WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
Stanley Cup Playoffs Edition
Buffalo goalies Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (left) and Alex Lyon spent part of the season alternating starts. ©2026, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – In the early going of Tuesday’s 4-2 loss to the Boston Bruins, Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen picked up where he left off in the series opener, stopping two breakaways to keep the game tied at 0.
For months, Luukkonen has stood tall in net, making him the easy choice to start the first-round series against the Boston Bruins in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
But the Finn’s struggles in Game 2 – he allowed ... Read the full article
Mattias Samuelsson set career highs across the board this season. ©2026, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – It was never a question of skill. Sabres defenseman Mattias Samuelsson possesses loads of it.
At his best, he ranks among the NHL’s top shutdown defenders.
“He’s got every tool in the toolbox,” Sabres winger Alex Tuch said Monday in KeyBank Center. “He’s big, he skates well, he’s got the long stick, he’s got the hockey IQ. And then when he’s physical like that, he’s just horrible to play against.
“I mean, I ... Read the full article
Josh Dunne (44) is a heavy presence. ©2026, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – When Sabres center Josh Dunne learned he would suit up for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, he said he had to pinch himself.
After the Sabres beefed up their forward depth before the trade deadline, Dunne, 27, mostly served as an extra, sitting out 17 of the final 21 regular-season games as a healthy scratch.
But with center Sam Carrick injured (left arm) and the heavy Boston Bruins the Sabres’ first-round ... Read the full article
Alex Tuch scored Sunday’s game-winning goal. ©2026, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Sabres winger Alex Tuch said he couldn’t help but smile when he hit the ice for Sunday’s pregame warm-up and soaked in the scene around him.
Forty-two minutes before the opening faceoff, KeyBank Center was packed and buzzing in anticipation of the Sabres’ first game in the Stanley Cup Playoffs since 2011.
“I was like, ‘Wow, this is unbelievable. This is amazing,’” Tuch said Monday. “Like, ‘Let’s go. We’ve got playoff hockey in ... Read the full article
Mattias Samuelsson gave Buffalo its first lead in Game 1. ©2026, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – With about 3:30 left in the third period of Sunday’s Stanley Cup Playoffs opener and the game tied at 2, the Sabres shot the puck in the Boston Bruins zone and went to work creating the go-ahead goal in their thrilling come-from-behind 4-3 victory.
After goalie Jeremy Swayman stopped the puck for Hampus Lindholm behind the net, Sabres winger Jack Quinn expected the defenseman to rim it around the boards.
But Lindholm broke ... Read the full article
Tage Thompson scored two goals in his postseason debut. ©2026, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Lack of experience? No way, Sabres center Tage Thompson responded after scoring two late goals to ignite one of the most memorable comebacks in franchise history.
The Sabres, Thompson noted, played plenty of games that prepared them for the Stanley Cup Playoffs and Sunday’s wild 4-3 victory, a game in which they scored three goals in less than five minutes to erase a late 2-0 deficit against Boston Bruins.
As Game 1 of ... Read the full article
Boston’s Casey Mittelstadt celebrates his game-tying goal March 25. ©2026, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – For the next two weeks or so, the lasting friendships Boston Bruins winger Casey Mittelstadt made over his six years here are on hold.
Mittelstadt, 27, said he loved his time with the Sabres and is happy they ended their NHL-record 14-year drought and cracked the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
“But I’m on the other side of it now,” he said prior to Sunday’s 4-3 loss to the Sabres in Game 1 of their ... Read the full article
The Sabres have done a lot of celebrating this season. ©2026, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Lindy Ruff sees it and feels it everywhere. Sabres flags flap on cars and proudly hang on porches. Signs are plastered all over town. Some, the coach pointed out, tell fans to honk for their beloved team.
Off-the-charts-enthusiasm has accompanied the Sabres’ first trip to the Stanley Cup Playoffs since 2011.
In Ruff’s first stint here, the excitement never reached this level. Sure, fans showed their passion. But the Sabres, who host the ... Read the full article
Noah Ostlund has missed the last 10 games. ©2026, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Expect to see rookie forward Noah Ostlund return from his upper-body injury during the Sabres’ first-round series against the Boston Bruins in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Ostlund, 22, practiced as an extra Saturday, his first session since going down March 25 late in a 4-3 overtime loss to the Bruins.
The best-of-seven series starts tonight at KeyBank Center.... Read the full article
Tage Thompson is in his eighth season in Buffalo. ©2026, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – During those dark days, when doubt and negativity could creep in, Sabres stars Rasmus Dahlin, Tage Thompson and Alex Tuch would often stay positive by talking about the talent that surrounded them.
They had too much of it for the losing to drag on forever. Players possessed maturity – a strong work ethic and desire to improve – to complement their skill.
Sooner or later, the Sabres had to start winning, right?... Read the full article