WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
November Edition
Tage Thompson also received star honors last week. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu
A dynamic three-game stretch in which Buffalo Sabres center Tage Thompson scored four goals and eight points has earned him NHL Second Star honors for the second consecutive week.
Thompson, 25, continued his torrid production, recording multiple points in each outing as the Sabres went 3-0-0 during the week ending Sunday.
The American scored the game-winning goal in last Tuesday’s 6-0 win over the Los Angeles Kings and Saturday’s 5-2 road win against the Arizona ... Read the full article
Jeremy Davies was also recalled from Rochester once earlier this season. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu
The Buffalo Sabres, who played Thursday’s game with just five healthy defensemen, have recalled Jeremy Davies from the Rochester Americans.
Lower-body injuries forced defensemen Jacob Bryson, Henri Jokiharju, Ilya Lyubushkin and Owen Power to all miss Thursday’s 4-2 road win over the Colorado Avalanche.
Power was a late scratch prior to Thursday’s game. Lyubushkin, meanwhile, resumed practicing on Wednesday and is working toward a return.... Read the full article
Joseph Cecconi (34) turned pro in 2019. ©2022, Mollie Kendall, Texas Stars
The Buffalo Sabres on Thursday swapped AHL defense prospects with the Dallas Stars, trading Oskari Laaksonen in exchange for Youngstown native Joseph Cecconi.
The 6-foot-3, 210-pound Cecconi, 25, played four seasons at Michigan and captained the Wolverines as a senior. He has compiled four goals, 33 points and 106 penalty minutes in 176 games over four seasons with the Texas Stars.
Cecconi, a right-shot defenseman like Laaksonen, has registered two assists and 10 penalty ... Read the full article
Craig Anderson has played 12 games this season. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Among goalies who have played at least 10 games this season, Sabres veteran Craig Anderson’s .921 save percentage ranks seventh in the NHL.
That’s 55 points higher than Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, the rookie who has been receiving the majority of starts with Eric Comrie sidelined. Before Comrie suffered a lower-body injury, he compiled an .887 save percentage.
Anderson, 41, has performed a lot better than the Sabres’ other goalies this season. Overall, he ... Read the full article
Rookie JJ Peterka (left) and Jack Quinn celebrate a goal Nov. 28. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Winger JJ Peterka scored perhaps the most scintillating of the Sabres’ 114 goals this season because he possessed the confidence to thread the puck through Los Angeles Kings defenseman Drew Doughty.
Think about it, a rookie just 31 games into his NHL career believed he could beat a 15-year veteran and the 2015-16 Norris Trophy winner.
“He’s not afraid to try those things and he’s confident in his abilities to execute them,” Sabres ... Read the full article
Ilya Lyubushkin has missed the last seven games. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Sabres defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin practiced on Wednesday for the first time since suffering a lower-body injury Nov. 28 but likely won’t play in tonight’s road game against the Colorado Avalanche.
Lyubushkin, 28, has missed the last seven contests.
“He hasn’t had a lot of practice time, so that would be a concern,” Sabres coach Don Granato said of the Russian returning to the lineup right away.
Granato said he hadn’t spoken to the ... Read the full article
Craig Anderson made 40 saves Tuesday. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – At 41, Sabres goalie Craig Anderson hasn’t shown many signs of graying. In fact, the NHL’s oldest player can even make hockey’s toughest position look easy.
Take, for example, the 20-year veteran’s splendid 40-save performance in Tuesday’s 6-0 shellacking of the Los Angeles Kings, the 43rd shutout of his decorated career.
Anderson was the Sabres’ backbone as they struggled to generate offense early, making 16-first period stops and 30 saves through 40 minutes ... Read the full article
Rasmus Asplund recently sat out five straight games. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Late last month, Rasmus Asplund began what he called a “reset.” The Sabres winger felt the details slipping in his game, and he struggled so badly he sat out five straight games as a healthy scratch.
“I just needed to reset everything, start on a new page and get back to my game,” Asplund said prior to Tuesday’s 6-0 win over the Los Angeles Kings at KeyBank Center.
That game, the Swede said, ... Read the full article
Casey Mittelstadt has scored just one goal at even strength this season. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Sabres winger Casey Mittelstadt’s gig on the top line is only temporary.
Center Tage Thompson and wingers Jeff Skinner and Alex Tuch form one of the NHL’s most lethal scoring trios. When Skinner returns from his three-game suspension for cross-checking, he will likely assume his regular role as the left wing beside Thompson and Tuch.
“I don’t think I’m taking Skinny’s spot,” Mittelstadt joked following Monday’s practice at KeyBank Center.... Read the full article
Jeff Skinner can play again Saturday. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Winger Jeff Skinner understands that by cross-checking Jake Guentzel in the face and receiving a match penalty late in Friday’s 4-3 overtime loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins, he cost the Sabres an opportunity to win the game.
With Skinner ejected and the Sabres forced to kill off a five-minute major penalty in overtime, Jeff Carter scored the winner, depriving them of a precious point.
“It’s unfortunate timing and probably cost us a point ... Read the full article