Buffalo Hockey Beat - WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage

Injury could shelve Sabres’ Josh Dunne; Michael Kesselring close to playing

BUFFALO – Sabres center Josh Dunne was evaluated Tuesday for a mid-body injury and “may miss a little bit of time,” coach Lindy Ruff said.

Ruff said Dunne wasn’t injured fighting Florida Panthers defenseman Donovan Sebrango in Monday’s 4-3 loss.

“It’s been something that has been bothering him a little bit,” he said following practice in KeyBank Center.... Read the full article

Sabres suffer one-goal loss to Panthers; Mattias Samuelsson injured late

BUFFALO – A tight game like Monday’s 4-3 loss to the Florida Panthers serves as a harbinger for the Sabres.

Down the stretch, with every point precious in the ultra-tight Eastern Conference, expect more heavy, low-chance games.

They sure as heck better get used to it.

“I think when the urgency gets up, you’re going to see a lot of that,” said coach Lindy Ruff, whose Sabres lost for just the second time in their ... Read the full article

Buffalo Sabres to host 2026 NHL Draft, outdoor game in future

BUFFALO – Since the NHL began moving the NHL Draft from city to city in the mid-1980s, Montreal has hosted the event five times.

Who’s next on the list? Buffalo, which on Monday was awarded 2026 draft that will take place on June 26 and 27.

It will be the fourth time the event has come to Buffalo. The city also hosted it in 1991, 1998 and 2016.... Read the full article

Sabres will likely play rookie Colten Ellis against Panthers, make lineup change

BUFFALO – Tonight’s contest begins a dizzying stretch of eight games over the next 13 days for the Sabres, including three in the next four days.

So expect both of their goalies, Colten Ellis and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, to earn starts throughout one of the busiest stretches this season.

Ellis, who this morning manned the net usually reserved for that night’s starter, is expected to face the Florida Panthers tonight at KeyBank Center.

“We’ve kind of ... Read the full article

In ending slump and scoring two goals, Sabres’ Jack Quinn displays talent

BUFFALO – Sabres winger Jack Quinn can be, shall we say, a bit streaky. Long goal droughts often follow productive stretches.

In October, Quinn, 24, scored three times in four outings before enduring a 13-game goalless stretch.

He briefly caught fire in late November, scoring in three straight contests. But two nine- game droughts followed, and before his slick two-goal performance in Saturday’s 5-3 win over the Anaheim Ducks, he hadn’t scored since Dec. 18.... Read the full article

Sabres defeat Ducks for 13th win in 14 games, move into playoff spot

BUFFALO – Some of the snapshots from the Sabres’ 13th win in their last 14 games, Saturday’s 5-3 victory over the reeling Anaheim Ducks, illustrate a confident team whose infectious energy runs up and down the lineup.

To wit: in the second period, winger Josh Doan’s dogged backcheck as Ducks center Tim Washe tried to exit his zone created the Sabres’ second goal.

“That’s part of the game I take a lot of pride in ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Michael Kesselring nears return from injury; Buffalo makes recall

BUFFALO – In the games before a high ankle sprain forced him out of the lineup again, Sabres defenseman Michael Kesselring started to find a rhythm and feel more like himself.

Kesselring, 25, said he carried the puck more often and made plays, signs he was getting his legs back and developing confidence.

But the newcomer, who has missed the last three games, wasn’t 100 percent.

On Dec. 23 in Ottawa, he tweaked his ankle. ... Read the full article

As Sabres keep winning, comparisons to 2005-06 team only inevitable

BUFFALO – Almost fittingly, you must go back 20 years, to the first half of the 2005-06 season, to find the last time the Sabres won 12 times in a 13-game stretch.

Inevitably, whenever the Sabres get hot – and they’re scorching entering tonight’s contest against the Anaheim Ducks at KeyBank Center, the start of a five-game home stand – comparisons materialize to that beloved post-lockout team that will be honored before Thursday’s game.

Heck, ... Read the full article

Confident Peyton Krebs thriving on top line, feels Sabres ‘can win every night’

BUFFALO – In his five seasons here, Sabres winger Peyton Krebs said he has never experienced anything like the past 20 games.

For six weeks, Krebs has felt like the Sabres can win on any night and any scoring chance they generate can become a goal.

Winning, of course, infuses confidence, and right now, Krebs and many of his teammates have likely never possessed more belief.

The Sabres, who play a road game tonight against ... Read the full article

Sabres goalie Colten Ellis ready to start; Jiri Kulich ‘progressing’

BUFFALO – Following nearly a month on the sideline, Sabres goalie Colten Ellis is expected to start tonight’s road game against the New York Rangers, his first outing since suffering a concussion Dec. 9 in Edmonton.

A lot has happened since the rookie left the Sabres’ 4-3 overtime victory against the Oilers, a triumph that ignited a 10-game win streak.

Alex Lyon, who replaced Ellis, morphed into the NHL’s hottest goalie before suffering a lower-body ... Read the full article