Sabres News

EASTERN ATLANTIC

Zach Benson • LW • Sabres

Zach Benson Sits Out Second Straight Game

Buffalo Sabres left wing Zach Benson (upper body) will miss a second straight game on Thursday against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Benson scored in Monday's 5-3 win over Florida but also sustained an upper-body injury. Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff expects to have Benson back after the Olympic break. Josh Norris (upper body) is also on track to rejoin the lineup when the Sabres resume play on Feb. 24. He will miss his 12th consecutive game on Thursday. Jordan Greenway (abdomen) is also expected to remain out against Pittsburgh. As a result of the injuries up front, Peyton Krebs has joined the first line, giving his fantasy stock a massive boost.

Feb 5

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen • G • Sabres

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen Out for Olympics

Buffalo Sabres goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (lower body) will be unavailable for Team Finland at the 2026 Olympics, with Joonas Korpisalo of the Columbus Blue Jackets named as an injury replacement. Luukkonen will sit out his fourth consecutive game on Tuesday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Colten Ellis is likely to start the contest after Alex Lyon beat the Florida Panthers 5-3 with 38 saves on Monday night. Lyon has won 11 of his 12 starts, giving Buffalo a red-hot option in the crease while Luukkonen is on the mend.

Feb 3

Zach Benson • LW • Sabres

Zach Benson Suffers Upper-Body Injury Monday

Buffalo Sabres left wing Zach Benson (upper body) couldn't finish Monday's win over the Florida Panthers, leaving him questionable for Tuesday's tilt versus the Tampa Bay Lightning. "(He's) just being evaluated," Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff said postgame. "Couldn't finish the game. We'll see where he's at tomorrow." Benson scored Buffalo's third goal of the night. He appeared to have injured his left shoulder after crashing into the boards when he was tripped during a breakaway. Benson has accompanied Tage Thompson and Alex Tuch on the first line, while averaging 2:14 of power-play time. Josh Doan may move up in the lineup if Benson can't play on Tuesday.

Feb 3

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen • G • Sabres

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen Expected to Miss a Week

Buffalo Sabres goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (lower body) will be out for a week, Michael Augello of The Hockey News reports. The Finnish netminder suffered a lower-body injury on Tuesday against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Luukkonen will be desperate to make a quick recovery, with his Olympic hopes on the line. If he can make it back in a week, Luukkonen could be available for selection for Buffalo's final game before the Olympics on Feb. 5 against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Luukkonen has posted an 11-7-2 record in 2025-26, forming a great tandem with Alex Lyon, who set a new franchise record with a 10th consecutive victory on Thursday night against the Los Angeles Kings.

Jan 30

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen • G • Sabres

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen Exits With Injury Tuesday

Buffalo Sabres goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (lower body) was forced to cut his night at the office short on Tuesday against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Midway through the opening frame, Luukkonen suffered a lower-body injury while attempting to make a save. He had a rough start in the game, allowing two goals on five shots. Following Luukkonen's exit, Colten Ellis took over the crease, helping the team to a 7-4 victory with 16 saves. Even if Luukkonen misses time, Ellis will have to settle for a backup role due to Alex Lyon's presence. In his next start, Lyon has a chance to establish a new franchise record with a 10th consecutive win.

Jan 28

Josh Norris • C • Sabres

Josh Norris Won't Play This Week

Buffalo Sabres center Josh Norris (upper body) isn't expected to return this week, Bill Hoppe of the Olean Times Herald reports. While Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff labeled Norris day-to-day on Monday, he will be out for at least three more games. Norris is dealing with an upper-body injury and will miss a seventh consecutive contest on Tuesday against the Toronto Maple Leafs. It's unfortunate to see Norris back on the sidelines after he amassed 17 points (six goals, 11 assists) in 19 appearances. Norris' absence has given Kosta Helenius a spot in the lineup, and the 2024 first-round pick has made an encouraging start to his NHL career. Helenius has posted four points (one goal, three assists) in four games.

Jan 27

Zach Benson • LW • Sabres

Zach Benson Hurt in Thursday's Win

Buffalo Sabres left wing Zach Benson (upper body) was injured in Thursday's 4-2 win over the Montreal Canadiens, Bill Hoppe of the Olean Times reports. With a couple of minutes left to play, Canadiens forward Zachary Bolduc hit Benson in the head with his elbow. Benson registered the game-winning goal in the contest, ending a three-game point drought. While scoring hasn't been easy for Benson in recent games, he is enjoying a career year. The 20-year-old has notched 23 points (six goals, 17 assists) across 37 outings. Buffalo also lost defenseman Jacob Bryson (upper body) to injury on Thursday night.

