Buffalo News

'The Sabres nearly won the game 38 seconds into OT on a shot by Alex Tuch, which deflected off goalie Antti Raanta and ticked off the crossbar. The Buffalo trio of Tuch, Casey Mittelstadt and Owen Power dominated possession for the first 45 seconds of OT but never got off the ice.' … [Read more...] about Observations: Sabres’ pair of rallies fall short as Hurricanes win in OT on Martin Necas goal

'“That is a good point by Alex,” coach Don Granato added when asked Tuesday prior to the Sabres’ game against the Carolina Hurricanes in PNC Arena. “Within that point you can see the older players working with JJ and that’s a big part of it. ... It’s positive any time you can get players helping players.”' … [Read more...] about For Sabres winger JJ Peterka, the goals are coming and so is the maturity in his game

'An NHL audition is inevitable. The Sabres can play Savoie for as many as nine games without burning the first year of his entry-level contract. Ideally, they would be able to have the 19-year-old in Rochester for the duration of the regular season, but the NHL’s development agreement with Canada’s top junior leagues prevents him from skating in the AHL regular season unless … [Read more...] about Matt Savoie back with Sabres, preparing for NHL debut after strong showing with Amerks

'"It took me not even seeing the puck until the last second and being very thankful it didn't hit me in the face to get that piano off my back," cracked Tuch. "I felt like I was skating well out there. It was good. We had a lot of guys show up tonight and play really good hockey."' … [Read more...] about Observations: Alex Tuch breaks through with two late goals as Sabres outlast Leafs

'The Sabres (5-6) saw their modest two-game winning streak snapped and earned plenty of well-deserved boos from the announced crowd of 16,612. They fell to 12-2-1 in their black and red sweaters – and both regulation losses are to the Flyers. Philly (5-5-1) posted a 4-0 victory here in January on a night when Ersson got his first NHL shutout.' … [Read more...] about Observations: Flyers have the answer against the goatheads as Sabres bumble through ugly defeat

'The timing of everything here fits very nicely. The Sabres can stretch out Benson and Savoie’s stints in the NHL until early December – just when Team Canada’s World Juniors evaluation camp opens in Oakville, Ont., from Dec. 10-13. If both players are loaned by the Sabres to the camp and play in the tournament in Sweden, that would take them to early January. By then, maybe … [Read more...] about Inside the NHL: Sabres doing a fine job massaging the roster rules with Zach Benson, Matt Savoie

'The Sabres – who got back to .500 for the first time this season at 5-5 – broke an eight-game pattern of four wins followed by four losses. And they did it on a night they struggled to generate much offense as they were outshot by the Flyers, 40-15. In fact, they had only eight shots in the final 40 minutes but scored on three of their four shots in the third period.' … [Read more...] about Observations: On a night without much juice, Luukkonen and Power provide spark for Sabres in win over Flyers

'“I definitely wouldn’t be surprised,” Mittelstadt said when asked if more NHL players might consider wearing protection. “Obviously, I have the [cut-resistant protection] on my wrist and ankles now. I mean, I’ve never really considered (a neck guard), and then you see something like that, it definitely makes you start thinking about it. That’s tough. He’s had a similar … [Read more...] about Sabres, rest of hockey world ponder player safety after Adam Johnson’s tragic death

'Levi (1-3, 3.26/.892) looked particularly sluggish in the net during Buffalo’s 4-3 loss to Calgary on Oct. 19, even though he made a season-high 32 saves. His movements were less fluid than normal and he had some issues with rebound control, which could have been indicative of battling through whatever lower-body ailment he was dealing with. “The third period was tough. I was … [Read more...] about After an unplanned break, Devon Levi returns to Sabres’ practice. Now when does he get the net?

'“It’s really exciting,” Biro, 25, said after practice Tuesday in KeyBank Center. “It was pretty disappointing last year getting hurt and missing out on it, so I’m excited to be here now and ready for the opportunity.”' … [Read more...] about Sabres Notebook: Brandon Biro gets the call from Rochester for ailing Zach Benson

'Last year, the Sabres went 6-3 in October but then fell apart in November with a 4-9-1 record that included an eight-game losing streak that ultimately sentenced the season to another year outside the playoffs. This November will be difficult, with 10 of the 14 games on the road and a pair of three-game road stretches.' … [Read more...] about Mike Harrington: Sabres hope some October numbers transform to November winning streaks

'Cooley was not selected in the NHL draft and signed a two-year, entry-level contract with the Nashville Predators as a college free agent after he played three seasons at the University of Denver. With the Pioneers, Cooley had a 15-9-4 record, 1.93 goals-against average, .927 save percentage and six shutouts.' … [Read more...] about Meet Devin Cooley, the Sabres’ goalie with the Slug logo painted on his mask

'“For him to keep them off the scoreboard until we could get our legs under us and find our rhythm was everything,” Sabres coach Don Granato said after his players’ best performance of the season. “You don’t want to give that team confidence, and he denied that with some early action against him.”' … [Read more...] about Observations: Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen’s game-changing saves ‘everything’ for Sabres

'The Sabres are finding their game offensively. That’s 14 goals in the last three games in the wake of Monday’s gutpunch against Montreal that saw them score just one on 79 shot attempts.' … [Read more...] about Mike Harrington: Sabres get a win that finally plays up to their preseason hype

'Clifton's right shoulder made contact with Hischier's head as the Sabres defenseman finished a check on the Devils center in the neutral zone. Ondrej Palat, one of Hischier's teammates, rushed to his defense and fought Clifton with four minutes left in the first period. Hischier did not skate for New Jersey in the third period as a "precaution," according to Devils coach Lindy … [Read more...] about Sabres’ Connor Clifton suspended two games for hit on Devils’ Nico Hischier