WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
Stanley Cup Playoffs Edition
Zach Metsa sat out the first 11 games of the playoffs. ©2026, Micheline Veluvolu
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
Zach Metsa sat out the first 11 playoff games. ©2026, Micheline Veluvolu
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
Luke Schenn sat out Buffalo’s first nine playoff games. ©2026, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – In the press box recently, Sabres defenseman Luke Schenn said he was viewing his son Kingston’s hockey game in Kelowna, British, Columbia, on an app, when rookie Konsta Helenius asked who he was watching.
When Schenn, 36, told him his son, Helenius, 20, asked his age.
“I said, ‘9.’ He goes, ‘Well, I have a 10-year-old brother who I help out with hockey,’” Schenn said on Thursday prior to Game 5 of the ... Read the full article
Conor Timmins has been a mainstay during the postseason. ©2026, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – When he dove into the some of the stats before the Sabres began their second-round series against the Montreal Canadiens, coach Lindy Ruff said he found “everything was tight.”
Today, with the best-of-seven series tied at 2, Ruff said he feels that “everything is still tight.”
“Two really evenly matched teams,” Ruff said this morning after the Sabres prepared for Game 5 in KeyBank Center.... Read the full article
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen hasn’t played since Game 2 of the first round. ©2026, Micheline Veluvolu
MONTREAL – Based on their morning skate, the Buffalo Sabres plan to make three lineup changes tonight for Game 4 of their second-round series against the Canadiens, including switching goalies to Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen.
After the losing the last two games by a combined score of 11-3, the Sabres, who trail 2-1 in the best-of-seven series, also plan to dress rookie center Konsta Helenius and veteran defenseman Luke Schenn, a two-time Stanley Cup winner who offers ... Read the full article
Logan Stanley has been sick. ©2026, Micheline Veluvolu
BOSTON – Buffalo Sabres defenseman Logan Stanley will be a game-time decision tonight against the Bruins, coach Lindy Ruff said.
Ruff said Stanley, who has been sick, skated this morning. The rest of the Sabres stayed off the ice as they prepared for Game 6 of the best-of-seven first-round playoff series.
The Sabres lead 3-2 and can win a playoff series tonight for the first time since 2007.... Read the full article
Boston’s Casey Mittelstadt celebrates his game-tying goal March 25. ©2026, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – For the next two weeks or so, the lasting friendships Boston Bruins winger Casey Mittelstadt made over his six years here are on hold.
Mittelstadt, 27, said he loved his time with the Sabres and is happy they ended their NHL-record 14-year drought and cracked the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
“But I’m on the other side of it now,” he said prior to Sunday’s 4-3 loss to the Sabres in Game 1 of their ... Read the full article
Noah Ostlund has missed the last 10 games. ©2026, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Expect to see rookie forward Noah Ostlund return from his upper-body injury during the Sabres’ first-round series against the Boston Bruins in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Ostlund, 22, practiced as an extra Saturday, his first session since going down March 25 late in a 4-3 overtime loss to the Bruins.
The best-of-seven series starts tonight at KeyBank Center.... Read the full article
Alex Lyon has won 20 games this season. ©2026, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Injured Sabres goalie Alex Lyon could be sidelined for the start of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, coach Lindy Ruff said prior to Thursday’s game against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
“Right now, (he’ll be out) a week, and we’ll go from there,” Ruff said of the strained muscle Lyon recently suffered during practice.
The postseason begins April 18 and 19. A schedule won’t be released until next week.... Read the full article
Zach Metsa played three games for Rochester over the weekend. ©2026, Micheline Veluvolu
The Buffalo Sabres this afternoon recalled rookie defenseman Zach Metsa following a three-game weekend stint with the Rochester Americans.
Metsa, Rochester’s captain, registered zero points as the Amerks compiled a 2-1-0 mark.
The Sabres on Thursday assigned Metsa to the AHL so he could play big minutes instead of sitting out in Buffalo as a healthy scratch.... Read the full article