Tuch - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres’ Alex Tuch injured; Matt Savoie could make NHL debut this weekend

BUFFALO – Sabres rookie Matt Savoie subbed for injured winger Alex Tuch during Thursday’s practice, skating alongside center Tage Thompson and Jeff Skinner.

So, could Savoie, 19, make his NHL debut tonight against the Minnesota Wild at KeyBank Center?

Coach Don Granato said the Sabres are “leaning toward using” the youngster this weekend. They also play a road game Saturday against the Pittsburgh Penguins.... Read the full article

Sabres’ Dylan Cozens practices after ill-advised fight, says he learned lesson

BUFFALO – Sabres center Dylan Cozens said he has learned his lesson.

In the future, don’t expect to see him picking fights with heavyweights like he did as frustration overwhelmed him late in Friday’s 5-1 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers.

“It probably won’t happen like that again,” Cozens said Wednesday after returning to practice in KeyBank Center wearing a full face shield.

Cozens, 22, also sported protection over his nose, which likely means it’s broken, ... Read the full article

Alex Tuch breaks loose late in Sabres’ win over Maple Leafs; Dylan Cozens misses game with injury

TORONTO – No, it wasn’t quite a piano off Alex Tuch’s back. The Sabres winger had scored this season before his two third-period goals Saturday secured a 6-4 win over the Maple Leafs. He said he believes he had been skating well.

Piano’s too heavy for the expression.

“Monkey more than piano,” said Tuch, bringing the weight he was carrying early this season down about 700 pounds.

Fresh off a breakout 36-goal campaign, Tuch hadn’t ... Read the full article

Sabres fall behind early in loss to Flyers; Mattias Samuelsson leaves with injury

BUFFALO – The final result, an ugly 5-1 loss, stings enough. The Sabres began Friday on a short roll, having won two straight games and three of their last four.

After a disappointing start this season, the Sabres appeared to have finally found a bit of a groove.

Ninety-one seconds into Friday’s game, they trailed 2-0. The Flyers had two shots on goal.

About five minutes later, Mattias Samuelsson, the Sabres’ sturdiest defenseman, departed the ... Read the full article

Sabres prospect Lukas Rousek to make season debut with Buffalo

BUFFALO – When the Sabres recently placed winger Zach Benson and goalie Eric Comrie on injured reserve, they recalled two young forward prospects.

Brandon Biro, 25, rewarded the Sabres by scoring his first two NHL goals in Wednesday’s 5-2 road win over the Philadelphia Flyers. Biro will be joined by another rookie, Lukas Rousek, 24, in tonight’s lineup against the Flyers.

“It’s an opportunity for us to see what we have in our organization and ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Tage Thompson scoring goals, developing into top penalty killer

BUFFALO – Sabres center Tage Thompson scored and also earned the primary assists on rookie Brandon Biro’s first NHL goal and the game-winning goal, so understandably, a terrific defensive play he made late in a three-goal win could be overlooked.

But in Wednesday’s 5-2 road victory over the Philadelphia Flyers, Thompson illustrated his growing maturity by thwarting what looked to be an easy power-play goal.

With Thompson, 26, covering the back side of the net, ... Read the full article

Sabres recall forward from Americans

The Buffalo Sabres on Thursday recalled winger Lukas Rousek, who played his first two NHL games last season, from the Rochester Americans.

Winger Alex Tuch missed Thursday’s practice for maintenance, according to the Sabres, so Rousek might’ve been summoned for insurance.

The Sabres had one extra forward, winger Victor Olofsson, for Wednesday’s 5-2 road win over the Philadelphia Flyers. They host the Flyers tonight at KeyBank Center.

Update: Rousek and Tuch will play against ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Maturity, newcomer Erik Johnson boost Buffalo’s penalty killing

BUFFALO – Through nine games, the Sabres have mostly utilized the same penalty killers as last season, with one exception. Newcomer Erik Johnson usually jumps over the boards first with defenseman Mattias Samuelsson, offering a stabilizing veteran presence.

So far, Johnson has helped, as the Sabres have killed 89.2 percent of their penalties, which ranked sixth in the NHL entering Monday’s games. Last season, they killed just 73 percent of their penalties, which ranked 28th ... Read the full article

With Sabres goalie Eric Comrie injured, Devin Cooley earns first NHL recall; Buffalo changes up lines

BUFFALO – Sabres goalie Eric Comrie’s lower-body injury will likely sideline him at least few weeks, general manger Kevyn Adams said. Meanwhile, rookie Devon Levi is still recovering from his lower-body injury.

So on Saturday, the Sabres, the same team forced to scratch a healthy goalie four times earlier this season, recalled Devin Cooley on an emergency basis from the Rochester Americans.

Cooley, 26, will back up Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen for this afternoon’s game against the ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Alex Tuch starting to score, bust out of early-season slump: ‘I thought I let my teammates down’

BUFFALO – Sabres coach Don Granato loved the emotion and energy winger Alex Tuch displayed while fighting twice in the last week.

Tuch, 27, quickly made New York Islanders defenseman Adam Pelech pay for trying to knee linemate Jeff Skinner late in Saturday’s 3-1 win. Then when surly Ottawa Senators star Brady Tkachuk challenged Tuch following a trip late in Tuesday’s 6-4 victory, he accepted.

“I’m not going to say no, he’s already got (his ... Read the full article