WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
Stanley Cup Playoffs Edition
Mattias Samuelsson was a second-round pick in 2018. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu, Rochester Americans
BUFFALO – The Sabres this afternoon recalled defenseman Mattias Samuelsson, one of their top prospects, from the Rochester Americans.
Samuelsson, 21, will make his NHL debut this afternoon against the Pittsburgh Penguins at KeyBank Center.
General manager Kevyn Adams and interim coach Don Granato have said they plan to give some of the organizations prospects a taste of the NHL over the final few weeks this season.... Read the full article
Tage Thompson has scored five times in the last nine games. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – The Sabres are finally playing meaningful late-season games.
Of course, the outcomes won’t affect the standings. Saturday afternoon’s 3-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins officially eliminated them from the postseason for a record-tying 10th consecutive season.
Still, the final weeks of this campaign will shape the Sabres’ future. Interim coach Don Granato has handed the keys over to some of his young players, and so far, they’ve seized their opportunities.
On Saturday, for ... Read the full article
Kyle Okposo played 35 games this season. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Sabres winger Kyle Okposo has undergone season-ending surgery to repair a broken bone in his cheek, the team announced this afternoon.
Okposo, 33, left the ice bleeding 9:27 into Thursday’s 5-2 win against the Washington Capitals after teammate Matt Irwin’s shoot-in struck him around the left ear.
His loss could be significant for the Sabres, who have 13 games left this season. The alternate captain has been one of their prominent leaders for ... Read the full article
Dylan Cozens has moved back to center, his natural position. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Sabres rookie center Dylan Cozens has quickly reached another phase of his development, adding slick playmaking to his repertoire.
Since Cozens, 20, returned from an upper-body injury Sunday, he has recorded four assists, two more than he compiled in his first 25 games.
Thursday’s 5-2 win over the Washington Capitals was arguably Cozens’ best NHL outing. The Yukon native registered two primary assists, creating goals for wingers Sam Reinhart and Anders Bjork.... Read the full article
Linus Ullmark has earned nine of Buffalo’s 11 wins this season. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Sabres goalie Linus Ullmark is week to week with a lower-body injury, interim coach Don Granato said this afternoon.
So, does that mean Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen will be recalled? General manager Kevyn Adams said Thursday the top goalie prospect could make his NHL debut this weekend.
Luukkonen, 22, hasn’t been summoned yet. Granato said the Sabres would determine his status later today. The Finn has been recovering from a lower-body injury and missed the ... Read the full article
Dustin Tokarski has played seven games this season. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
When the final horn sounded and Dustin Tokarski earned his first NHL victory since 2015, the Buffalo Sabres goalie stayed in his crease and pointed his glove to rafters.
Moments later, Tokarski’s excited teammates assembled in front of him, and one by one they each congratulated him, giving him some kind words and a tap on the mask.
“It was pretty incredible, to be honest,” an emotional Tokarski said following Thursday’s 5-2 win over the ... Read the full article
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen missed Wednesday’s game in Rochester. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
Top goalie prospect Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen’s highly anticipated NHL debut could take place this weekend, Buffalo Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams said.
The Sabres have become woefully thin in net, losing Linus Ullmark and Carter Hutton to injuries after trading Jonas Johansson.
If Luukkonen hadn’t suffered a lower-body injury with the Rochester Americans, the Sabres likely would’ve recalled him before Thursday’s 5-2 road win over the Washington Capitals at Capital One Center. The Finn missed ... Read the full article
Jack Eichel was injured March 7. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
When Buffalo Sabres captain Jack Eichel was diagnosed with a herniated disc in his neck last month, doctors told him to rehab, general manager Kevyn Adams said.
Perhaps the disc would move enough over time and Eichel could be cleared to play. But when the center was examined last week, Adams said the injury showed only “slight improvements.”
“There still wasn’t a comfort from anyone it was the right time to jump back into the ... Read the full article
Dustin Tokarski enjoyed an impressive relief performance Tuesday. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
A lower-body injury will force Buffalo Sabres goalie Linus Ullmark to miss tonight’s game against the Washington Capitals, meaning Dustin Tokarski will receive his fifth start this season.
Taxi-squad goalie Michael Houser, who has never played an NHL game, will back up Tokarski. Houser, 28, hasn’t played a contest at any level in more than 13 months.
Top goalie prospect Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen would be the only available recall, but Rochester Americans coach Seth Appert... Read the full article
Buffalo invited Drake Caggulia to its development camp in 2014. ©2021, Dan Hickling
When forward Drake Caggiula visited NHL teams as a free agent in 2016, he said he felt some loyalty to the Buffalo Sabres.
Two years earlier, the Sabres had given the undrafted Caggiula a chance to attend their summer development camp following his sophomore season at North Dakota.
“They gave me my first opportunity,” said Caggiula, who was claimed on waivers Friday by the Sabres.
Caggiula, 26, nearly chose the Sabres five years ago – ... Read the full article