Zucker - Buffalo Hockey Beat

On Tage Thompson’s night, Sabres ride early emotion, continue torrid run by beating Vegas

BUFFALO – For the first 26 minutes of Tuesday’s tight 3-2 victory, the Sabres rode the energy created by an emotional pregame ceremony honoring Sabres center Tage Thompson and other members of Team USA’s gold medal-winning squad.

Winger Jason Zucker scored barely four minutes into the contest, igniting the capacity crowd of 19,070 fans in noisy KeyBank Center.

When Thompson’s wicked wrist shot from the right circle extended their lead to 3-0 5:44 into the ... Read the full article

Tage Thompson (72) battles with Pittsburgh’s Kevin Hayes on Thursday.

Sabres look sloppy in loss to Penguins; Buffalo makes roster moves

BUFFALO – In the Sabres’ final outing before the Milano Cortina Games, center Tage Thompson showcased why he earned a coveted spot on Team USA’s stacked Olympic squad.

Thompson was often the best player on the ice in Thursday’s 5-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins, scoring his 30th goal and narrowly missing a few more prime chances.

The American certainly outplayed the Penguins’ two biggest stars, Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.

On most nights, that ... Read the full article

Sabres Hall call caught Thomas Vanek, Jason Pominville off guard

BUFFALO – During a break in Thursday’s second period, Thomas Vanek and Jason Pominville were told to stand alongside Ryan Miller, their close friend and former Sabres teammate, as he addressed the crowd on the video boards.

Vanek said he figured he and Pominville would serve as Miller’s “hype guys” as he spoke.

When Miller began talking, it became clear what was happening.... Read the full article

Tage Thompson, Sabres honor 2005-06 team in style by beating Canadiens

BUFFALO – As the reunion of the 2005-06 Sabres approached, center Tage Thompson and the current group of players learned plenty about what made that beloved team so unique and special.

So Sabres coach Lindy Ruff, who also led that team 20 years ago, said he believes his players had some added incentive to live up to what they were hearing and seeing.

Fittingly, with 18 members of that 2005-06 team in attendance Thursday, the ... Read the full article

In ending slump and scoring two goals, Sabres’ Jack Quinn displays talent

BUFFALO – Sabres winger Jack Quinn can be, shall we say, a bit streaky. Long goal droughts often follow productive stretches.

In October, Quinn, 24, scored three times in four outings before enduring a 13-game goalless stretch.

He briefly caught fire in late November, scoring in three straight contests. But two nine- game droughts followed, and before his slick two-goal performance in Saturday’s 5-3 win over the Anaheim Ducks, he hadn’t scored since Dec. 18.... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Zach Metsa impressive in limited action; Buffalo adds defender

BUFFALO – In his first days here, Sabres defenseman Zach Metsa acknowledged his new surroundings felt “a little bit intimidating.”

“You come to a new spot, new group, new guys around you,” Metsa told the Times Herald prior to scoring his first NHL goal and point in Tuesday’s 5-3 win over the Vancouver Canucks in KeyBank Center.

As an older, under-the-radar prospect who played on an AHL contract for two seasons, Metsa, 27, usually spent ... Read the full article

Sabres recall high-scoring defenseman from Rochester Amerks

BUFFALO – The Sabres this afternoon recalled defenseman Zac Jones, whose 28 assists lead the AHL, from the Rochester Americans.

Having lost defenseman Michael Kesselring to a lower-body injury last Wednesday in Dallas, the Sabres have only six healthy defensemen.

The Sabres possibly summoned Jones, who did not play during two recalls earlier this season, to serve as an extra defender.... Read the full article

After win streak ends, Sabres to change lineup by inserting Jason Zucker

BUFFALO – As the Sabres recently rattled off 10 consecutive wins, they utilized the same 18 skaters most nights, only making changes for injuries.

If it’s working, why mess with it, right?

Coach Lindy Ruff explained the performance within that lineup, not so much the victories – “Just how well the individuals were playing,” he said – forced the Sabres to keep things consistent.

When Ruff, his staff and even general manager Jarmo Kekalainen sat ... Read the full article

Sabres’ win streak shows they might be starting something special

COLUMBUS – Hours before a 5-1 loss to the Blue Jackets ended the Buffalo Sabres’ win streak at 10 games, coach Lindy Ruff revealed some of the superstitions that materialized during one of the hottest stretches in franchise history.

For example, Ruff said assistant coach Marty Wilford refused to change his bench attire, so he wore the same brown suit each game.

Meanwhile, as the Sabres got on a tear and Owen Power kept reading ... Read the full article

Sabres send prospects to Rochester, get injured players back

BUFFALO – The Sabres on Sunday sent prospects Ryan Johnson and Isak Rosen back to the Rochester Americans.

They recalled Johnson, 24, before Saturday’s 4-1 win over the Boston Bruins because captain Rasmus Dahlin’s absence left them with just six defensemen.

Dahlin, who visited his fiancée, Carolina Matovac, in Sweden over the Christmas break, is expected to rejoin the Sabres today in St. Louis for the start of their three-game road trip.... Read the full article