the New Jersey Devils at KeyBank ... Read the full article
Anthony Beauvillier and the New York Islanders won’t be visiting Buffalo on Monday. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
Monday’s Buffalo Sabres game against the New York Islanders at KeyBank Center has been postponed.
The NHL tonight pushed back its resumption of play one day so it could analyze testing data and determine teams’ readiness to compete coming out a four-day Christmas/COVID-19 break. The league wants to resume games Tuesday.
The Sabres’ next scheduled contest is Wednesday at home against the New Jersey Devils.
Buffalo’s Tim Connolly (left) and Pittsburgh Tim Connolly participated in the first Winter Classic in 2008. ©2021, Janet Schultz
The Buffalo Sabres are heading outdoors this season.
The NHL today announced they’ll be playing in a Heritage Classic game March 13, 2022 against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton, Ont. Word of the Sabres’ participation in the outdoor contest spread late last month.
Despite playing 63 miles from KeyBank Center, the Sabres will be considered the “home” team for the 3 p.m. game, which will be broadcast nationally on TNT. ... Read the full article