Thompson - Buffalo Hockey Beat

As Sabres try to eliminate Bruins again, confident Tage Thompson believes he will start scoring

BOSTON – In the regular season, Sabres center Tage Thompson endured five stretches of at least four games in which he did not score a goal.

Even the most dynamic scorers – Thompson just cracked the 40-goal mark for the third time in four seasons – are streaky. It’s normal. They’re not going to score every game.

Of course, on the grand stage of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, everything is magnified. A short four-game drought ... Read the full article

Sabres lose game to Bruins in OT, Noah Ostlund to injury: ‘It doesn’t look good’

BUFFALO – Since the Sabres morphed into an NHL heavyweight almost five months ago, they’ve lost three consecutive games just once.

Their ability to quickly put away games – good and bad – has helped them showcase remarkable consistency.

For the Sabres to lose their first-round playoff series, they would have to drop three straight games.

The postseason, of course, is a different animal. Still, since early December, the Sabres, who on Tuesday lost 2-1 ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Peyton Krebs thriving in first playoff action; Josh Norris misses another game

BUFFALO – As he rounded out his game, developing into a versatile, high-octane presence, Sabres winger Peyton Krebs wanted to tailor his style to meet the rigors of playoff hockey.

“That’s what I try to base my game off, you know?” Krebs told the Times Herald on Tuesday prior to Game 5 of the Sabres’ first-round playoff series against the Boston Bruins. “Compete, grit, get in battles, make plays under high pressure.”

Those qualities have ... Read the full article

Sabres dominate Bruins, take 3-1 series lead: ‘Best period we played all year’

BOSTON – Just over four minutes into Sunday afternoon’s 6-1 annihilation of the Bruins, Buffalo Sabres center Tage Thompson hectored an opponent along the wall, freeing the puck for linemate Alex Tuch to grab in the offensive zone.

When Tuch reached the right circle, he fed winger Peyton Krebs in the slot, and the winger quickly beat goalie Jeremy Swayman.

The goal at 4:17, the Sabres’ first in the opening 20 minutes during the Stanley Cup ... Read the full article

Sabres warned prior to Game 3 to stop rough stuff; Ryan McLeod relied upon in faceoff dot

BOSTON – Before Thursday’s 3-1 win over the Bruins, coach Lindy Ruff said officials warned the Buffalo Sabres they “weren’t gonna put up with the after-the-whistle stuff.”

“They’re gonna take one guy,” he said of the what the teams were told. “And the first guy that puts the fist in the other guy’s face is gonna get called.”

As the longtime rivals split the first two games of the opening-round playoff series, scrums and melees ... Read the full article

Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen allows long goal, gets replaced by Alex Lyon as Bruins tie series

BUFFALO – In the early going of Tuesday’s 4-2 loss to the Boston Bruins, Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen picked up where he left off in the series opener, stopping two breakaways to keep the game tied at 0.

For months, Luukkonen has stood tall in net, making him the easy choice to start the first-round series against the Boston Bruins in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

But the Finn’s struggles in Game 2 – he allowed ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Mattias Samuelsson takes place among NHL’s best defensemen; Josh Allen riles up Buffalo crowd

BUFFALO – It was never a question of skill. Sabres defenseman Mattias Samuelsson possesses loads of it.

At his best, he ranks among the NHL’s top shutdown defenders.

“He’s got every tool in the toolbox,” Sabres winger Alex Tuch said Monday in KeyBank Center. “He’s big, he skates well, he’s got the long stick, he’s got the hockey IQ. And then when he’s physical like that, he’s just horrible to play against.

“I mean, I ... Read the full article

Tage Thompson ignites late comeback in wild playoff win over Bruins: ‘This team doesn’t quit’

BUFFALO – Lack of experience? No way, Sabres center Tage Thompson responded after scoring two late goals to ignite one of the most memorable comebacks in franchise history.

The Sabres, Thompson noted, played plenty of games that prepared them for the Stanley Cup Playoffs and Sunday’s wild 4-3 victory, a game in which they scored three goals in less than five minutes to erase a late 2-0 deficit against Boston Bruins.

As Game 1 of ... Read the full article

During lean years, Rasmus Dahlin, Tage Thompson never lost belief Sabres would make playoffs

BUFFALO – During those dark days, when doubt and negativity could creep in, Sabres stars Rasmus Dahlin, Tage Thompson and Alex Tuch would often stay positive by talking about the talent that surrounded them.

They had too much of it for the losing to drag on forever. Players possessed maturity – a strong work ethic and desire to improve – to complement their skill.

Sooner or later, the Sabres had to start winning, right?... Read the full article

Sabres rest top players against Stars as attention turns to Bruins in playoffs

BUFFALO – The outcome of Wednesday’s regular-season finale, a 4-3 shootout loss to the Dallas Stars, is irrelevant.

The Sabres, having clinched the Atlantic Division and locked into a first-round series against the Boston Bruins in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, scratched five of their best players and dressed 11 forwards and seven defensemen.

Tyson Kozak, a fourth-line center or spare forward, pivoted the Sabres’ top line. Coach Lindy Ruff used three defensemen on the second ... Read the full article