Buffalo News

'The Sabres have not made General Manager Kevyn Adams available for comment since the situation began to unfold Tuesday morning. The only comment Thursday was the 18-word announcement about Krueger's status the team posted on its Twitter feed.' … [Read more...] about As Sabres’ Ralph Krueger and Jake McCabe enter Covid protocol, NHL tightens reins

'Rieder and Montour join winger Taylor Hall and defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen as Sabres who have been deemed unavailable to play by the league due to the protocols. The Sabres' season was put on pause Tuesday and their next four games have been postponed.' … [Read more...] about Tobias Rieder, Brandon Montour added to Sabres’ Covid list; Wild outbreak lists six

'Translation: The NHL is being particularly cautious with the situation in Buffalo because the Sabres just played the Devils and New Jersey is the team with the biggest outbreak since the season began.' … [Read more...] about The Sabres on pause: Where things stand

'It is important to note that Hall's and Ristolainen's names landing on the league's list do not necessarily mean they have tested positive. Players can make the list while waiting for confirmation of an initial positive, as well as for a variety of other reasons that include being a close contact or a need to quarantine.' … [Read more...] about Sabres’ season on pause as Hall, Ristolainen land on Covid-19 list

'Several Buffalo Bills have donated items, including footballs signed by Josh Allen and Zack Moss, helmets signed by Jerry Hughes and Tremaine Edmunds, and a trove of Bills gear. Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin autographed a hockey stick for auction.' … [Read more...] about Buffalo Bills, Sabres defenseman, businesses offer auction items to help free health clinic

'"He just seems more confident and more assertive," said winger Kyle Okposo. "He seems to know the play that he's going to make before he gets the puck and when he gets it, he's really confident with it. Really like what he's brought in when got in the lineup and he got on the power play against Washington. He definitely seems to have taken some steps, which is great."' … [Read more...] about It seems like Casey Mittelstadt will get more looks in Sabres’ lineup

'One of the biggest questions surrounding Hall in recent years has concerned his environment. Hall’s offensive production has slowed, but that slowing has been collinear with the teams he has played with. Neither the New Jersey Devils nor Arizona Coyotes offered much in terms of supporting cast, and he was traded midseason before the Covid-19 stoppage. So yes, it’s a bit … [Read more...] about Travis Yost’s Sabre Metrics: Taylor Hall’s scoring rates are down; too soon to worry?

'“I mean, it doesn’t always need to look pretty, especially teams like New Jersey and (the) Rangers,” Ristolainen said. “They are in similar situations as us, and they haven’t had a lot of success lately, and we are the teams that are trying to sneak into the playoff battles. And these are important games. It doesn’t need to be pretty. I just feel like we are (the) better team, … [Read more...] about Rasmus Ristolainen creates ‘chaos,’ but Sabres’ problems persist in loss

'The Sabres' puck management was terrible all day and they botched time and situation three times in the first two periods. The goals against were bizarre. The top-paid offensive players still don't score (Jack Eichel + Taylor Hall + Jeff Skinner + Kyle Okposo = three goals thus far).' … [Read more...] about Mike Harrington: This Sabres loss was about way more than goaltending

'Buffalo (4-4-2) had earned points in six of its previous games and is now 0-4-1 when trailing after the second period this season.' … [Read more...] about Wraparound: Mistakes spoil Sabres’ comeback attempt in loss to Devils

'“We had a second group of six coming up here, but we thought Mittelstadt was really creating a lot (today),” Krueger said. “He looked really fresh. He didn’t play (Saturday). That’s purely a gut decision that we thought he would be a good buzz out there in that last stretch. If you watch his game tonight, he was as fresh as anybody because of that. That’s a call that works or … [Read more...] about Casey Mittelstadt deployed as Sabres’ extra attacker during ‘really good game’

'Though the roster is unquestionably more talented than a year ago, Krueger is still discovering how to build a lineup that will produce consistently at 5-on-5. The challenge increased in difficulty with the absence of Sam Reinhart, a four-time 20-goal scorer whose 246-game iron-man streak ended because of an upper-body injury.' … [Read more...] about Jack Eichel’s shootout goal sends Sabres to victory with Sam Reinhart out

'For one thing, it's pretty easy to ask where did the team go that was playing well and piling up shot totals against Washington and Philadelphia? Because that group hasn't been around this week for most of the last three games against New York and New Jersey, two teams on a decidedly lower level who are plus-23 in shots on the Sabres over these trio of matchups.' … [Read more...] about Mike Harrington: Even as they struggle, Sabres finding the way to scoop up points

'Olofsson’s power-play goal from the right circle with 9:04 remaining gave the Sabres a 3-2 lead after Eichel left for the dressing room, and the Devils tied the score again when Janne Kuokkanen capitalized on a bouncing puck near Buffalo’s net. Eichel missed almost 13 minutes after taking a puck to the face.' … [Read more...] about Wraparound: Jack Eichel, Linus Ullmark send Sabres to shootout win

'"I had an inkling we'd be playing teams pretty close to us," Hall said, referring to the NHL's 2021 realignment. "The prospect of not having to travel all that much is always nice. Our travel in New Jersey was so awesome. We took a bus to three different teams (New York, Long Island and Philadelphia) and it really allowed us to recover and make the season a little bit … [Read more...] about Inside the NHL: The multigame series is a fun part of this new schedule