Seattle Kraken - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Shootout exploits by Jack Quinn, UPL, cap Sabres’ exciting come-from-behind win over Kraken

BUFFALO – A few years ago, Sabres winger Jack Quinn retired the slick shootout move – a nifty fake in the slot that freezes the goalie – he often utilized early in his pro career.

Goalies study their opponents and assemble a book on their tendencies, so Quinn has developed into one of the NHL’s premier shooters by evolving and showcasing other dazzling moves.

But a move that good shouldn’t be mothballed, right?

After dusting ... Read the full article

Sabres rookie Noah Ostlund could miss more time with injury

BUFFALO – The upper-body injury that has sidelined Sabres rookie Noah Ostlund the last two games “may take a little bit of time” to heal, coach Lindy Ruff said.

“You really can’t put a timetable on it,” Ruff said prior to Saturday’s game 3-2 shootout win over the Seattle Kraken in KeyBank Center. “He could come in tomorrow or skate tomorrow or Monday and say, ‘Boy, I’m feeling good. I’m ready to go.’”

With Ostlund ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Josh Norris, Alex Tuch could play against Kraken

Buffalo Sabres forwards Josh Norris and Alex Tuch both practiced Saturday and are “possibilities” to play tonight against the Kraken, coach Lindy Ruff told reporters in Seattle.

Norris (soreness/illness) has missed the last two games, while Tuch (illness) sat out Thursday’s 3-2 win over the Vancouver Canucks.

Both players practiced on lines and took reps on the power play as the Sabres prepared the finale of their six-game road trip, according to Sabres.com.... Read the full article

Sabres activate Jiri Kulich from injured reserve, send prospect to Rochester

The Buffalo Sabres this afternoon created a roster spot to activate center Jiri Kulich from injured reserve by sending center Tyson Kozak to the Rochester Americans.

Kulich missed four games with a lower-body injury before returning for this afternoon’s contest against the Seattle Kraken, the start of a four-game road trip. The rookie began the game on the top line pivoting Tage Thompson and Jason Zucker.... Read the full article

Sabres blow another lead, implode late in loss to Kraken: ‘Hard one to explain’

BUFFALO – Don’t blame the Sabres’ problems on talent. They possess plenty of it. No, their sorry standing and penchant for blowing multi-goal leads can be traced to between the ears.

They’re fragile mentally, and at the first sign of adversity they often crumble.

Saturday afternoon’s embarrassing 6-2 loss to the hapless Seattle Kraken, a game in which the Sabres led 2-0 in the first period, only reinforced that.

“Mental, all mental,” captain Rasmus Dahlin ... Read the full article

Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen recapturing elite form of last season

BUFFALO – In winning five of his last seven starts, goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has reemerged as the Sabres’ backbone, helping them shake off a disastrous stretch in which they plummeted to the Eastern Conference basement.

Over the past three weeks, the Finn has regularly showcased the stellar form that made him one of the NHL’s elite netminders throughout the second half of last season.

Luukkonen was at his best in Thursday’s 4-0 road win over ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Mattias Samuelsson likely to miss game against Kraken

BUFFALO – Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said defenseman Mattias Samuelsson is “still pretty sick” and likely won’t play in this afternoon’s home game against the Seattle Kraken.

Samuelsson missed Thursday’s 4-0 road win over the Ottawa Senators. The Sabres had him travel back to Buffalo separately from the team.

In other news, winger Beck Malenstyn, who has missed the last two games because of illness, practiced Friday but likely won’t play today.... Read the full article

Defensive lapses doom Sabres in loss to Kraken: ‘It was the mistakes we made’

BUFFALO – The Seattle Kraken grabbed a commanding three-goal lead in the second period, and frustration immediately overwhelmed Sabres star Rasmus Dahlin.

Dahlin smashed his stick over the top of the net, looking more like a lumberjack than a defenseman, breaking it into two pieces.

The Sabres, having won two straight games for just the second time this season, began Tuesday feeling pretty good about themselves. As they started a six-game home stand, they had ... Read the full article

Sabres’ long home stand could decide playoff fate: ‘The time is now’

BUFFALO – Don Granato kept going, talking for two minutes on perhaps his least favorite topic, the Sabres’ dreary home record.

Discussing his team’s struggles at KeyBank Center clearly struck a nerve with the coach. Any explanation, he reasoned, could be taken as an excuse.

“I don’t even like talking about it,” Granato said after the Sabres prepared for Tuesday’s game against the Seattle Kraken, the start of a season-long six-game home stand.

Still, Granato ... Read the full article

Sabres captain Kyle Okposo returns to practice, could play soon

BUFFALO – At first, Kyle Okposo did not know he had suffered a lower-body injury. Then the Sabres captain had to take faceoff his next shift.

“(I) was feeling it then,” he said of the injury he suffered Dec. 31 in a 5-1 road loss to the Ottawa Senators. “And progressively your adrenaline takes over and you just finish the game, which is fine, and I knew I was going to be sore the next ... Read the full article