‘Ullmark, 27, was expected to start for the Sabres on Monday night against the Flyers at Wells Fargo Center. However, he received a call from his mother telling him the devastating news shortly after the morning skate.’
Archives for January 22, 2021
Mike Harrington: As Linus Ullmark mourns, Jack Eichel’s small gesture feels big
‘”It’s tough. You really can’t come up with the words that make someone feel better in that situation,” Eichel said Thursday. “It’s a little bit tougher, even with the way things are currently in our world and not being able to be with his family.”‘
Alex Ovechkin among four Caps in quarantine who will miss games vs. Sabres
‘Capitals coach Peter Laviolette announced after practice Thursday that the team’s four prominent Russians – Ovechkin, second-line center Evgeny Kuznetsov, shutdown defenseman Dmitry Orlov and starting goalie Ilya Samsonov – would be out for the next four games while they quarantine.’
Mike Harrington: Sabres’ Jason Pominville knows the feeling of Taron Johnson’s big Bills moment
‘”That’s funny you bring that up. What a way to compare it,” Pominville said when reached by phone Wednesday in Repentigny, Quebec. “He makes a big play like that and the team hasn’t advanced in the playoffs this far in something like 25 years. And this play helps them advance basically to the conference finals, like what we did when we advanced in Ottawa.’
Sabres’ goaltending quickly becomes concern; Jonas Johansson ready to sub
‘Johansson, 25, has developed into an intriguing prospect. He played his first six NHL games last season, compiling a 1-3-1 record. A breakout season in Rochester – he registered a 2.24 goals-against average and a .921 save percentage – helped him morph into an AHL All-Star and crack the big leagues.’
Linus Ullmark received Sabres’ game puck following father’s death
‘“When they gave me the puck, it took all my might and my power to not break down completely in the locker room,” Ullmark told Sabres.com. “We’re always speaking that we have two families. We have a family at home and we have our family in the team. That certainly was one of the confirmers about how I feel and hopefully how they feel about the team.”’
Friday’s Washington Coverage
Washington hosts Buffalo after Wilson’s 2-goal game (AP)
Shorthanded Caps Host Sabres in Home Opener (WashingtonCaps.com)
Buffalo Pick Returns After 20-Month Odyssey
‘”He’s a special talent,” Lamoureux said. “He’s a fourth-round NHL draft pick but he’s probably more talented than a fourth-rounder. He has NHL attributes with his skill and his vision and his hockey sense. He has an exceptional feel for the game; what’s coming at him and where his space is and how to elude defenders and play with or without the puck. He has a knack for stripping opponents of the puck and putting opponents in awkward positions where they turn it over. We’ve managed his minutes so far, but he can play in almost any situation.”‘
Sabres’ Hutton will miss at least two games with a head injury.
‘The Sabres didn’t have Carter Hutton at practice on Thursday. He left Tuesday’s game after two periods due to a head injury. Hutton’s head went into the post after Brandon Montour pushed Ivan Provorov into his goaltender. Ralph Krueger said his goalie needs rest, “Carter is day-to-day and he won’t be on this trip and we’ll assess him when we get back because it’s important that he gets some rest.”’
Ullmark opens up about absence from Sabres
‘”I had my worst pregame skate in my whole life, probably,” Ullmark recalled. “Usually when these things sort of happen, with me, there’s always been a common theme, and that’s been that my dad has either been very sick or that something bad has happened back home. I sensed that something was wrong.”‘