WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
Stanley Cup Playoffs Edition
Jason Zucker believes Buffalo is still confident. ©2026, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Since the Sabres morphed into an NHL heavyweight almost five months ago, they’ve lost three consecutive games just once.
Their ability to quickly put away games – good and bad – has helped them showcase remarkable consistency.
For the Sabres to lose their first-round playoff series, they would have to drop three straight games.
The postseason, of course, is a different animal. Still, since early December, the Sabres, who on Tuesday lost 2-1 ... Read the full article
Peyton Krebs recorded at least one point in each of his first four playoff appearances. ©2026, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – As he rounded out his game, developing into a versatile, high-octane presence, Sabres winger Peyton Krebs wanted to tailor his style to meet the rigors of playoff hockey.
“That’s what I try to base my game off, you know?” Krebs told the Times Herald on Tuesday prior to Game 5 of the Sabres’ first-round playoff series against the Boston Bruins. “Compete, grit, get in battles, make plays under high pressure.”
Those qualities have ... Read the full article
Josh Norris was injured in Game 2. ©2026, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Coach Lindy Ruff said this morning that forwards Josh Norris, Tyson Kozak and Jason Zucker are all available to play tonight in Game 5 as the Sabres try to clinch their first-round playoff series against the Boston Bruins.
But will they all play?
Norris did not take any line rushes during the morning skate and was one of the last Sabres off the ice, meaning he will likely miss his third straight game ... Read the full article
Alex Lyon won both of his starts in Boston. ©2026, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Alex Lyon loves to talk. Off the ice, the loquacious Sabres goalie, an affable, down-to-earth personality, always seems to offer some thoughtful words.
On planes rides, winger Josh Doan often has discussions with Lyon, who attended Yale University, about hockey and other subjects.
“We negotiate pretty good,” Doan said in KeyBank Center, where if the Sabres beat the Boston Bruins tonight in Game 5, they will win their first series in the Stanley ... Read the full article
Josh Norris has missed the last two games. ©2026, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Coach Lindy Ruff said forwards Josh Norris, Tyson Kozak and Jason Zucker are all still being evaluated but probable tonight for Game 5 of the Sabres’ first-round playoff series against the Boston Bruins.
The Sabres lead the best-of-seven series 3-1. If they win, they will clinch their first series since 2007.
Norris has missed the last two games with an undisclosed injury. Kozak and Zucker both left Sunday afternoon’s 6-1 win in Boston ... Read the full article
Peyton Krebs opened the scoring Sunday afternoon. ©2026, Micheline Velovolu
BOSTON – Just over four minutes into Sunday afternoon’s 6-1 annihilation of the Bruins, Buffalo Sabres center Tage Thompson hectored an opponent along the wall, freeing the puck for linemate Alex Tuch to grab in the offensive zone.
When Tuch reached the right circle, he fed winger Peyton Krebs in the slot, and the winger quickly beat goalie Jeremy Swayman.
The goal at 4:17, the Sabres’ first in the opening 20 minutes during the Stanley Cup ... Read the full article
Josh Norris played the first two games of the series. ©2026, Micheline Veluvolu
BOSTON – Josh Norris is scratched again this afternoon with an undisclosed injury for Game 4 of the Buffalo Sabres’ first-round playoff series against the Bruins.
Norris also missed Thursday’s 3-1 win in TD Garden. Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said following Saturday’s practice the center is day to day.
He played the first two games of the series, registering zero points in his first appearances in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.... Read the full article
Noah Ostlund returned from an injury for Game 3. ©2026, Micheline Veluvolu
BOSTON – Noah Ostlund figures by the second time the Buffalo Sabres recalled him this season, he started feeling comfortable in the NHL.
Not that the rookie looked out of the place in those early-season outings and during an eight-game look late last year, his first taste of the big leagues.
But after the Sabres summoned Ostlund from the Rochester Americans again in early November, he started scoring and earning more ice time. By later ... Read the full article
Lindy Ruff has changed over the years. ©2026, Micheline Veluvolu
BOSTON – In the aftermath of the Buffalo Sabres’ 4-2 home loss in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series, coach Lindy Ruff acknowledged that on the outside, he downplayed his team’s dreary performance a bit.
On the inside, however, players knew they played poorly on Tuesday against the Bruins after winning Game 1.
Ruff, whose Sabres roared back on Thursday and beat the Bruins 3-1 in TD Garden, grabbing a 2-1 lead in ... Read the full article
Peyton Krebs earned a penalty early in Thursday’s game. ©2026, Micheline Veluvolu
BOSTON – Before Thursday’s 3-1 win over the Bruins, coach Lindy Ruff said officials warned the Buffalo Sabres they “weren’t gonna put up with the after-the-whistle stuff.”
“They’re gonna take one guy,” he said of the what the teams were told. “And the first guy that puts the fist in the other guy’s face is gonna get called.”
As the longtime rivals split the first two games of the opening-round playoff series, scrums and melees ... Read the full article