Buffalo Hockey Beat - WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage

Three Sabres games postponed after players enter NHL’s COVID-19 protocols

The NHL late Tuesday afternoon postponed all Buffalo Sabres games through at least Monday after two players – winger Taylor Hall and defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen – were added to the league’s COVID-19 protocol-related absences list.

The team’s training facilities will stay closed until further notice.

The Sabres had road games scheduled for Thursday against the New York Islanders and Saturday and Monday versus the Boston Bruins.

The NHL said a decision on next week’s Sabres ... Read the full article

Tonight’s Sabres road game against Islanders postponed

Tonight’s Buffalo Sabres road game against the New York Islanders at Nassau Coliseum has been postponed because of COVID-19 protocols, the NHL announced this morning.

The Sabres switched their travel plans Monday as Winter Storm Orlena battered the New York City area, moving their flight to this morning.

That changed how the NHL could complete the Sabres’ contact tracing and testing.

“Due to weather conditions yesterday, the Sabres altered their travel schedule so as to ... Read the full article

Casey Mittelstadt impressing Sabres, could earn more game action

BUFFALO – Having spent the entire game skating on the fourth line, Casey Mittelstadt hardly seemed like a forward Sabres coach Ralph Krueger would utilize in the waning seconds of a one-goal game.

Mittelstadt, 22, was only making his second appearance this season in Sunday afternoon’s 5-3 loss to the New Jersey Devils. The Sabres had just elevated him from the taxi squad earlier in the day.

Krueger had two former 40-goal scorers – Jeff ... Read the full article

Storm forces Sabres to change plans; Sam Reinhart will travel with team

The Sabres will be staying at home today and plan to fly to New York on Tuesday morning for their 6 p.m. game against the Islanders.

With Winter Storm Orlena battering parts of the New York City area, most flights in and out the region have been canceled.

The Sabres planned to travel to New York this afternoon. Instead, they practiced inside KeyBank Center.... Read the full article

Sabres send Jack Quinn to Amerks, recall two players to taxi squad

BUFFALO – The Sabres assigned rookie winger Jack Quinn to the Rochester Americans this morning and recalled forwards Jean-Sebastien Dea and C.J. Smith to the taxi squad.

Quinn, 19, spent the first few weeks of the season on the Sabres’ taxi squad. He recently recovered from an upper-body injury, coach Ralph Krueger said last week.

The Sabres drafted Quinn eighth overall last year. In a normal year, he would likely be playing with his junior ... Read the full article

Sabres keep living dangerously, fall to Devils after comeback

BUFFALO – In winning three out of four games last week, the Sabres couldn’t buck some disturbing trends: they kept living dangerously, falling behind and often playing loosely.

Sooner or later, it was going to bite them.

The Sabres, at least by their standards, have enjoyed a decent start this season. Sunday afternoon’s 5-3 loss to the New Jersey Devils inside KeyBank Center dropped them to 4-4-2.

They’re just one point behind the Pittsburgh Penguins ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Rasmus Ristolainen wreaking havoc on power play

BUFFALO – As a defenseman, Rasmus Ristolainen understands how a big body in front of the net can be a weapon during a power play.

“If some other teams, they have some good net-front presence, I know how hard it is to play when there’s guys standing in front of the net screening (the) goalie all the time,” the Sabres veteran said after scoring a power-play goal in Sunday afternoon’s 5-3 loss to the New ... Read the full article

Former Sabres coach Lindy Ruff feels ‘rejuvenated’ leading Devils

BUFFALO – For three years, ex-Sabres coach Lindy Ruff enjoyed no longer being the guy in charge as an assistant with the New York Rangers.

Ruff’s new duties – he hadn’t served in a secondary role since 1997 – offered him an opportunity to regularly interact with players on a much different level.

“Not having to be that guy that has to lay down the law or (be) really upset with different plays but more ... Read the full article

Sabres recall Casey Mittelstadt from taxi squad; Sam Reinhart out again

BUFFALO – The Sabres recalled Casey Mittelstadt this morning from the taxi squad, so the forward will play in this afternoon’s game against the New Jersey Devils, right?

Well, while Mittelstadt is back on the roster, coach Ralph Krueger wouldn’t reveal his lineup, including today’s starting goalie. He said 13 forwards and seven defensemen will skate in the pregame warm-up inside KeyBank Center.

Update: Mittelstadt warmed up at left wing beside top center Jack Eichel ... Read the full article

Sabres win another tight game, keep moving up standings

BUFFALO – In the not-so-distant past, the Sabres might’ve lost a game like Saturday afternoon’s 4-3 shootout win over the New Jersey Devils.

The Sabres looked disjointed much of the day, uncharacteristically taking a string of penalties and blowing two leads, including one in the waning minutes.

Still, they prevailed again, earning their third one-goal victory this season.

“That’s a sign of good teams,” Sabres center Eric Staal said of finding a way to win. ... Read the full article