WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
November Edition
Sean Malone has recorded 22 points in 23 games this season for Rochester.
Rochester Americans center Sean Malone has undergone surgery to repair a lower-body injury and will be sidelined six weeks, coach Seth Appert said.
Malone, having scored nine goals and 22 points in 23 games, is enjoying a career-best season.
“You feel for him,” Appert said on a Zoom call this morning. “I mean, it hurts us because he was a go-to guy, he was a real leader not only in his attitude and his character, ... Read the full article
Rasmus Dahlin has become perhaps Buffalo’s most consistent presence. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – This is all new, you know. In the past, Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin wasn’t awarded more than 25 minutes of ice time and given the difficult task of shutting down the opposition’s best talent.
At times, Dahlin, 21, has struggled in his new role as the No. 1 defenseman. The Swede often puts too much pressure on himself, and when things turn sour, he can respond by pressing and trying to impose his ... Read the full article
Jeff Skinner scored two goals Thursday. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu
Considering the opponent, the scorching Nashville Predators, and the venue, the raucous Bridgestone Arena, Thursday’s 4-1 win might rank as the Buffalo Sabres’ most impressive victory this season.
Against a team that had won five straight games and 12 of its last 14 contests, the Sabres grabbed a second-period lead and never relinquished it, ending a six-game winless skid.
Winger Jeff Skinner scored two goals and goalie Aaron Dell stopped 29 shots to help the ... Read the full article
Peyton Krebs has missed two games. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu, Rochester Americans
For four days, coach Don Granato said the Buffalo Sabres have been hoping center Peyton Krebs can test out of the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol.
Granato said Krebs, who entered protocol Jan. 4, is “feeling good.”
“It’s one of those unpredictable things,” Granato said on a Zoom call this afternoon from Nashville, where the Sabres play the Predators tonight. “So he’s doing what he can. Obviously, he has to stay isolated … and keep himself in ... Read the full article
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen will likely miss at least a few weeks. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Suddenly, having lost Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Malcolm Subban to injuries in the same game, the reeling Sabres find themselves in a goalie crisis.
Luukkonen, the Sabres’ backbone during his nine recent outings, will likely be sidelined at least a few weeks with a lower-body injury he suffered early in Tuesday’s 6-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning, according to general manager Kevyn Adams.
His replacement, Subban, sustained an upper-body injury – Adams said ... Read the full article
Jack Quinn played for Rochester on Wednesday. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu, Rochester Americans
BUFFALO – On Wednesday, a day after winger Jack Quinn enjoyed a terrific NHL debut, the Sabres sent the prospect back to the Rochester Americans.
Why? Given the Sabres’ recent struggles – they’re on a six-game winless skid entering tonight’s road contest – another game couldn’t have hurt, right?
Coach Don Granato said Quinn, who pumped three shots on goal and had two or three strong scoring chances, was one of the Sabres’ best players ... Read the full article
Michael Houser played four games for Buffalo last season. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu, Rochester Americans
BUFFALO – Right now, the Sabres’ net belongs to goalies Aaron Dell and Michael Houser.
Goalies Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Malcolm Subban are both sidelined after suffering injuries in Tuesday’s 6-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Luukkonen, who suffered a lower-body injury, is listed as week to week on the team’s injury report. Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams said Luukkonen will likely miss at least a few weeks. The Finn underwent an MRI this morning.... Read the full article
Jack Quinn nearly scored twice for Buffalo in his NHL debut. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – To get an understanding of how much Jack Quinn’s teammates like him, two of them, Mattias Samuelsson and Ryan Scarfo, traveled from Rochester to KeyBank Center on Tuesday to watch their friend’s NHL debut with the Sabres.
Samuelsson and Scarfo put on No. 22 Quinn white Americans jerseys backwards so the name and number faced the ice and grabbed front row seats for the pregame warm-up.
As Quinn took the customary solo lap ... Read the full article
Dan Granato believes the Sabres are on the right path. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – These days, Don Granato acknowledged he often struggles to remain patient on the inside. Having coached for decades, he sees the Sabres, despite their meager results this season, are finally on the right path.
Following years of futility, the Sabres have acquired a stable of elite young players and assembled a group that has bought into the team’s plan and plays for each other.
One of their best prospects, winger Jack Quinn, 20, ... Read the full article
Alex Tuch talks to the media this morning. ©2022
BUFFALO – While he quarantined in his apartment, Sabres winger Alex Tuch received a few items from the rink, including some workout bands, so he could exercise a bit.
But Tuch, who said he felt symptom-free after testing positive for COVID-19 last Tuesday, did not do much formal exercising. Instead, he tried to eat healthy, sleep well and stay active around his place.
“If that meant cleaning the apartment two to three times a day, ... Read the full article