Buffalo Hockey Beat - WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage

After losing Rasmus Dahlin to injury, Sabres recall defenseman

After losing captain Rasmus Dahlin to an upper-body injury, the Buffalo Sabres this morning recalled defenseman Dennis Gilbert from the Rochester Americans.

To create a roster spot, the Sabres placed defenseman Matt Grzelcyk on injured reserve.

Dahlin, the Sabres’ top defenseman, is expected to miss tonight’s road game against the Montreal Canadiens.... Read the full article

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen shines in relief appearance, backstops Sabres to win over Panthers

BUFFALO – Sabres coach Lindy Ruff loves goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen’s ability to fight through difficult situations.

Luukkonen looked a bit wonky in his first three appearances this season, posting a .782 save percentage. While a porous defense played a part in compiling that ghastly number, he hardly stood out.

In the past week, he has lost starts to Colten Ellis, who began Monday afternoon’s game against the Florida Panthers sporting a save percentage nearly 100 ... Read the full article

Sabres trade Ryan Johnson, receive two defensemen from Penguins

BUFFALO – Defenseman Ryan Johnson’s time in the Sabres organization has ended.

The Sabres on Monday traded Johnson, the 31st overall pick in 2019, to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for defensemen Caleb Jones and Daniel Laatsch.

Johnson, 25, recently cleared waivers and began the season with the Rochester Americans. He played 41 games with the Sabres as a rookie in 2023-24 but only made six appearances in the NHL after that.... Read the full article

Sabres’ Rasmus Dahlin day to day with upper-body injury, will likely miss game against Canadiens

BUFFALO – Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin suffered an upper-body injury early in the second period of Monday afternoon’s 5-3 win over the Florida Panthers and will likely miss Tuesday’s road game against the Montreal Canadiens, coach Lindy Ruff said.

Ruff said Dahlin is day to day and wouldn’t accompany the Sabres when they left to begin their three-game road trip. He could join the team later in the trip.

“They treat him better here,” Ruff ... Read the full article

Struggling Sabres change lineup again by inserting young forwards

BUFFALO – After sitting out Saturday’s 4-0 loss to the Utah Mammoth as healthy scratches, forwards Konsta Helenius and Jiri Kulich are in the lineup for this afternoon’s game against the Florida Panthers.

To make, room the Sabres scratched forwards Sam Carrick and Justin Danforth.

Update: Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin left the game with an upper-body injury in the second period and won’t return, according to the team. Dahlin did not take a shift after ... Read the full article

As Sabres struggle early, Ryan McLeod or Josh Norris could be scratched

BUFFALO – Scratching young players, as coach Lindy Ruff did Saturday, is often the first option to ignite a struggling team. As rookie Konsta Helenius and Jiri Kulich watched, the Sabres fell meekly to the Utah Mammoth.

Now, Ruff’s lineup decisions – he has 14 forwards at his disposal – for this afternoon’s game against the Florida Panthers could be a heck of a lot more interesting.

The Sabres, fresh off a 109-point season, have ... Read the full article

Sabres lose to Mammoth, still searching for identity: ‘Trying to find who we are’

BUFFALO – Hey, the Sabres finally scored their first power-play of the season on Saturday, a small bright spot in an otherwise forgettable 4-1 loss to the Utah Mammoth.

Eight minutes into the game, forward Tage Thompson scored what he called “a pretty fluky power-play goal,” carrying the puck from his own zone into Utah territory before beating goalie Karel Vejmelka at the bottom of the right circle.

Still, the Sabres, two days removed from ... Read the full article

Sabres to scratch Konsta Helenius, Jiri Kulich; Colten Ellis to start in goal

BUFFALO – Fresh off Thursday’s embarrassing 4-0 loss to the Dallas Stars, you expected the Sabres to change their lineup for tonight’s game against Utah Mammoth.

Sure enough, coach Lindy Ruff will be scratching young forwards Konsta Helenius, 20, and Jiri Kulich, 22, and inserting Sam Carrick and Tyson Kozak.

Meanwhile, goalie Colten Ellis is expected to start tonight. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, who played three of the first four games, has a ghastly .782 save percentage.... Read the full article

Newcomer Matt Villalta gives Rochester Amerks No. 1 goalie, Sabres depth

ROCHESTER – Having grinded in the minors for years and occasionally earned trips to the NHL, goalie Matt Villalta symbolizes the new-look Americans.

The Buffalo Sabres’ AHL affiliate still has some strong young talent, most notably defenseman Radim Mrtka, the ninth overall pick in 2025.

But the Amerks have become a veteran club this season. Their most dynamic youngsters in 2025-25 – forwards Konsta Helenius and Noah Ostlund – have graduated to Buffalo.... Read the full article

Sabres hear boos, get blanked by Stars in ugly loss: ‘Didn’t have our game’

BUFFALO – How’s this for a throwback to, uh, early last season? The Sabres performed so poorly in Thursday’s ugly 4-0 loss to the Dallas Stars that surly fans booed throughout night.

They booed as the Sabres frittered away three power plays. They booed when they left the ice down four goals at the end of the second period.

When the final horn sounded, what remained of what was a capacity crowd of 19,070 fans ... Read the full article