Buffalo Hockey Beat - WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage

With Sabres goalie Eric Comrie injured, Devin Cooley earns first NHL recall; Buffalo changes up lines

BUFFALO – Sabres goalie Eric Comrie’s lower-body injury will likely sideline him at least few weeks, general manger Kevyn Adams said. Meanwhile, rookie Devon Levi is still recovering from his lower-body injury.

So on Saturday, the Sabres, the same team forced to scratch a healthy goalie four times earlier this season, recalled Devin Cooley on an emergency basis from the Rochester Americans.

Cooley, 26, will back up Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen for this afternoon’s game against the ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Connor Clifton knows why hit earned him two-game suspension

BUFFALO – Sabres defenseman Connor Clifton said he has watched the replay of the hit he laid on New Jersey Devils captain Nico Hischier over and over.

Clifton, who on Saturday was suspended two games by the NHL for an illegal check to the head, wishes he had approached the hit differently.

As the puck moved toward Hischier, Clifton figured the center would grab it and carry it into the Buffalo zone. When he let ... Read the full article

Eric Comrie injured in road loss, leaving Sabres with one healthy goalie

Remember when the Buffalo Sabres had too many goalies? Well, eight games into the season, they’ve already lost two of the three to injury.

Eric Comrie suffered a lower-body injury halfway through Friday’s 5-4 road loss to the New Jersey Devils and did not return to the game, leaving Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen as the Sabres’ only healthy goalie.

Coach Don Granato told reporters at the Prudential Center the Sabres would have more information on Comrie today.... Read the full article

Sabres’ Alex Tuch starting to score, bust out of early-season slump: ‘I thought I let my teammates down’

BUFFALO – Sabres coach Don Granato loved the emotion and energy winger Alex Tuch displayed while fighting twice in the last week.

Tuch, 27, quickly made New York Islanders defenseman Adam Pelech pay for trying to knee linemate Jeff Skinner late in Saturday’s 3-1 win. Then when surly Ottawa Senators star Brady Tkachuk challenged Tuch following a trip late in Tuesday’s 6-4 victory, he accepted.

“I’m not going to say no, he’s already got (his ... Read the full article

Injured Sabres goalie Devon Levi still sore, hasn’t regressed

BUFFALO – Goalies Eric Comrie and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen have performed well in their first action this season, so the Sabres want to give rookie Devon Levi more time to recover from his lower-body injury.

Levi, who started the first four games, hasn’t played since last Thursday’s 4-3 loss to the Calgary Flames.

Sabres coach Don Granato said Levi, 21, is still experiencing soreness but hasn’t regressed.... Read the full article

Sabres prospect Matt Savoie stands out in season debut with Amerks

ROCHESTER – Seven minutes into his season debut, Buffalo Sabres forward prospect Matt Savoie grabbed the puck down low during a power play and deftly fed Americans captain Michael Mersch a pass in his wheelhouse.

Mersch one-timed it past Charlotte Checkers goalie Spencer Knight, tying Wednesday’s game at 1 and giving Savoie, 19, his first professional point.

The play, which Amerks assistant coach Vinny Prospal drew up when he noticed the Checkers defended high, illustrated ... Read the full article

Sabres outplay Canadiens, still lose: ‘We controlled the play’

BUFFALO – Sabres center Tage Thompson stood in the dressing room following another loss, visibly agitated, trying to explain what went wrong against the Montreal Canadiens.

In falling 3-1 on Monday to their rebuilding opponent, the Sabres’ underwhelming start officially moved into the concerning category.

Yes, they have 76 games left, starting with tonight’s road contest against the Ottawa Senators. But their 2-4-0 mark has them sharing the Atlantic Division basement with the Florida Panthers. ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen will likely start against Senators

BUFFALO – After playing two consecutive games, Sabres goalie Eric Comrie will likely take a breather tonight in Ottawa, allowing Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen to make his first start this season.

Sabres coach Don Granato said rookie goalie Devon Levi, who started the first four games, is still nursing a “nagging” lower-body injury and will likely be unavailable against the Senators. Levi, 21, did not skate Monday morning.

“We don’t expect it to be much longer and ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Tage Thompson on stick snap: ‘You’re competitive, you want to score’

BUFFALO – Late in Saturday’s 3-1 win, Sabres winger Tage Thompson zoomed to the net and was so convinced he had scored on a backhander he raised his stick in celebration.

When the puck trickled in front of the crease seconds later, he appeared to have an easy goal as players scrambled around goalie Semyon Varlamov. But defenseman Noah Dobson quickly turned around and deflected the shot into the netting above the glass.

Thompson immediately ... Read the full article

Sabres goalie Eric Comrie to start again; Injured Devon Levi out tonight

BUFFALO – Fresh off a stellar 24-save outing in Saturday’s 3-1 win, Sabres goalie Eric Comrie will earn another nod tonight against the Montreal Canadiens.

Comrie, 28, hasn’t started back-to-back games since March 25 and 27.

After sitting out the first four games, he looked sharp throughout his season debut, making some critical saves before the Sabres pulled away from the New York Islanders.... Read the full article