Zucker - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Can late-season growth keep Sabres’ offseason changes to a minimum?

BUFFALO – Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin processed the question, searched for the right words and moved back in his chair a bit.

What has general manager Kevyn Adams told him that makes him believe the Sabres can finally get it done and reach the playoffs?

Dahlin, sporting a white hoodie and black Bills hat with a blue backdrop adorned with Sabres logos behind him, spoke confidently. While he refused to get into specifics of his ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Peyton Krebs becomes trusted, versatile asset for Lindy Ruff

BUFFALO – Six and a half months ago, Peyton Krebs sat out the Sabres’ season opener as a healthy scratch. In Thursday’s finale, his 81st consecutive appearance, he centered Alex Tuch and Jason Zucker on a scoring line.

Krebs’ consistent effort and willingness to embrace any task quickly earned him coach Lindy Ruff’s trust. It can be argued Krebs, 24, grew more than any player during Ruff’s first season back behind Buffalo’s bench.

His short-handed ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen shines in loss to Maple Leafs: ‘He was dialed in’

BUFFALO – So much for that late-season optimism the Sabres had been generating. Suddenly, they’ve lost four straight games.

Not that they’ve been performing poorly, mind you. No, they’ve led in three of those contests and lost once in a shootout.

They haven’t been finding ways to win like they did beginning in mid-March.

In Tuesday’s 4-0 loss, a game closer than the score indicates, they trailed 1-0 in the third period before the Toronto ... Read the full article

Coach Lindy Ruff focused on improving Sabres, not milestone win

BUFFALO – The pain of losing has always seemed to outweigh the thrill of victory for Sabres coach Lindy Ruff.

Right now, having won 899 games behind an NHL bench, he’s on the precipice of making history. Only four coaches in history – Scotty Bowman, Joel Quenneville, Barry Trotz and Paul Maurice – have registered 900 wins.

It’s a significant number Ruff, whose Sabres begin a three-game road trip tonight against the Columbus Blue Jackets, ... Read the full article

Sabres’ James Reimer becomes NHL’s hottest goalie at end of odd season

BUFFALO – Following a one-game rest, the Sabres could turn to goalie James Reimer again tonight, awarding him his seventh start in the last nine contests.

After serving as a backup all season, Reimer, 37, has morphed into the NHL’s hottest netminder, winning six straight starts while compiling a 2.80 goals-against average and a .912 save percentage.

If he plays tonight’s game against the Carolina Hurricanes at KeyBank Center, Reimer can set a career-best win ... Read the full article

Tage Thompson scores a breakaway goal Sunday on Boston goalie Joonas Korpisalo.

Sabres’ Tage Thompson scores hat trick in win over Bruins, aims for 50 goals

BUFFALO – Just like that, a 50-goal season might be attainable for scorching Sabres winger Tage Thompson. Six games are left. After scoring three times in Sunday’s 6-3 win over the Boston Bruins, he has 43 goals.

Is it likely he will become the first Sabres player to score 50 goals in 32 years? No, but the prestigious mark is certainly within reach.

Right now, Thompson is the NHL’s hottest scorer, having registered eight goals ... Read the full article

Sabres keep improving, beat Lightning to extend win streak; Tage Thompson hits 40-goal mark

BUFFALO – Over the final weeks of a disappointing season in which they will add to their NHL-record playoff drought, the Sabres have quietly been establishing an identity, showcasing a more consistent and sturdier style while defeating some heavyweight opponents.

Saturday’s 3-2 come-from-behind shootout victory against the Tampa Bay Lightning at KeyBank Center extended their winning streak to three games. They’ve won nine of their last 13 games and are 11-2-0 in their last 13 ... Read the full article

Sabres goalie James Reimer’s terrific play gives UPL chance to reset

BUFFALO – James Reimer, the same goalie the Sabres lost on waivers early in the season and who regularly went a week or more between appearances as Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen’s backup after they reclaimed him, took over the net earlier this week.

In his most extensive action all year, Reimer, 37, backstopped the Sabres to three straight wins, posting a 2.67 goals-against average and a .925 save percentage.

In last Sunday’s afternoon’s 5-3 road win ... Read the full article

Isak Rosen knows he must produce for Sabres: ‘I need to play better’

BUFFALO – Sabres rookie Isak Rosen understands the opportunities he has recently enjoyed are difficult to earn.

Rosen, the Rochester Americans’ leading scorer, has been recalled three times this month as the Sabres deal with a depleted forward corps.

They’re giving the Swede, the 14th overall pick in 2021, a chance to showcase the talent that has helped him score 27 goals and 54 points in 55 games this season.... Read the full article

Sabres’ Jason Zucker out against Pens; James Reimer expected to start again

BUFFALO – Sabres winger Jason Zucker will miss tonight’s game against the Pittsburgh Penguins because a family matter, coach Lindy Ruff said.

Ruff hopes Zucker will be available for Saturday afternoon’s road game against the Philadelphia Flyers.

Meanwhile, Ruff said winger Sam Lafferty, who took reps on a line this morning, will likely miss his third straight game with a groin injury.... Read the full article