Thompson - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Alex Tuch explains why he left Sabres for Capitals in sign-and-trade deal: ‘One of the toughest moments of my life’

Alex Tuch wants to keep the details of his departure from Buffalo private. The winger just made an agonizing decision, choosing to leave the Sabres in a sign-and-trade deal with the Washington Capitals a week before he could’ve become an unrestricted free agent.

“It was one of the toughest decisions of my life,” Tuch, who inked an eight-year, $84 million contract, said Friday on a Zoom call.

Before the Sabres heated up and roared to ... Read the full article

Select or trade? No. 4 pick in NHL Draft gives Sabres interesting options

ORCHARD PARK – Luckily for the Sabres, the NHL, which decentralized its draft last year much to the chagrin of, well, pretty much everyone in the hockey world except for some general managers, still has its top prospects gather in a city.

This week, the festivities are being held in Buffalo, so instead of scrambling after acquiring the fourth overall pick in Tuesday’s blockbuster trade with the Chicago Blackhawks, GM Jarmo Kekalainen and his staff ... Read the full article

Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin named NHL Second Team All-Star, earns Hart Trophy votes

Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin on Friday was named an NHL Second Team All-Star for the first time in his eight-year career.

Dahlin, Buffalo’s captain, registered some gaudy numbers this season, scoring 19 goals and a career-high 74 points and in 77 games as the Sabres earned their first berth in the Stanley Cup Playoffs since 2011.

The Sabres defeated the Boston Bruins in the first round before falling to the Montreal Canadiens in a ... Read the full article

Watch: Sabres’ Konsta Helenius finishes year by scoring golden goal for Finland

Buffalo Sabres center Konsta Helenius on Sunday capped a breakout season by scoring the golden goal in overtime to clinch the World Championship for Team Finland.

Helenius, who joined the tournament shortly after the Montreal Canadiens eliminated the Sabres from the Stanley Cup Playoffs, scored 10:42 into the first overtime to give his country a 1-0 win over host Switzerland.

After Helenius, 20, carried the puck from the left corner into the right circle and ... Read the full article

By scoring and agitating in postseason, Sabres’ Zach Benson grabbed attention of NHL: ‘A true core piece’

BUFFALO – Long before he gave the Boston Bruins and Montreal Canadiens fits in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Zach Benson’s high-octane game rankled opponents.

The diminutive winger’s ultra-aggressive style helped him crack the NHL at just 18 and later establish himself as one of the Sabres’ most valuable forwards.

“I’ve kind of played like this forever,” Benson said last week in KeyBank Center. “I’ve kind of always played with that edge.”... Read the full article

End-of-season injury updates on Owen Power, Tage Thompson, Sam Carrick, Justin Danforth and other Sabres

BUFFALO – When Owen Power crashed feet first into the boards last Thursday, it appeared the Sabres might lose the stud defenseman for the rest of their second-round series against the Montreal Canadiens.

Power briefly left Game 5 before returning to the bench and testing the injury during breaks. Late in the contest, he played two shifts.

He kept gutting out the injury in the Sabres’ final two games of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. In Monday’s ... Read the full article

Sabres’ depth offers options to change lineup; Tage Thompson back at wing

BUFFALO – The Sabres find strength in numbers, as in they boast some of the NHL’s best depth, giving them intriguing choices to construct their lineup and tailor it to their opponent.

To wit: in Saturday’s come-from-behind 8-3 win in Montreal, rookie defenseman Zach Metsa made his debut, becoming the 27th player to skate for the Sabres in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

After sitting out the first 11 games as a healthy scratch, Metsa also ... Read the full article

Rasmus Dahlin, Sabres rally from early deficit to stun Canadiens, force Game 7: ‘Our captain steps up’

MONTREAL – In the moment, the score meant nothing to the Buffalo Sabres. That they faced an early two-goal deficit after captain Rasmus Dahlin scored 32 seconds into the do-or-die contest, well, so be it.

If they maintained their focus on Saturday against the Canadiens, they told themselves, and kept doing the right things in the hostile Bell Centre, they would be rewarded.

“We actually liked our game to start,” winger Jason Zucker said after ... Read the full article

Sabres change lineup, mix up lines for Game 6 against Canadiens

MONTREAL – The Buffalo Sabres made one lineup change for tonight’s do-or-die contest against the Canadiens, inserting rookie defenseman Zach Metsa and scratching veteran Luke Schenn for Game 6 of the second-round series.

Metsa, 27, made his debut in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. He sat out the first 11 games as a healthy scratch.

Sabres coach Lindy Ruff has lauded Metsa’s decision-making ability and how he breaks the puck out.... Read the full article

Sabres need Tage Thompson, centers to produce as they face elimination; Owen Power has chance to play Game 5

MONTREAL – In their second-round series against the Montreal Canadiens, the Buffalo Sabres’ top three centers – Tage Thompson, Josh Norris and Ryan McLeod – have combined to score just three goals and seven points in five games.

The pivots’ total rating, minus-12, is “led” by Thompson’s awful minus-9.

No wonder the Sabres, who trail the best-of-seven series 3-2, must win Game 6 tonight at the Bell Centre to prolong their season.... Read the full article