WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
Calder Cup Playoffs Edition
Buffalo drafted Anton Wahlberg in 2023. ©2024, Micheline Veluvolu
The Buffalo Sabres this morning assigned forward prospect Anton Wahlberg, who spent all season playing for Malmo in the Swedish Hockey League, to the Rochester Americans.
The Amerks, who are fighting for a spot in the Calder Cup Playoffs, have 11 games left, starting with this afternoon’s home contest against the Utica Comets.
Wahlberg, 18, compiled five goals and 10 points in 42 games with Malmo this season. He also recorded one goal and three ... Read the full article
Buffalo drafted Viktor Neuchev in 2022. ©2024, Micheline Veluvolu, Rochester Americans
ROCHESTER – In early November, Seth Appert decided rookie winger Viktor Neuchev needed a bit of a wake-up call. So the Americans coach typed some thoughts into Google Translate and handed the Buffalo Sabres prospect a two-page note in Russian.
Appert wanted Neuchev, 20, to understand the commitment and daily habits it takes to become a great AHL player. Early last season, Appert had a similar meeting with center Jiri Kulich, who would score 24 ... Read the full article
Calle Sjalin has recorded four points in five games with Rochester. ©2024, Micheline Veluvolu, Rochester Americans
ROCHESTER – In five games here, Buffalo Sabres defense prospect Calle Sjalin has found what he waited nearly two seasons for in Charlotte: a chance to showcase his talent.
In the Florida Panthers organization, Sjalin, 24, was often the odd man out with Checkers, who boast one of the AHL’s deepest blue lines.
So when the Panthers packaged him with a seventh-round pick on March 8 to acquire Sabres captain Kyle Okposo, Sjalin welcomed the ... Read the full article
Jiri Kulich is one of Buffalo’s top prospects. ©2024, Micheline Veluvolu
ROCHESTER – Three months ago, when Buffalo Sabres prospect Jiri Kulich left to captain Team Czechia at the World Junior Championship, the Americans believed the reward outweighed any risk.
Sure, Kulich, 19, might not score at the same blistering pace later in the AHL season. But wearing the prestigious letter is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
“We knew he was going to be a potential detriment coming back to us,” Amerks coach Seth Appert said following Tuesday’s ... Read the full article
Rasmus Dahlin knows Buffalo did not play well in the second and third periods Saturday afternoon. ©2024, Micheline Veluvolu
DETROIT – The Buffalo Sabres, a team given up for dead earlier this month, have roared back to join the thick of the Eastern Conference playoff race, so one game won’t extinguish their hopes of grabbing the second wild card spot yet.
Still, Saturday afternoon’s 4-1 loss to the Red Wings, the start of a five-game road trip, could certainly haunt them down the stretch.
Against a reeling opponent that had lost seven straight games, ... Read the full article
Devon Levi has played 19 games with Rochester. ©2024, Micheline Veluvolu, Rochester Americans
DETROIT – Rookie goalie Devon Levi is back with the Buffalo Sabres.
The Sabres on Saturday recalled Levi, 22, from the Rochester Americans following their 4-1 loss to the Red Wings at Little Caesars Arena.
Levi, who has played 20 games for the Sabres this season, is expected to start Monday in Seattle against the Kraken or Tuesday in Vancouver versus Canucks.
Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has played four straight games and 24 of the ... Read the full article
Victor Olofsson has scord six goals this season. ©2024, Micheline Veluvolu
DETROIT – Finally, nine months later, Sabres winger Victor Olofsson can settle in and enjoy what will almost certainly be his final days in Buffalo.
Right now, the affable Swede has a regular spot in the lineup again and a place on the power play – where he’s most dangerous – as the Sabres fight for a playoff spot.
Last spring, when his disappointing 2022-23 season ended, Olofsson, 28, began waiting to be traded. Then ... Read the full article
Rookie Zach Benson scores an empty-net goal Thursday. ©2024, Michleine Veluvolu
BUFFALO – OK, now goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and the surging Sabres are making things really interesting.
Thursday’s 4-0 win over the New York Islanders moved them to within three points of the Isles, who own the Eastern Conference’s second wild card spot.
Who would’ve thought last week, when the Sabres dealt leading scorer Casey Mittelstadt and captain Kyle Okposo during their three-game losing streak, they’d suddenly vault into the thick of the playoff chase?... Read the full article
Tyson Jost has spent most of his career in the NHL. ©2024, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Tyson Jost impressed the Sabres so much after they plucked him off waivers last season that he earned regular duty and a $2 million contract. So, yes, when they waived the center in late December and assigned him to the minors – he had played just 13 games in the AHL in his career – he had a difficult time handling it.
“It was extremely tough,” Jost told the Times Herald prior to ... Read the full article
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has played 41 games this season. ©2024, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Following a rare breather a week ago, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has resumed one of the NHL’s heaviest workloads as the Sabres’ No. 1 goalie.
Tonight against the New York Islanders at KeyBank Center, Luukkonen, 25 is expected to start his third straight game. The Finn has earned the nod in 11 of the last 12 contests and 21 of the last 24 since Jan. 11.
Luukkonen has played an NHL-high 22 times during that ... Read the full article
