Buffalo Hockey Beat - WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage

Colten Ellis expected to start as Sabres begin goalie rotation; Jiri Kulich, Conor Timmins available to play

BUFFALO – In the opening month of the season, Sabres coach Lindy Ruff utilized the hot hand in net. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen started five straight games. Colten Ellis twice earned two consecutive nods.

But with tonight’s contest against the Ottawa Senators kicking off a stretch of six games in 11 days, Ruff said he plans to start rotating his goalies.

Ellis, who earned two road wins last week, is expected to play tonight.... Read the full article

After position change, Sabres star Tage Thompson heats up, eyes 50-goal mark: ‘You can see he’s dominant’

BUFFALO – It can be argued no NHL player has performed more dynamically over the past week than Tage Thompson, who scored five goals and eight points and buoyed the Sabres’ three-game win streak.

During that short stretch, Thompson has produced more than Connor McDavid, the superstar on pace for just the fifth 200-point season in NHL history and the first by a player not named Wayne Gretzky.

Of course, Thompson, 29, almost certainly ... Read the full article

Injury updates on Sabres’ Zach Benson, Jiri Kulich and Conor Timmins

BUFFALO – Winger Zach Benson practiced this morning and will be available to play when the Sabres begin their four-game home stand Wednesday against the Ottawa Senators, coach Lindy Ruff said.

“Went well for Benson,” Ruff said following the session in KeyBank Center.

Benson, who suffered an undisclosed injury in Saturday afternoon’s 3-2 road win against the Los Angeles Kings, missed Monday’s practice. He skated on his own before today’s session.... Read the full article

Injury news on Sabres’ Alex Lyon, Zach Benson, Jiri Kulich and Conor Timmins

BUFFALO – Hey, considering the adversity they battled, the Sabres enjoyed a pretty solid opening month.

Was it up the lofty standard they set last season? Hardly. But a team that kept falling behind multiple goals seemingly each night and had 11 players miss time with injuries finished October with a 7-4-3 record and has points in eight of its last nine games.

Last week, the Sabres finally found a groove, closing their four-game road ... Read the full article

Sabres unveil ‘Hometown Remix’ jersey that honors Buffalo

The design elements in the Sabres’ blue “Hometown Remix” jersey the NHL unveiled today honor Buffalo’s history as “The City of Light.”

In addition to the classic “Goathead” crest, the jersey features the ‘B’ shoulder logo used on past uniforms with an electrified sabre going through it.

Debossed lightning bolts and stars with metallic gold stripes accentuate the sleeves. The custom numbers are also inspired by the Buffalo’s electric history.... Read the full article

Sabres assign defenseman to Rochester

The Buffalo Sabres today sent defenseman Dennis Gilbert back to the Rochester Americans.

The Buffalo native played five games during his recall, compiling one goal, two points and six penalty minutes.

He played four contests with the Amerks earlier this season, registering zero points and six penalty minutes.... Read the full article

Torrid start for Rochester Amerks could help Williamsville’s Trevor Kuntar earn another recall to Sabres

ROCHESTER – For one night, Trevor Kuntar struggled. Forget that the ultra-competitive Americans winger recorded a couple of points. He lost battles and looked off his game.

Normally, the Williamsville native is the guy dragging his teammates into the fray alongside him.

So following last Wednesday’s 5-3 home loss to the Utica Comets, coach Mike Leone told Kuntar he needed to raise his standard.... Read the full article

Injury will force Sabres rookie Konsta Helenius to miss rest of road trip

Rookie forward Konsta Helenius will return to Buffalo to be evaluated for an upper-body injury and will miss the rest of the Sabres’ road trip, coach Lindy Ruff told reporters prior to tonight’s game against the Anaheim Ducks.

Helenius, 20, was injured when he absorbed an open-ice hit from Jacob Trouba in the second period of Tuesday’s 2-0 win over the San Jose Sharks.

Forward Sam Carrick, who has missed four games with a mid-body ... Read the full article

Yes, goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen can be a lot better, but don’t blame all of the Sabres’ problems on him

Goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen will likely earn a breather this week and take a backseat to Colten Ellis for one of the Buffalo Sabres’ three games in California.

Coach Lindy Ruff hinted at it last week, saying once Luukkonen, who has started five straight games and played in the last six contests, reaches a certain threshold, someone else must take his turn.

The Finn, 27, has morphed into the Sabres’ workhorse, playing nine of their first ... Read the full article

Connor Hellebuyck is in New Jersey, but Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen knows he can still be traded

BUFFALO – Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen knows all about the trade rumors involving his name. Not that the Sabres goalie goes out of his way to read them. But these days, he knows you can’t escape the outside noise.

If he stays off social media, a friend will inevitably inform him.

“I think anybody who says that they don’t see it or they don’t read it, they’re lying,” said Luukkonen, whose name has been bandied about for ... Read the full article