Jan 23

Josh Doan • RW • Sabres

Josh Doan Lands Seven-Year Extension From Sabres

Buffalo Sabres winger Josh Doan has signed a seven-year, $48.65 million contract extension through the 2032-33 season. The 23-year-old was scheduled to become a restricted free agent in the offseason. Doan landed in Buffalo last summer in a trade that sent JJ Peterka to the Utah Mammoth. He has flourished in his new surroundings, recording 35 points (15 goals, 20 assists) in 49 games. The second-generation NHLer also provides some physicality, averaging nearly one hit per game. After signing his extension, Doan should be in high spirits when he returns to the ice on Thursday night against the Montreal Canadiens. He has notched five goals and six assists over his last 11 outings.

Jan 22

Konsta Helenius • C • Sabres

Konsta Helenius Bags Three Points In Tuesday's Win

Buffalo Sabres forward Konsta Helenius had a memorable night against the Nashville Predators on Tuesday, finishing a 5-3 victory with a goal and two assists. Playing in his second career game, Helenius notched his first points, becoming the seventh Finnish teenager in NHL history to record a three-point game. Buffalo recently recalled Helenius from the minors after placing Josh Norris (upper body) on Injured Reserve. Norris is considered week-to-week, so Helenius might stick with the big club for a while. The 19-year-old filled a third-line role on Tuesday, skating with Noah Ostlund and Josh Doan.

Jan 21

Alex Lyon • G • Sabres

Alex Lyon Practices on Sunday

Buffalo Sabres goaltender Alex Lyon (lower body) practiced on Sunday and could soon rejoin the action. On Jan. 7, Lyon was ruled out for 7-10 days due to a lower-body injury. He has been dealing with the issue for a bit, last playing on Dec. 29. Lyon has had a good campaign with the Sabres, posting a 10-6-3 record, a 2.82 goals-against average, a .906 save percentage, and one shutout. He had produced a seven-game winning streak before getting hurt. With Lyon sidelined, both Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Colten Ellis have taken turns in goal.

Jan 18

Josh Norris • C • Sabres

Josh Norris Out Week-to-Week

Buffalo Sabres center Josh Norris (upper body) missed Sunday's practice and is week-to-week. The 26-year-old suffered an upper-body injury on Wednesday night against the Philadelphia Flyers and has missed two games. He was initially considered day-to-day. "He's not really recovering the way we had hoped," Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff said on Sunday. With Norris unavailable, Konsta Helenius is poised to make his NHL debut in Monday's contest against the Carolina Hurricanes. The 2024 first-round pick has tallied 30 points (nine goals, 21 assists) in 34 AHL games this campaign.

Jan 18

Tage Thompson • C • Sabres

Tage Thompson Records Season-High Five Points Thursday

Buffalo Sabres forward Tage Thompson dominated against the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday, completing a 5-3 victory with a season-high five points. He scored his ninth career hat trick and had two assists, bagging two points on the power play. Thompson's monster night included his 200th career goal, which ended up as the game-winning marker. The Sabres have now won 15 of their last 17 games, and Thompson has been at the heart of the success. During that stretch, he has contributed 12 goals and 14 assists. Overall, Thompson has managed 49 points (25 goals, 24 assists) in 46 games this season, with just four players having scored more goals than him.

Jan 16

Alex Lyon • G • Sabres

Alex Lyon to Miss at Least One More Week

Buffalo Sabres goaltender Alex Lyon (lower body) will be out for about 7-10 more days, Heather Engel of NHL.com reports. Lyon sustained a lower-body injury in late December, landing on the shelf after winning seven consecutive decisions. Buffalo has gone with Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen in all three games since Lyon was injured. The Finnish netminder has done solid work, posting a 2-1-0 record and allowing eight goals. With Lyon and Luukkonen in top form, the Sabres have been the hottest team in the NHL since December, joining the playoff race.

Jan 8

Jason Zucker • LW • Sabres

Jason Zucker Set to Return From 11-Game Absence

Buffalo Sabres left wing Jason Zucker (lower body) is expected to make his return from an 11-game absence on Tuesday against the Vancouver Canucks. The veteran has been out of commission for nearly a month due to a lower-body injury. At Monday's practice, Zucker joined Josh Norris and Alex Tuch on the second line and worked with the first power-play unit. Zucker has averaged nearly a point per game this season. In 21 outings, he has produced nine goals and nine assists. Half of his 18 points have come with the man advantage. On Tuesday night, Zucker is in a great position to find more success on the power-play, as Vancouver has the third-worst penalty-killing efficiency in the league (73.9 percent).

