Zemgus Girgenons is one of three Sabres in COVID-19 protocol. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu

Sabres add two players to COVID-19 protocol

The Buffalo Sabres this morning added wingers Zemgus Girgensons and Jeff Skinner to the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol.

They now have three players – winger Vinnie Hinostroza was added Monday – in protocol.

The Sabres canceled today’s practice and aren’t scheduled to gather again until Sunday afternoon, when the COVID pause the NHL announced late Monday ends. The pause takes effect Wednesday.... Read the full article

Rasmus Dahlin scored two goals Tuesday. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu

Rasmus Dahlin performs dynamically in Sabres’ win: ‘A vision into his future’

At one end of the ice Tuesday, defenseman Rasmus Dahlin performed dynamically, scoring twice in the Buffalo Sabres’ 4-2 win against the Winnipeg Jets. At the other end, rookie goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen looked calm and composed, turning aside shot after shot in his fourth consecutive start.

At times during the past few weeks, as the losses piled up and the Sabres plummeted down the standings again, it could be hard to find positives in the ... Read the full article

Victor Olofsson has a career-long 11-game goal drought. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu

Sabres’ Victor Olofsson struggling to score after injury

BUFFALO – When he’s healthy, most days after practice ends, you can find Sabres winger Victor Olofsson on the ice honing his greatest skill by shooting pucks.

Olofsson’s lethal wrist shot – his ultra-quick release ranks among the NHL’s elite – elevates him into a special talent, especially on the power play.

But the soft tissue injury that sidelined Olofsson eight games last month has been hampering his shooting. In 11 outings since the Swede ... Read the full article

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has made three straight starts. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu

Goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen making strong case to stick with Sabres

BUFFALO – Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen’s stay here figured to be short. In the midst of a goaltending crisis, it appeared the Finn might play a few games before the Sabres returned him to the minors, where he would continue his development.

But Luukkonen, a prospect considered the Sabres’ goalie of the future, has been making a very strong case to stay put when some netminders are ready to play.

Luukkonen, 22, performed superbly in three starts ... Read the full article

Casey Mittelstadt was injured Tuesday. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu

Sabres’ Casey Mittelstadt expected to return this season after having surgery

BUFFALO – Sabres center Casey Mittelstadt underwent successful surgery today to repair his upper-body injury, coach Don Granato said.

Granato said the Sabres don’t have a timeline for Mittelstadt’s return. He expects the Mittelstadt, who visited a specialist Thursday, will play again this season.

Mittelstadt, 23, suffered his second upper-body injury this season about six minutes into the third period of Tuesday’s 2-0 loss to the Anaheim Ducks. After getting injured opening night, he missed ... Read the full article

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen was recalled Monday. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu

Sabres turn to Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen; Malcolm Subban skates after injury

BUFFALO – As expected, the struggling Sabres will change goalies tonight against the Anaheim Ducks, awarding prospect Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen his first start this season.

Having played four games late last year, Luukkonen developed a feel of the NHL. The Finn performed well, winning his debut and posting a .906 save percentage.

“The hope is when you put him in there’s an element of relaxed to him, a comfort,” Sabres coach Don Granato said following this ... Read the full article

Jeff Skinner skates in front of Seattle goalie Chris Driedger on Monday. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu

Sabres fall behind early, lose to Kraken; Jeff Skinner looking like old self

BUFFALO – With the Sabres enjoying a first-period power play Monday, center Tage Thompson dug the puck out from the wall and fed defenseman Rasmus Dahlin at the left point.

During a power play earlier in the period, Dahlin fell down behind his own net, helping Carson Soucy score the first short-handed goal in the Seattle Kraken’s 22-game history.

Surely, it couldn’t happen again, right? The Sabres’ hadn’t allowed a short-handed goal all season.... Read the full article

Alex Tuch joined Buffalo on Nov. 4. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu

Casey Mittelstadt takes another step toward return; Alex Tuch joins Sabres

BUFFALO – Sabres coach Don Granato acknowledged that, yes, he has thought about what his lineup might look like when some of his injured players get healthy.

So Granato knows where he could put center Casey Mittelstadt and winger Alex Tuch, both of whom skated with the Sabres this morning, when they’re healthy. It was the first session with the Sabres for Tuch, who underwent offseason shoulder surgery.

Mittelstadt, who had his first contact ... Read the full article

Dustin Tokarski has a 1.87 goals-against average in his last three outings. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu

Sabres goalie Dustin Tokarski bounces back with two strong outings

BUFFALO – Sabres coach Don Granato needed to wait to make a decision. If goalie Dustin Tokarski experienced a heavy workload Friday, then he likely couldn’t have utilized him back-to-back nights.

But Tokarski faced just 11 shots over the final 40 minutes of the Sabres’ 4-1 home win. So Granato felt comfortable starting him again Saturday in Detroit.

“The workload late in that game was not too extensive for Dustin, and that factored in,” ... Read the full article

Tage Thompson has scored four goals this week. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu

Sabres’ Tage Thompson stays hot in win, exacts revenge on Canadiens

BUFFALO – Tage Thompson got up angry and looking for revenge after absorbing a big hit from Alexander Romanov at center ice. But instead of going after the Montreal Canadiens defenseman, the Sabres center simply skated into the offensive zone.

A few seconds later, Thompson banged his stick on the ice, calling for puck from linemate Jeff Skinner. After grabbing the pass high in the slot, Thompson beat goalie Samuel Montembeault 3:29 into the third ... Read the full article