Buffalo News

'The Sabres aren’t officially tipping their hands on goaltending choices but their actions here Sunday said plenty. Coach Lindy Ruff said Luukkonen is not playing in Monday’s matinee against the Seattle Kraken, but the team clearly wouldn’t bring Levi this distance to have him serve as James Reimer’s backup. So the expectation is that Levi will get the call against the Kraken, … [Read more...] about Sabres notebook: Devon Levi likely to start in Seattle, but Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is doing well

'McLeod is believed to have suffered a non-contact lower-body injury in practice Thursday and pushed through Friday's game. He played only 16:56 and had one shot on goal in Buffalo's 5-2 defeat.' … [Read more...] about Sabres call up Devon Levi to replace injured Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, put Ryan McLeod on IR

'“They took advantage of our big mistakes on the PK,” lamented Lindy Ruff. “They made the same mistakes, and we didn’t take advantage. You either get a big save, or you don’t get a save. We needed a save. We probably needed a save at the start of the third period.”' … [Read more...] about Alex Nedeljkovic lifts Penguins with historic game while UPL struggles for Sabres in loss

'These Sabres aren't pulling a St. Louis. That team was badly underachieving and figured it out. This one is badly underachieving and doesn't have a clue. Merely finishing in eighth place in the East to get the last playoff spot is too much to ask for.' … [Read more...] about Mike Harrington: How is it possible Sabres have done nothing to try to fix season?

'“For sure,” Byram told The Buffalo News when asked if he sees a future in Buffalo. “Being an RFA, not too much is really in my control. To be honest, I haven’t put too much thought into it. I’m trying to play as best as I can and try to help our team win. Just try to do my thing and play hard, be a good teammate, be a good pro, continue to grow my game and let my agents and … [Read more...] about Bowen Byram is excelling, but the Sabres still need an ‘ideal’ partner for Owen Power

'The count in the third for Carolina was 8-0 on goal -- and 33-6 in attempts. Coach Lindy Ruff said the Sabres "intentions" were good in the period and pointed to a missed break here and there and an ill-advised Rasmus Dahlin pass to Jack Quinn that went awry right before Carolina's first goal. Bottom line is Buffalo got rolled in the end but kept its poise just enough to … [Read more...] about Takeaways: The simple is always complex when it comes to a Sabres victory

'The Carolina Hurricanes noticed and quickly signed him on July 1 to a one-year, $950,000 contract as the Sabres moved on to what they hoped would be a heavier fourth line. The New Jersey native and former Princeton University player was preparing for a new challenge when tragedy struck over the summer.' … [Read more...] about With Gaudreau brothers in his memory, ex-Sabres forward Eric Robinson is home in Carolina

'“I definitely take pride in that part of the game,” the 2023 first-round pick said following a recent Sabres practice. “I love getting under a team’s skin and a player’s skin. I would say when I’m playing my best, that’s definitely a big part of it.”' … [Read more...] about Zach Benson is more than a pest for the Sabres. How the second-year winger has improved

'“We can’t control what happens outside of this locker room,” Alex Tuch told The Buffalo News. “We have to come in and work. We have to bear down in certain situations and stick with it for a full 60. If it were easy, then everyone would be able to do it. … The difference in skill between these teams isn’t vast. You see that every night. Even if someone has 150 points like … [Read more...] about Sabres’ deficit grew during another painful, sobering weekend. Why believe they can rally?

'It’s been a disappointing season for Samuelsson. He was a healthy scratch for three consecutive games in November, then he missed 12 games with a lower-body injury. His play improved in some areas when he returned to the lineup, and he began to prove to Ruff that he can be more than a third-pair defenseman in the lineup.' … [Read more...] about Sabres notebook: Mattias Samuelsson returns to practice after missing 2 games with illness

'Only because his football team had a playoff game here Sunday did the owner grace us with his presence at KeyBank Center on Saturday. At least it was a well-timed appearance: He got the full effect of the sinking SS Sabre, circa 2025.' … [Read more...] about Mike Harrington: A mentally soft team with no answers is all that’s in Sabres’ dressing room

'The owner’s series of bad decisions is largely responsible for the Sabres’ playoff drought approaching 14 years, and the general manager built a roster that is last in the Eastern Conference with a 16-22-5 record, but the lack of leadership shown on the ice falls on the players.' … [Read more...] about Sabres’ leadership void on display during an ’embarrassing’ 6-2 loss to Kraken

'Beware of those: Buffalo is just 7-15-2 against the East this season – the worst record in the conference against its own.' … [Read more...] about Inside the NHL: As Sabres try to climb, a look around the East at halfway mark

'“He’s a world-class player. I have a lot of respect for how he is as a player and what he does for his team and how he leads that team,” Gilbert said after practice Friday in KeyBank Center. “I get that (fighting Gilbert) might not be the best tradeoff in his mind. ... He’s a tough kid and you’d like to see him answer the bell right away, but I get it. So as a team, we … [Read more...] about Sabres notebook: Dennis Gilbert steps up to answer Brady Tkachuk’s hit

'He has such a visible position that you would think the Sabres would have offered an explanation as to why he missed some games and worked others on radio when the team’s games were carried on national outlets.' … [Read more...] about Alan Pergament: Rob Ray’s brief disappearance from MSG illustrated media’s lack of transparency