Jan 6

Alex Lyon • G • Sabres

Alex Lyon to Miss "Bit of Time"

Buffalo Sabres goaltender Alex Lyon (lower body) will sit out Wednesday's contest against the Dallas Stars. On Wednesday morning, Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff said Lyon will miss "a bit of time" with a lower-body injury, so his absence may not be limited to one game. The in-form goalie, who has recorded seven straight victories, was hurt late against the St. Louis Blues on Monday. Colten Ellis (concussion) was activated from Injured Reserve and will dress as Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen's backup on Wednesday. While Luukkonen has lost his starting job to Lyon, he has recorded back-to-back wins, allowing only one goal in each contest.

Dec 31

Alex Lyon • G • Sabres

Alex Lyon Nursing Lower-Body Injury

Buffalo Sabres goaltender Alex Lyon (lower body) could miss some time after skipping Tuesday's practice. Lyon picked up his seventh consecutive win on Monday versus the St. Louis Blues but also sustained a lower-body injury in the contest. It's unclear if Lyon will get a chance to extend his streak on New Year's Eve against the Dallas Stars. Recently, Lyon has been Buffalo's No. 1 option between the sticks, outplaying Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. Colten Ellis (concussion) has also picked up starts for the Sabres this season, and head coach Lindy Ruff said on Tuesday that the team is ready to activate him from Injured Reserve if Lyon misses time.

Dec 31

Alex Lyon • G • Sabres

Alex Lyon Bags Another Victory Monday

Buffalo Sabres goaltender Alex Lyon recorded a seventh-consecutive win on Monday against the St. Louis Blues in a 4-2 victory. The Blues got two pucks past Lyon inside the opening 8:09 of action, but the Sabres' offense kept his and the team's winning run alive. Buffalo has matched its fourth-longest streak in franchise history with nine consecutive wins. Lyon has played an integral part in the success, registering a 2.22 goals-against average and a .919 save percentage during the run of victories. The 33-year-old has improved his record for the season to 10-6-3. He boasts one shutout and has a 2.82 goals-against average and a .906 save percentage. After Monday night, Lyon is just two wins away from tying Gerry Desjardins' franchise record for the longest winning streak by a Sabres goaltender.

Dec 30

Rasmus Dahlin • D • Sabres

Rasmus Dahlin Expected to Rejoin Sabres Lineup Monday

Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin (personal) is back with the team and is expected to play on Monday against the St. Louis Blues. The Sabres captain spent the holidays in Sweden to be with his fianc e, who is recovering from a heart procedure. He missed Saturday's 4-1 win over the Boston Bruins. Jacob Bryson entered the lineup at the weekend, and Bowen Byram took Dahlin's spot on the first power-play unit. On Monday night, Dahlin will likely resume his regular duties with the man advantage and as Mattias Samuelsson's partner on the first defensive pairing. The Swedish blue-liner has amassed 28 points (four goals, 24 assists) in 33 games during the 2025-26 campaign.

Dec 29

Rasmus Dahlin • D • Sabres

Rasmus Dahlin Won't Play on Saturday

Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin (personal) won't be in the lineup on Saturday against the Boston Bruins. He is in his native Sweden, visiting his fianc e, who had a heart transplant last summer. Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff expects Dahlin to rejoin the team for an upcoming three-game road trip, which begins on Monday against the St. Louis Blues. Dahlin ranks third on his team with 28 points (four goals, 24 assists) in 33 outings. His defensive work should also not be underestimated, as Dahlin has recorded 41 blocks and 27 hits. With Dahlin unavailable, Jacob Bryson will re-enter the lineup, while Bowen Byram will slot into the first power-play unit. This is a good matchup for Buffalo's power play against a 79.2 percent penalty kill.

Dec 27

Tyson Kozak • C • Sabres

Tyson Kozak Misses Second Consecutive Game

Buffalo Sabres center Tyson Kozak (upper body) won't play on Sunday against the New Jersey Devils, Mike Morreale of NHL.com reports. He suffered an upper-body injury during Thursday's win over the Philadelphia Flyers and will be sidelined for a second consecutive game. With Kozak out, Buffalo has lost one of its most physical players, as the 22-year-old ranks third on the team with 62 hits. Offensively, Kozak has contributed two goals and two assists in 24 outings this season. Josh Dunne has taken over fourth-line center duties for the Sabres.

Dec 21

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