Thompson - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres fall to Penguins, lose 15th straight: ‘We’re not working smart’

The hapless Buffalo Sabres kept hanging around Wednesday, trailing by one goal late in the second period despite being outshot by nearly a two-to-one margin.

No one, of course, expected the Sabres would win. But right now, they’re so bad a one-goal deficit is noteworthy.

That narrow margin did not last. The Pittsburgh Penguins pulled ahead late in the second period, capitalizing on two miscues from struggling winger Taylor Hall to take a commanding lead ... Read the full article

Sabres goalie prospect Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen excited for first taste of NHL

If injured Buffalo Sabres goalie Linus Ullmark keeps progressing, he could play this week, perhaps as soon as tonight. So Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen’s first taste of the NHL might be brief.

Still, spending just a day or two with the Sabres, even on the taxi squad as their third goalie, should be a significant step for Luukkonen’s development.

“The more time a prospect can get around (the NHL), the easier it becomes for them to associate, ... Read the full article

Sabres to make lineup changes, scratch Cody Eakin

BUFFALO – Sabres center Cody Eakin, who has scored just one goal in 26 games this season, an empty-netter, will be a healthy scratch tonight against the Washington Capitals.

Rasmus Asplund, who hasn’t played since Feb. 25, will replace Eakin between Tobias Rieder and Kyle Okposo.

Eakin’s penalty-killing prowess has helped the Sabres improve from 30th last season to fifth this year. His 57.5 faceoff percentage ranks first among Sabres who have taken at ... Read the full article

Sabres lose game to Penguins, Dylan Cozens to injury

BUFFALO – Sabres defenseman Colin Miller went right after Zach Aston-Reese, dropping the gloves for the first time in more than three years.

Miller doesn’t fight often, but after watching the Pittsburgh Penguins center hit rookie Dylan Cozens about six feet from the boards Thursday, he needed to stick up for his teammate.

Cozens’ head bit the boards hard and he got up slowly as Miller fought Aston-Reese 2:27 into the third period of the ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Ralph Krueger says Rasmus Dahlin getting closer to ‘full package’

BUFFALO – Sabres coach Ralph Krueger knows defenseman Rasmus Dahlin allowed the Philadelphia Flyers to score an easy goal in Tuesday’s 5-4 shootout loss.

Dahlin, 20, showcased an alarming lack of awareness early in the second period, never reacting to Scott Laughton, the puck carrier, or Kevin Hayes, his closest opponent.

When Laughton backhanded a pass from the right circle across the slot, Dahlin, who was focused elsewhere, never moved his head. Hayes, meanwhile, ... Read the full article

‘Sophomore’ slump hurting Sabres’ Henri Jokiharju

Last season, his first in Buffalo, defenseman Henri Jokiharju morphed into the Sabres’ biggest surprise, showcasing a steady style that earned him coach Ralph Krueger’s trust.

So naturally, Jokiharju, 21, wants to advance his game this year and develop his offensive side.

“It’s part of the development for a young defenseman to come in and be very conservative and then try to build a more attacking, offensive game on top of that,” Krueger said on ... Read the full article

Despite slow start, Sabres’ Taylor Hall open to contract extension with Buffalo

When Taylor Hall shocked the hockey world by signing a one-year, $8 million contract with the Sabres, he said he was open to staying in Buffalo on a long-term deal.

Twenty-one games into the season, Hall and the Sabres have struggled mightily.

Hall scored his first goal since opening night in Thursday’s 5-2 loss to the New York Islanders. It was his first even-strength goal this season and just his 13th point. The Sabres, having ... Read the full article

Sabres get blanked by Flyers; Ralph Krueger says lineup changes coming

BUFFALO – The Sabres’ grueling schedule doesn’t let up for weeks. Fresh off Saturday afternoon’s ugly 3-0 loss to Philadelphia, they play the Flyers again today, their ninth game in 14 days since their COVID-19 pause ended.

The Sabres, incredibly, don’t have two consecutive days off until the first week of April. They have four more games next week. The jam-packed slate doesn’t offer them an opportunity to reset and enjoy any quality practice time.... Read the full article

Sabres lose Jack Eichel, Linus Ullmark to injuries, game to Devils

BUFFALO – Sabres forward Riley Sheahan knew captain Jack Eichel was a little banged up heading into Thursday’s game against the New Jersey Devils.

Still, Sheahan, a fourth-line winger, never expected he would be thrust into Eichel’s spot as the No. 1 center following the pregame warm-up.

“I … saw the lineup had changed and my name was up there with (Victor Olofsson) and (Sam Reinhart),” Sheahan, who opened the scoring, said on a Zoom ... Read the full article

Lower-body injury forces Sabres to scratch Jack Eichel against Devils

BUFFALO – A lower-body injury forced the Sabres to make captain Jack Eichel a late scratch for tonight’s game against the New Jersey Devils.

The center did not skate this morning but participated in the pregame warm-up before the Sabres announced he would not play.

Eichel appeared to hurt his ankle in a collision with New Jersey’s Nico Hischier in Tuesday’s 4-1 win over the Devils. He winced in pain but remained in the game.... Read the full article