Buffalo Hockey Beat - WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage

Sabres leaning heavily on healthy Tyson Kozak: ‘Some of his best hockey’

BUFFALO – The past three weeks have been the most productive of Sabres forward Tyson Kozak’s three-year NHL career.

For starters, the oft-injured Kozak has played nine straight games. But beyond staying healthy, he has consistently contributed, utilizing his speed and tenacity to earn coach Lindy Ruff’s trust as a fourth-line anchor and penalty killer.

“High-end compete, skating great,” Ruff said of Kozak’s recent play following Tuesday’s practice in KeyBank Center. “His killing has ... Read the full article

Passion has helped Alex Lyon improve with age; Sabres goalie expected to start first game soon

BUFFALO – In the coming days, perhaps as soon as tonight in Chicago, Sabres goalie Alex Lyon is expected to make his season debut and display the latest version of himself that he spent the offseason and the past several weeks developing.

Lyon 10.0 – he spent at least parts of 10 seasons in the NHL – has gotten rid of some bugs and promises to be better than ever.

“I definitely think that I’m ... Read the full article

Sabres fall apart after comeback, lose big to Lightning: ‘Beating ourselves’

BUFFALO – The same Sabres team that looked finished after falling behind four goals to the Tampa Bay Lightning in the second period nearly tied the darn thing.

Heck, after winger Tage Thompson scored 33 seconds into Wednesday’s third period, it felt inevitable they would complete a rollicking comeback inside KeyBank Center.

Instead, the Sabres suffered an embarrassing 8-3 loss to their fierce Atlantic Division rival before a capacity crowd of 19,070 fans, many of ... Read the full article

Would a trip to Rochester help Sabres’ Jiri Kulich find some confidence?

BUFFALO – On one hand, Jiri Kulich scored 15 goals and spent the end of his rookie season centering the Sabres’ No. 1 line. On the other hand, he just missed nearly a full season recovering from a blood clot and has struggled to find his game this year.

Could a short trip to the AHL benefit Kulich, perhaps infuse him with some much-needed confidence?

The Czech, 22, is expected to be healthy scratch for ... Read the full article

As Lightning visit, Rasmus Dahlin and Sabres looking for consistency

BUFFALO – In the waning minutes of Sunday’s 4-1 loss, Vegas Golden Knights winger Victor Olofsson slickly undressed Rasmus Dahlin outside the Buffalo blue line before the Sabres captain slashed his former teammate as he zoomed to the net.

Dahlin skated to the penalty box, his forgettable afternoon over after he compiled a minus-3 rating.

The Swede, whose Sabres close a four-game home stand tonight against the Tampa Bay Lightning at KeyBank Center, has run ... Read the full article

After return from concussion, Sabres’ Jiri Kulich could be healthy scratch

BUFFALO – Six weeks into the season, Jiri Kulich hasn’t found any rhythm. Following nearly a year on the sideline recovering from a blood clot, the Sabres forward has suffered some early setbacks, most notably a concussion that forced him to miss five games.

In two appearances since returning, Kulich has struggled a bit, so it appears he will be a healthy scratch for Wednesday’s game against the Tampa Bay Lightning at KeyBank Center.

The ... Read the full article

Sabres’ power play costs them in loss to Golden Knights: ‘Took the wind right out of our sails’

BUFFALO – Just over halfway through Sunday afternoon’s 4-1 loss, winger Tage Thompson gave the puck away again inside the Vegas Golden Knights blue line as the Sabres enjoyed a power play, this time to Mitch Marner.

With the game tied at 0 earlier in the period, Sabres goalie Colten Ellis stymied two shots on William Karlsson’s short-handed breakaway attempt after Thompson committed a similar gaffe on the man advantage.

“That should have been motivation ... Read the full article

Flashback: 15 years ago, Rick Jeanneret and Dale Hawerchuk were inducted into the Sabres Hall of Fame

I’ve been lucky to cover many Sabres Hall of Fame inductions. Looking back, the 2011 ceremony, which took place 15 years ago today, might’ve been the most special.

Sadly, both of the inductees – legendary play-by-play man Rick Jeanneret and high-scoring center Dale Hawerchuk – have since passed away.

Jeanneret, as you can read below, finally accepted the honor so his mother could enjoy it with him.

Hawerchuk, one of the most underrated players in ... Read the full article

In tough times, Sabres’ Jiri Kulich leans on teammates; Injured Matt Grzelcyk in ‘holding pattern’

BUFFALO – After a puck hit Sabres forward Jiri Kulich in the face during a practice late last month, forcing him to miss five games with a concussion, he joked he wondered if he had wronged someone.

“I was telling myself, ‘What I did (do) to someone with my luck?’” Kulich told the Times Herald prior to Friday’s 5-2 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets in KeyBank Center, his first game since going down Oct. ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Josh Norris breaks out of slump, scores two goals in much-needed home win over Blue Jackets

BUFFALO – When the topic turned to the struggling Josh Norris prior to Friday’s 5-2 victory, Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said he had been working with the talented center and a better version of him would materialize.

Norris had mostly been a non-factor for five weeks, registering just two goals and three points in 15 games despite skating on scoring lines and the power play.

Ruff scratched another underperforming forward, Ryan McLeod, on Friday. If ... Read the full article