St. Louis Blues - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres’ Josh Norris displays desperation after breaking stick against Bruins

BUFFALO – The desperation began as soon as Sabres center Josh Norris broke his stick in Saturday’s 4-1 win over the Boston Bruins and lasted about 10 seconds.

As the Bruins buzzed around the Buffalo zone early in the second period, a stickless Norris immediately sacrificed his body, dropping to the ice to thwart his opponent and keep the puck out of his net.

When the puck went down low, he dove next the crease ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Josh Dunne seizing chances in NHL as he heads home to St. Louis

BUFFALO – Sabres center Josh Dunne figures at least 50 supporters, perhaps as many as 100, will be on hand tonight at the Enterprise Center to watch him play his first NHL regular-season game in St. Louis.

Following Sunday’s practice, Dunne, 27, was still working on an exact number, reaching out to people and receiving texts.

“But that’s all part of the fun,” Dunne, whose Sabres carry an eight-game win streak into tonight’s contest against ... Read the full article

Sabres send prospects to Rochester, get injured players back

BUFFALO – The Sabres on Sunday sent prospects Ryan Johnson and Isak Rosen back to the Rochester Americans.

They recalled Johnson, 24, before Saturday’s 4-1 win over the Boston Bruins because captain Rasmus Dahlin’s absence left them with just six defensemen.

Dahlin, who visited his fiancée, Carolina Matovac, in Sweden over the Christmas break, is expected to rejoin the Sabres today in St. Louis for the start of their three-game road trip.... Read the full article

Sabres can’t beat Joel Hofer, get shut out by Blues: ‘Got to bear down’

BUFFALO – The St. Louis Blues limped into town ripe to be exploited, having won just one of their last nine games and been throttled a night earlier by five goals.

In goal Thursday for the reeling Blues against the Sabres? Backup Joel Hofer, who owned a 5.02 goals-against average and an .836 save percentage, ghastly numbers that ranked second and third from the bottom, respectively, in the NHL.

The Sabres, meanwhile, began the night ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Mattias Samuelsson confident after ‘dark days;’ Zach Benson sidelined

BUFFALO – In the most trying season of his career, Sabres defenseman Mattias Samuelsson experienced what he called some “dark days.”

When he wasn’t injured, at times, he performed so poorly coach Lindy Ruff scratched him. In January, he was on the ice when the Sabres let New Jersey Devils winger Stefan Noesen get away with hitting winger Tage Thompson in the head and concussing him.

The 6-foot-4, 229-pound Samuelsson bore the brunt of the ... Read the full article

As UPL finds game, Sabres goalie Alex Lyon makes strong case for more starts

BUFFALO – Following one game serving as Alex Lyon’s backup, Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen said he will play again tonight against the St. Louis Blues, his second nod in the last three games but just his third this season.

As the Finn, 26, recently recovered from two lower-body injuries, Lyon, 32, emerged as the Sabres’ workhorse and early-season MVP.

Now, Luukkonen, fresh off Saturday’s stellar 31-save outing in which he stopped all five shootout attempts ... Read the full article

Sabres Josh Norris skating again; Tyson Kozak close to returning from injury

BUFFALO – Sabres center Josh Norris, who suffered an upper-body injury opening night, is progressing and has started skating again, coach Lindy Ruff said.

“I’ve talked to him, he said he’s feeling better,” Ruff said following Wednesday’s practice in KeyBank Center. “He’s not in that feeling great category yet, but he’s feeling better. And (we) really just want to keep progressing him with no setbacks.”

Ruff said has he no timetable for Norris’ return. He ... Read the full article

Sabres claim rookie goalie Colten Ellis off waivers from Blues, finalize roster

BUFFALO – The Sabres’ crease is getting crowded.

The team on Monday added its fourth goalie, claiming Colten Ellis, 25, off waivers from the St. Louis Blues.

Ellis, who has never played in the NHL, joins Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Alex Lyon and Alexandar Georgiev in Buffalo.

Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said on Monday that Luukkonen, who has been sidelined by a lower-body injury, won’t be ready for Thursday’s season opener against the New York Rangers.

When ... Read the full article

Rasmus Dahlin’s standout play quickly transforms Sabres into stronger team

BUFFALO – A healthy and confident Rasmus Dahlin has quickly transformed a Sabres team that completely unraveled in his absence.

It can be argued Dahlin’s value was never more evident than last week, when his return after battling back spasms helped the Sabres end their 13-game winless skid and throttle two opponents, outscoring them 13-3.

The Sabres, who open a four-game road trip this afternoon against the St. Louis Blues, began free-falling down the standings ... Read the full article

Mature effort helps Sabres rally to beat Blues in OT: ‘Learning the game’

BUFFALO – The competitive balance in the NHL has perhaps never been higher, meaning the difference between the top and bottom teams is slim.

There are no gimme games, as coaches will tell you. Still, this week, two teams – the St. Louis Blues and Montreal Canadiens – limped into KeyBank Center reeling and ripe to be exploited.

The Sabres nearly lost both games.

But forget the Sabres needed to late rally and overtime Thursday ... Read the full article