Buffalo News

'“I think it means a lot to our team,” Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said after his players totaled 10 shots on goal between the second and third periods. “That’s part of the growth. You’ve got to get comfortable in a game like that where it’s tight. … I thought our compete on the puck was where it needed to be to win a hockey game and there compete was high too. It was a hard game … [Read more...] about Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen’s heroics help Sabres shut out Kings: Takeaways from a 1-0 win

'“I was actually telling him the other day how much his game has improved from Colorado,” Aube-Kubel, now Byram’s teammate on the Sabres, told The Buffalo News following practice Tuesday at Toyota Sports Performance Center. “You could see the potential there and the energy that he had there, but coming here and a few years later, it’s crazy how his role has evolved and how he … [Read more...] about Bowen Byram’s recent games show why the Sabres made the blockbuster trade

'“It’s one of those things if you really had to (play), you can, but you don’t want to make it worse, and that’s the biggest thing about it,” Luukkonen said after practice Monday in KeyBank Center. “You don’t want to miss a longer period of games. You kind of want to make sure to get it well and be back to 100 percent and not risk it.”' … [Read more...] about Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen pumped to return to No. 1 slot in Sabres’ net

'Sabres coach Lindy Ruff will update the media on Tuch and Tage Thompson following the morning skate Wednesday. Their availability for the game with the Kings (10-6-3) will be determined by how they recover from practice.' … [Read more...] about Sabres practice report: Alex Tuch returns as Lindy Ruff shuffles lines

'The demotion of Levi is a twofold move: The primary point is he needs playing time and his development is stunted by being an NHL backup when the Amerks can absolutely make him their immediate starter. The other side of it is that, frankly, he just hasn’t looked like an NHL goalie enough of the time this season to merit staying.' … [Read more...] about Devon Levi’s return to Rochester, Isak Rosen’s return to NHL highlight a busy day on Sabres’ roster

'The Buffalo Sabres put up a classic nothingburger for most of the game Saturday night in Wells Fargo Center. Their 5-2 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers was borne out of too many trips to the penalty box, a lineup thinned by injuries and an offense that generated few quality scoring chances until a pair of window-dressing goals in the final 10 minutes.' … [Read more...] about Sabres Takeaways: Not much going on in bland loss in Philly

'The Sabres were simply taking heavy precautions in keeping Thompson out of the game against the Philadelphia Flyers. He skated fully and looked fine during the team's optional morning skate and all signs appear to have the team's No. 1 center returning when it opens its roadie Wednesday night in Los Angeles.' … [Read more...] about Tage Thompson takes Sabres’ morning skate, is confident he’ll return to lineup Wednesday

'Sabres General Manager Kevyn Adams continued to be a hot topic at the GM meetings in Toronto, with several outlets pointing to Adams as one of the busiest talkers in the league. Out of those rumors has come some absurd chatter out of Vancouver about the Canucks trying to pry defenseman Bowen Byram from the Sabres; Adams is looking to improve his depth and not subtract from it, … [Read more...] about Inside the NHL: Brooks Orpik had the best seat and best results from Penguins-Capitals rivalry

'Jordan Greenway reaggravated an undisclosed injury during practice Friday, forcing the winger to leave early and putting his status for Saturday in question. The Sabres have already ruled out center Tage Thompson and goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, both of whom are dealing with a lower-body injury.' … [Read more...] about Jordan Greenway may join Tage Thompson, UPL as Sabres’ inactives in Philadelphia

'“It was not pretty today, but we found a way,” Dahlin said after scoring his fourth goal of the season. “That’s what good teams do. I think it was a really mature game by us.”' … [Read more...] about How the Sabres ‘found a way’ after goalie interference call: 5 takeaways from OT win

'“I like these guys here,” Reimer said. “They’ve got good heads on their shoulders. They want to play the right way. They want to be successful. It’s good to see and good to be back in this room with that accountability and that desire. Obviously, we’re going to make mistakes. Nobody is perfect and, obviously, this group is a younger group, but I think they play with a lot of … [Read more...] about James Reimer eager to help Sabres on and off the ice during second stint in Buffalo

'With Thompson and Tuch on the ice at 5-on-5, the Sabres have outscored opponents 14-6 and have nearly 60% of the shot-quality share, according to Natural Stat Trick. When they’re not on the ice in that situation, the team has been outscored 21-20 and its shot-quality share has dropped to 48%.' … [Read more...] about Tage Thompson could be back Thursday, but Sabres need more secondary scoring

'Luukkonen is considered day-to-day with an undisclosed injury that occurred at practice Sunday. Sabres coach Lindy Ruff pulled Luukkonen at the end of the second period Monday out of fear that the injury was impacting his performance or may worsen without more rest.' … [Read more...] about James Reimer’s return to Sabres strengthens depth behind Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen

'The Sabres entered Tuesday with the third-most penalty minutes (178) in the NHL and they had taken the third-most minor penalties. They have been shorthanded 55 times, sixth-most in the league, and their penalty kill ranked 22nd after improving to 13th under Don Granato last season. Failing to kill penalties is one reason why Buffalo is 7-8-1 and its .469 points percentage is … [Read more...] about Sabres’ undisciplined penalties putting their inconsistent PK in a bind

'“It was a game that, I think, was right there for the taking for either team,” said Ruff. “You see games like this when you’re playing four games in less than seven days. Maybe energy is a little bit lower and that’s when you have to be smarter. We failed that test.”' … [Read more...] about Tage Thompson leaves with an injury: 5 takeaways from Sabres’ ‘unacceptable’ loss