Buffalo Hockey Beat - WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage

Sabres goalie Dustin Tokarski bounces back with two strong outings

BUFFALO – Sabres coach Don Granato needed to wait to make a decision. If goalie Dustin Tokarski experienced a heavy workload Friday, then he likely couldn’t have utilized him back-to-back nights.

But Tokarski faced just 11 shots over the final 40 minutes of the Sabres’ 4-1 home win. So Granato felt comfortable starting him again Saturday in Detroit.

“The workload late in that game was not too extensive for Dustin, and that factored in,” ... Read the full article

Sabres sign Mark Jankowski; Arttu Ruotsalainen sent to Amerks

The Buffalo Sabres added center depth today, signing Mark Jankowski, who had been playing on an AHL deal with the Rochester Americans, to a one-year, $750,000 contract.

The Sabres also sent forward Arttu Ruotsalainen, a healthy scratch four of the last five games, to the Amerks.

Jankowski, 27, is on the NHL roster, so he could make his Sabres debut in Monday’s home game against the Seattle Kraken at KeyBank Center.

The 6-foot-4, 210-pound ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Tage Thompson stays hot in win, exacts revenge on Canadiens

BUFFALO – Tage Thompson got up angry and looking for revenge after absorbing a big hit from Alexander Romanov at center ice. But instead of going after the Montreal Canadiens defenseman, the Sabres center simply skated into the offensive zone.

A few seconds later, Thompson banged his stick on the ice, calling for puck from linemate Jeff Skinner. After grabbing the pass high in the slot, Thompson beat goalie Samuel Montembeault 3:29 into the third ... Read the full article

Sabres prospect Peyton Krebs changes positions, scores first goal for Amerks

Peyton Krebs likely won’t play left wing for very long. The Buffalo Sabres still envision the prospect as a center in the future.

But for the time being, Rochester Americans coach Seth Appert wants to keep Krebs, 20, in the spot he moved him last Friday.

“I’ll play any position,” Krebs told the Times Herald on Tuesday.

When Appert shifted Krebs beside center Mark Jankowski late in the Amerks’ 5-4 shootout win over the Lehigh ... Read the full article

Sabres concerned about goalie Craig Anderson’s lingering injury

BUFFALO – After Craig Anderson suffered an upper-body injury Nov. 2, the Sabres said he was day to day. But the veteran goalie, whose absence has become glaring as the rebuilding team keeps struggling, is still sidelined.

“Because of our initial report, based on where we’re at, it is a concern,” Sabres coach Don Granato said on a Zoom call this morning. “Obviously, we didn’t feel he would be out this long and it has ... Read the full article

Could Sabres look to Amerks goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen for help?

BUFFALO – Given the Sabres’ recent goaltending woes, the rebuilding team could be forced to award prospect Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen a look soon.

Maybe Luukkonen would stay for just a game or two. Or perhaps he might receive regular action while No. 1 goalie Craig Anderson, 40, recovers from his upper-body injury.

The Sabres, as evidenced by the ugly 2-9-1 streak they carry into tonight’s game against the Montreal Canadiens at KeyBank Center, need help ... Read the full article

Sabres melt down early, fall to Bruins; Aaron Dell yanked after one period

BUFFALO – In explaining why Aaron Dell would start against the Boston Bruins, coach Don Granato called him the Sabres’ “hotter” goalie.

Dell, of course, wasn’t exactly lighting it up – he began the night winless and sporting an awful .874 save percentage – this season.

But having pulled goalie Dustin Tokarski from his last two starts, Granato said he wanted to give him a chance to “sit back and breathe and get back to ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Early-season upper-body injury difficult for Casey Mittelstadt

BUFFALO – After a six-week absence, center Casey Mittelstadt joined his teammates Wednesday morning, donning a gold non-contact jersey and skating with the Sabres as they prepared for their game against the Boston Bruins.

Now, when will Mittelstadt, who suffered an upper-body injury opening night, be able to play again? Wednesday’s game was the 18th straight he has missed.

The Sabres also play Friday, Saturday and Monday. Practice time is limited. They’re scheduled to have ... Read the full article

Sabres goalie Aaron Dell to start for slumping Dustin Tokarski

BUFFALO – In his last two starts, Sabres goalie Dustin Tokarski has compiled an 8.66 goals-against average and a .743 save percentage in just under 61 minutes.

Sabres coach Don Granato, of course, yanked him from both games.

In the first outing, Thursday’s 5-0 loss to the Calgary Flames, Tokarski received little help, often getting abandoned by his teammates. But in Monday’s 7-4 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets, Tokarski wasn’t his normal self, allowing ... Read the full article

Casey Mittelstadt joins Sabres on ice, finally close return: ‘A huge step’

BUFFALO – After a 17-game absence, center Casey Mittelstadt joined his teammates this morning, donning a gold non-contact jersey and skating with the Sabres as they prepared for tonight’s game against the Boston Bruins.

Now, when will Mittelstadt, who suffered an upper-body injury opening night, be able to play again? He won’t return tonight.

The Sabres also play Friday, Saturday and Monday. Practice time is limited. They’re scheduled to have Thursday off.

“We haven’t really ... Read the full article