Buffalo Hockey Beat - WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage

Monday’s Sabres home game against Islanders postponed

Monday’s Buffalo Sabres game against the New York Islanders at KeyBank Center has been postponed.

The NHL tonight pushed back its resumption of play one day so it could analyze testing data and determine teams’ readiness to compete coming out a four-day Christmas/COVID-19 break. The league wants to resume games Tuesday.

The Sabres’ next scheduled contest is Wednesday at home against the New Jersey Devils.

... Read the full article

Parents of Sabres’ Casey Fitzgerald nervous watching son fight

For 22 anxious seconds Friday, Kerry Fitzgerald watched her son, Casey, a Buffalo Sabres defenseman, trade punches with Sam Lafferty.

Throughout the day, Kerry acknowledged she was a “nervous wreck” waiting for Casey, 24, to make his NHL debut at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh. But after the puck dropped against the Penguins, she said it felt like watching any hockey game.

Then about five minutes into the second period, Casey took umbrage with ... Read the full article

GM Kevyn Adams addresses Sabres’ COVID-19 problems

After having three games postponed and one player enter the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol, the Sabres wanted to practice one final time before beginning a four-day break.

“Really get the guys going before we lead into the break,” Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams said on a Zoom call Tuesday.

Adams said doctors approved the plan. If the Sabres didn’t have any additional positive cases, they would skate Tuesday morning at LECOM Harborcenter.

But on Tuesday, two ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Tage Thompson receives ‘good news’ after undergoing MRI

General manager Kevyn Adams said center Tage Thompson, the Buffalo Sabres’ leading goal scorer this season, received “good news” after undergoing an MRI.

“Which we were thankful to hear,” Adams said on a Zoom call Tuesday.

Thompson, 24, missed Sunday’s practice with what Sabres coach Don Granato called “soreness.”

If Monday’s contest against the Columbus Blue Jackets hadn’t been postponed because of COVID-19 concerns, Adams said Thompson would’ve been a game-time decision. The Sabres’ ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Craig Anderson starting ‘to turn a corner’ in recovery from injury

Over the last six games, the Buffalo Sabres have received terrific goaltending, with rookie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and newcomer Malcolm Subban filling the void created by veteran Craig Anderson’s absence.

Still, the Sabres sorely need Anderson, who compiled a 4-2-0 record with a 2.50 goals-against average and a .921 save percentage while starting six of the first nine games this season.

The American, 40, hasn’t played since suffering an upper-body injury Nov. 2. On the ... Read the full article

Sabres add two players to COVID-19 protocol

The Buffalo Sabres this morning added wingers Zemgus Girgensons and Jeff Skinner to the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol.

They now have three players – winger Vinnie Hinostroza was added Monday – in protocol.

The Sabres canceled today’s practice and aren’t scheduled to gather again until Sunday afternoon, when the COVID pause the NHL announced late Monday ends. The pause takes effect Wednesday.... Read the full article

COVID-19 impacting Sabres; Vinnie Hinostroza placed in protocol

As COVID-19 began tearing through the NHL again earlier this month, the Buffalo Sabres remained relatively unscathed, placing just one player in protocol while continuing their schedule uninterrupted.

But as positive tests skyrocketed throughout the league, game postponements piled up. Team after team was forced to pause its season.

Sooner or later, it felt like the Sabres would be impacted. Sure enough, all three of their games scheduled for this week have been shelved.

Late ... Read the full article

Sabres send Casey Fitzgerald to Amerks

The Buffalo Sabres this afternoon sent defenseman Casey Fitzgerald back to the Rochester Americans.

The Sabres don’t have a game scheduled until next Monday, so Fitzgerald, 24, is available to the Amerks for Wednesday’s home game against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.... Read the full article

NHL postpones Sabres games versus Blue Jackets due to COVID-19

Tonight’s Buffalo Sabres home game against the Blue Jackets and Thursday’s contest in Columbus have been postponed due to COVID-19 concerns, the NHL announced late this morning.

Wednesday’s Sabres home game against the Colorado Avalanche was postponed last week, so they’re not scheduled to play again until next Monday versus the New York Islanders at KeyBank Center. The Sabres last played Friday in Pittsburgh, losing 3-2 to the Penguins in overtime.

The Blue Jackets ... Read the full article

Alex Tuch to fulfill dream by playing for Sabres: ‘Excited as anybody I’ve seen’

BUFFALO – What makes winger Alex Tuch’s passion for the Sabres so unique is that he possessed it long before the team acquired him Nov. 4.

Tuch, 25, grew up in Baldwinsville, about 150 miles from KeyBank Center, rooting for his beloved Sabres. He attended games, owned jerseys and reveled in their success.

So from the get-go, Tuch, who’s scheduled to make his Sabres debut tonight, fit right in. He feels the same excitement as ... Read the full article