WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
November Edition
Nicolas Aube-Kubel (left) moves alongside New Jersey’s Jonas Siegenthaler last week in Prague, Czechia.
BUFFALO – Sabres winger Nicolas Aube-Kubel, who suffered a lower-body injury in Friday’s season opener, will be sidelined about three to six weeks, coach Lindy Ruff said.
There is, however, some good news. Ruff said wingers JJ Peterka (concussion) and Zach Benson (lower body) are considered day to day after suffering injuries in Prague, Czechia.
Neither practiced Tuesday in KeyBank Bank Center, the Sabres’ first session since returning from their season-opening trip.... Read the full article
JJ Peterka is attended to Saturday after absorbing a hit from Brenden Dillon in Prague, Czechia. ©2024, Micheline Veluvolu
Three injured forwards. Two losses. One struggling team.
Any early-season optimism surrounding the Buffalo Sabres vanished during back-to-back season-opening setbacks to the New Jersey Devils in Prague, Czechia.
In Saturday’s 3-1 loss, Sabres winger JJ Peterka suffered a concussion when New Jersey Devils defenseman Brenden Dillon hit him in the head as he skated through the neutral zone, coach Lindy Ruff told reporters in Prague.... Read the full article
Alex Tuch practices Thursday at O2 Arena in Prague, Czechia, where Buffalo is participating in the NHL Global Series. ©2024, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Alex Tuch always starts with himself. The Sabres winger knows he underperformed last season, failing to meet high expectations following his career year. Then he looks at the entire team and challenges everyone to be better.
The disappointment he experienced last season – his own struggles and the Sabres’ lackluster 84-point finish – drives him.
“First and foremost, I know I need to be better,” Tuch said last month after training camp opened ... Read the full article
Rasmus Dahlin likes to lead by example. ©2024, Micheline Velvuolu
When the Buffalo Sabres traded Kyle Okposo late last season, the obvious heir apparent to the captaincy, Rasmus Dahlin, refused to think about wearing the prestigious letter.
If Dahlin, 24, earned the honor, he wanted it to happen organically. So for seven months, the Swede said he kept focusing on being “the best version of myself.”
“When it’s not really organic, it’s kind of forced, that’s not a good thing in my opinion,” ... Read the full article
Rasmus Dahlin previously served as an alternate captain. ©2024, Micheline Veluvolu
It wasn’t a matter of if, only when defenseman Rasmus Dahlin would become the Buffalo Sabres’ next captain.
Long before new Sabres coach Lindy Ruff awarded him the captaincy Thursday, Dahlin, 24, emerged as a worthy candidate to wear the prestigious ‘C’ someday.
The Swede is more than just one of the NHL’s most dynamic defensemen. He possesses a work ethic his coaches and teammates laud and pays a price to try to win. As ... Read the full article
Rasmus Dahlin was injured Wednesday. ©2024, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Two exhibition games, two regular-season lineups.
The Sabres will mostly utilize their top players again for this afternoon’s preseason contest against the Columbus Blue Jackets in KeyBank Center. They dressed most of their NHL talent for Saturday’s 7-3 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins, a game in which JJ Peterka scored three goals.
The complete lineup is below. Three notable offseason acquisitions – center Ryan McLeod, defenseman Dennis Gilbert and winger Jason Zucker – ... Read the full article
JJ Peterka (77) skates to the bench after scoring Saturday. ©2024, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Let’s temper any excitement over the Sabres’ 7-3 win and winger JJ Peterka’s hat trick in Saturday’s preseason opener by noting the Pittsburgh Penguins brought their B or C squad to KeyBank Center.
The Sabres, meanwhile, dressed what resembled a regular-season lineup featuring perhaps their top two lines and No. 1 goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen.
An emphatic victory was almost expected. Following a slow start, the Sabres began annihilating the visitors, scoring five times ... Read the full article
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen will start tonight. ©2024, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – When coach Lindy Ruff said most of the Sabres’ regulars would dress for the preseason opener, he wasn’t kidding.
Tonight’s roster resembles a regular-season lineup, with perhaps the entire first and second lines playing against the Pittsburgh Penguins at KeyBank Center.
Assistant coach Seth Appert said No. 1 goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen will start and go the distance.
While the lineup mostly features established talent, rookie winger Jiri Kulich will receive his first action ... Read the full article
Beck Malenstyn has played one full NHL season. ©2024, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – At first, Beck Malenstyn said he felt neither excitement nor disappointment, only shock. The Sabres newcomer was drinking coffee in his in-laws’ living room outside picturesque Canmore, Alberta, when he learned he had been traded.
As a restricted free agent, Malenstyn, 26, needed a new contract from the Washington Capitals. So when their assistant general manager called him during the NHL Draft on June 29, he initially thought little of it. Then after ... Read the full article
Lindy Ruff talks Wednesday following the first session of training camp. ©2024, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Right away, coach Lindy Ruff stopped the drill. The Sabres had gone offside, and even in the first session of training camp, that’s a no-no.
So Ruff told his players to get it right and gathered them for a quick chat. Later in Wednesday’s practice, he called for more puck support and halted another drill.
General manager Kevyn Adams and players have been preaching accountability, and on the first day of his second ... Read the full article