Ullmark - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres goalie Carter Hutton to back up Linus Ullmark against Kings

BUFFALO – Since goalie Carter Hutton is healthy enough to back up Linus Ullmark tonight against the Los Angeles Kings, the Sabres sent Scott Wedgewood to the AHL this morning.

Hutton, who played 21 times this season, missed Saturday afternoon’s 6-2 loss to Philadelphia.

“He had a really good day yesterday,” Sabres coach Phil Housley said this morning inside KeyBank Center. “I just want to get him in one more practice before he plays.”... Read the full article

Sabres goalie Carter Hutton practices, should play this week

BUFFALO – After an upper-body injury forced him to miss Saturday afternoon’s 6-2 home loss to Philadelphia, Sabres goalie Carter Hutton was back practicing this morning inside HarborCenter.

Coach Phil Housley said he “definitely” expects his No. 1 netminder to return this week. The Sabres host Los Angeles on Tuesday and Arizona on Thursday before playing road games Saturday and Sunday.

“It was good to see him back battling,” Housley said inside KeyBank Center. “He ... Read the full article

Sabres regroup after ugly loss: ‘That can’t happen’

BUFFALO – When you rattle off win after win, especially in dramatic, come-from-behind fashion, the euphoria of victory can often overshadow any problems that materialize.

The Sabres morphed into a powerhouse during their recent 10-game winning streak, earning nine one-goal victories and roaring back from late deficits again and again.

Those thrilling wins probably hid some of their deficiencies and allowed other problems to creep into their game.

“We just probably should’ve done a better ... Read the full article

Sabres implode late to Flyers, suffer fifth straight loss

BUFFALO – The 10-game winning streak that vaulted the Sabres to the top of the NHL is starting to feel like a distant memory.

Right now, having lost five straight games, including Saturday afternoon’s 6-2 clunker to the Philadelphia Flyers, they’re struggling badly.

Perhaps rattling off so many victories changed the Sabres, an inexperienced club that hadn’t handled any success in the past. Maybe they’re simply not that good.

Remember, the Sabres won nine one-goal ... Read the full article

Sabres goalie Linus Ullmark to start against Flyers

BUFFALO – The No. 2 goalie often plays the second of back-to-back games, meaning the team in front of him isn’t exactly fresh.

Still, in his first season as an NHL backup, Sabres goalie Linus Ullmark has thrived, starting 5-0-3 with a 2.71 goals-against average and a .921 save percentage in nine games.

With No. 1 goalie Carter Hutton day-to-day with an upper-body injury, Ullmark, 25, will start this afternoon’s tilt against the Philadelphia Flyers ... Read the full article

Sabres goalie Carter Hutton out Saturday; Scott Wedgewood recalled

BUFFALO – With Sabres goalie Carter Hutton day-to-day with an upper-body injury and out for Saturday afternoon’s tilt, according to coach Phil Housley, they recalled Scott Wedgewood this morning.

What happened to Hutton? The starter finished Monday’s 2-1 loss in Nashville and backed up Linus Ullmark for Tuesday’s 4-3 overtime loss here to Toronto.

Housley said Hutton had a maintenance day Thursday.

“It was sort of formed the last three or four days,” Housley said ... Read the full article

Sabres star Jack Eichel busts out of goal-scoring slump

BUFFALO – In about 10 minutes Tuesday, captain Jack Eichel scored twice during a wild third period, giving the Sabres a short-lived lead and equaling his goal output from the previous 25 games.

Eichel, 22, has quietly enjoyed a terrific season, compiling 27 assists and 34 points in the first 29 contests.

At his current pace, the slick center would have 76 assists and 94 points over 82 games, the Sabres’ most prolific offensive ... Read the full article

Sabres battled back, fall to Maple Leafs in overtime thriller

BUFFALO – The loss didn’t crush the Sabres. Sure, their fourth straight defeat certainly stung. They battled back and grabbed a late lead before Auston Matthews’ overtime winner with just 2.7 seconds left secured the Toronto Maple Leafs’ 4-3 victory.

But after arriving in Buffalo at 1 a.m. following Monday’s 2-1 loss in Nashville, the Sabres earned a point and had one of the NHL’s heavyweights on the ropes.

That’s probably why coach Phil Housley, ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Conor Sheary to return against Maple Leafs

BUFFALO – Suddenly, the Sabres have a three-game losing streak. Sure, they lost three road contests by one goal. It should also be noted the Tampa Bay Lightning and Nashville Predators, the NHL’s top two clubs points-wise, beat them.

So the Sabres’ 0-2-1 run – they earned a point in Friday’s 3-2 overtime loss to the Florida Panthers – isn’t a normal losing skid.

Still, the Sabres, who have another stiff test tonight against the ... Read the full article

Sabres playing games with playoff implications again

BUFFALO – Considering they endured a seven-year run of futility before their recent resurgence, the Sabres haven’t exactly played a lot of big games lately.

That’s why tonight’s road tilt against the heavyweight Tampa Bay Lightning, which, believe it or not, trails the Sabres for the first time in, umm, a long time, is so meaningful.

The Sabres, who tied a franchise record Tuesday by winning their 10th straight tilt, ranked first in the 31-team ... Read the full article