Skinner - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres blow late lead to Blue Jackets, lose in OT: ‘We started changing’

BUFFALO – The Sabres’ blueprint for success is no secret. For about 20 minutes against the Columbus Blue Jackets, they played confidently and loosely, opening up what felt like a commanding two-goal lead early in the third period.

“We got that 3-1 lead, we had a couple of good shifts afterward and then we started changing the way we were playing,” Sabres winger Alex Tuch said following Thursday’s 4-3 loss, a game Jakub Voracek clinched ... Read the full article

After rough season, rejuvenated Jeff Skinner again one of Sabres’ top threats

BUFFALO – It took time for Jeff Skinner to recapture his scoring prowess after enduring a miserable, career-worst season. The Sabres winger scored just once in the first eight games of what has become a terrific comeback year.

But from the get-go this season, Sabres coach Don Granato saw Skinner, 29, possessed confidence he would resolve his problems and was hellbent on becoming a go-to guy again.

Granato said Skinner began practicing and playing with ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Alex Tuch responding to new challenges, piling up points

BUFFALO – In Vegas, Sabres newcomer Alex Tuch played a supporting role on one of the NHL’s deepest teams. The Golden Knights possess high-end talent in Jonathan Marchessault, Max Pacioretty, Alex Pietrangelo, Mark Stone and others.

Tuch, 25, could blend in as a second- or third-liner for the Golden Knights, a team built to win the Stanley Cup right now.

“All the pressure that’s on that team to win and go for the Cup, ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Casey Mittelstadt set to return from injury; Kyle Okposo practices

BUFFALO – Sabres forwards Casey Mittelstadt and Zemgus Girgensons practiced this morning and will likely return for Tuesday’s road game against the Ottawa Senators.

“Zemgus is back, full, and so is Mittsy,” Sabres coach Don Granato said following the session.

Mittelstadt, out with an upper-body injury the last 16 games, centered Peyton Krebs and Anders Bjork during the practice inside LECOM Harborcenter. Meanwhile, Girgensons, out the last five games with a lower-body injury, skated at ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Peyton Krebs scores first NHL goals in win: ‘A pretty special talent’

BUFFALO – The play in Saturday afternoon’s 6-3 win that illustrates the special talent the Sabres possess in center Peyton Kresbs wasn’t the goal he scored 18 minutes into the game, the first of his NHL career, or his nifty breakaway score minutes later.

Of course, in scoring twice in a span of 4 minutes, 24 seconds, Krebs, 20, displayed the supreme hockey sense and terrific skill set that make him such a coveted young ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Rasmus Ristolainen has warm memories of Buffalo

BUFFALO – In his first nine seasons, ex-Sabres defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen has endured more chaos and losing than any NHL player.

The Sabres employed six coaches and four general managers during Ristolainen’s eight-year tenure, finishing dead last four times.

When the Sabres traded Ristolainen to the Philadelphia Flyers on July 23, it appeared he might finally have an opportunity to play for a contender and experience postseason hockey.

Instead, the Finn joined a team that ... Read the full article

Sabres blow late lead, lose in OT to Red Wings: ‘We let our goalie down’

Not only did the Buffalo Sabres go up 2-0 when winger Jeff Skinner scored almost halfway through Monday afternoon’s third period, the Detroit Red Wings received a bench minor for their failed goalie interference challenge.

And that’s when the Sabres, who have lost an NHL-high seven games this season when leading after two periods, began to unravel.

“We just scored a goal to go up 2-0, you’re on a power play and we didn’t manage ... Read the full article

Jeff Skinner, Aaron Dell star as Sabres end winless skid, beat Predators

Considering the opponent, the scorching Nashville Predators, and the venue, the raucous Bridgestone Arena, Thursday’s 4-1 win might rank as the Buffalo Sabres’ most impressive victory this season.

Against a team that had won five straight games and 12 of its last 14 contests, the Sabres grabbed a second-period lead and never relinquished it, ending a six-game winless skid.

Winger Jeff Skinner scored two goals and goalie Aaron Dell stopped 29 shots to help the ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Peyton Krebs ‘feeling good’ but still in NHL’s COVID-19 protocol

For four days, coach Don Granato said the Buffalo Sabres have been hoping center Peyton Krebs can test out of the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol.

Granato said Krebs, who entered protocol Jan. 4, is “feeling good.”

“It’s one of those unpredictable things,” Granato said on a Zoom call this afternoon from Nashville, where the Sabres play the Predators tonight. “So he’s doing what he can. Obviously, he has to stay isolated … and keep himself in ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Tage Thompson enters NHL’s COVID-19 protocol

BUFFALO – The Sabres this morning placed Tage Thompson, their top center and leading goal scorer, in the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol.

In addition to Thompson, forwards Peyton Krebs, Kyle Okposo and Alex Tuch are in protocol. Defenseman Casey Fitzgerald, who entered protocol last Monday, returned to practice this morning.

The Sabres this morning reassigned winger Jack Quinn from the Rochester Americans to the taxi squad. They will likely also need to recall another forward before ... Read the full article