BUFFALO SABRES NEWS

Sabres' Connor Clifton suspended by NHL for two games for head shot to Devils' Nico Hischier

The NHL has suspended Buffalo Sabres defenseman Connor Clifton for two games without pay for what it determined was an illegal check to the head of New Jersey Devils forward Nico H...

OCTOBER 28, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Avs look to end road trip with win vs. Sabres After having their NHL-record road win streak snapped by the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Colorado Avalanche will try and start a new one on Sun...

OCTOBER 28, 2023 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen - Set to start Sunday Luukkonen is expected to guard the home crease Sunday versus Colorado, per Paul Hamilton of WGR Sports Radio 550.

Impact With Devon Levi (lower body) and Eric Comrie (lower body) injured, Devin Cooley will serve as Luukkonen's understudy Sunday. Luukkonen has allowed seven goals on 59 shots (.881 save percentage) over two contests this season. Bouncing back against Colorado, which has a 6-1-0 record and has averaged 3.86 goals per game, will be a difficult task.

OCTOBER 28, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Sabres' Clifton suspended 2 games for illegal check Clifton was ejected for the hit. Hischier returned for the second period and sat out the third period.

OCTOBER 28, 2023 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Clifton suspended 2 games for actions in Sabres game | NHL.com Defenseman banned for illegal check to head of Devils forward Hischier

OCTOBER 28, 2023 • NHL.COM

Connor Clifton - Handed two-game suspension Clifton has been suspended for two games following a check to the head of Nico Hischier in Friday's loss to the Devils.

Impact Clifton was given a major penalty for the hit, and he'll now miss an additional two games. The 28-year-old has averaged 15:29 through eight games in his first year with the Sabres, adding an assist and 23 hits. Jacob Bryson will likely take over on Buffalo's third pairing while Clifton serves his suspension.

OCTOBER 28, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Sabres D Connor Clifton to have hearing with NHL Buffalo Sabres defenseman Connor Clifton will have a hearing with the NHL Department of Player Safety on Saturday following his illegal chec...

OCTOBER 28, 2023 • SUNHERALD.COM

Devon Levi - Could be back Wednesday Levi (lower body) might be available to suit up as the backup goalie Wednesday against Philadelphia, Lance Lysowski of The Buffalo News reports.

Impact Levi, who hasn't played since Oct. 19 against Calgary, has been making some progress skating on his own for the past two days. The Sabres hope to have him back at practice Tuesday. Fellow Buffalo netminder Eric Comrie (lower body) is week-to-week, so Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen will probably start Sunday versus Colorado. The Sabres brought up Devin Cooley from AHL Rochester on Saturday to serve as the backup goalie.

OCTOBER 28, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Eric Comrie - Facing extended absence Comrie (lower body) is considered week-to-week, Lance Lysowski of The Buffalo News reports.

Impact Buffalo's goaltending depth has been tested early this season, with Devon Levi (lower body) sidelined for the last four games and now Comrie, who was moved to injured reserve Saturday. The 28-year-old Comrie had gone 1-1-0 with a .914 save percentage to start the season. Devin Cooley was recalled to back up Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen on Sunday, though the Sabres are hopeful that Levi will be able to return next week.

OCTOBER 28, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Devin Cooley - Called up Saturday Cooley was recalled from AHL Rochester on Saturday.

Impact With both Eric Comrie (lower body) and Devon Levi (lower body) unavailable, Cooley will likely serve as Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen's backup Sunday against Colorado. The 26-year-old Cooley has yet to make his NHL debut, though it could be a short stint in Buffalo, as Levi appears to be nearing a return.

OCTOBER 28, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Sabres take on the Avalanche in a non-conference matchup

The Buffalo Sabres and the Colorado Avalanche take the ice in a non-conference matchup

OCTOBER 28, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Sabres observations: Eric Comrie injury another twist in Buffalo's goalie situation Comrie left Friday's game in New Jersey with a lower-body injury and Connor Clifton was ejected for a hit to the head of Nico Hischier.

OCTOBER 28, 2023 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Mattias Samuelsson - Offers assist in loss Samuelsson logged an assist, two hits and six blocked shots in Friday's 5-4 loss to the Devils.

Impact Samuelsson set up Rasmus Dahlin's second-period tally. The helper was Samuelsson's first point in three games, but he's been modestly productive with three points through eight outings this season. The 23-year-old blueliner has added six shots on net, 17 hits, 19 blocked shots and a plus-2 rating. He remains on the top pairing with Dahlin, though Samuelsson is more of a shutdown defender.

OCTOBER 28, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Henri Jokiharju - Gathers assist Jokiharju notched an assist and blocked three shots in Friday's 5-4 loss to the Devils.

Impact Jokiharju has quietly stepped up on offense to begin 2023-24, logging four assists over eight games. Two of his helpers have come in the last two contests. The defenseman has added seven shots on net, four hits, 10 blocked shots and a plus-2 rating while playing in a bottom-four role. His career high in points is 19 in 60 outings from 2021-22, but he could challenge that mark if he stays consistent this year.

OCTOBER 28, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Kyle Okposo - Manages helper in loss Okposo recorded an assist, two blocked shots and two PIM in Friday's 5-4 loss to the Devils.

Impact Okposo has three helpers over his last five games, which is all of his offense this season. He set up a Dylan Cozens tally in the third period Friday. Okposo is seeing fourth-line usage again this season, and he's racked up six hits, six blocked shots, six shots on net, eight PIM and a plus-1 rating through eight appearances.

OCTOBER 28, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Jordan Greenway - Produces assist Friday Greenway notched an assist and four shots on goal in Friday's 5-4 loss to the Devils.

Impact Greenway helped out on a Tage Thompson goal in the first period. It's been a positive start to the season for Greenway, who has rarely been more than a middle-six winger in his career. He's seen some top-line time at even strength this season while posting one goal, three helpers, 10 shots on net, 11 hits and a minus-1 rating through eight contests.

OCTOBER 28, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Owen Power - Draws helper in loss Power posted an assist, three shots on goal, two hits and two PIM in Friday's 5-4 loss to the Devils.

Impact Power has logged a helper in two straight games, and he's up to four assists through eight contests overall. The defenseman helped out on John-Jason Peterka's tally in the first period. Power also has 13 shots on net, 10 blocked shots, two PIM and a plus-4 rating this season, and he's playing in a top-four role.

OCTOBER 28, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Alex Tuch - Posts assist in loss Tuch notched an assist and three shots on goal in Friday's 5-4 loss to the Devils.

Impact Tuch set up a Tage Thompson tally in the first period. With three points over his last two contests, Tuch may finally be getting his offense up to speed after a sluggish start. The winger has four points, 16 shots on net, seven blocked shots, 18 PIM and a minus-3 rating through eight outings overall, but he's maintained a top-six role amid the struggles.

OCTOBER 28, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Jeff Skinner - Supplies helper in loss Skinner notched an assist, five shots on goal and a minus-2 rating in Friday's 5-4 loss to the Devils.

Impact Skinner helped out on a Rasmus Dahlin goal in the second period. The assist extended Skinner's point streak to four games (four goals, two helpers). The winger is at seven points, 30 shots on net, two PIM and a minus-3 rating through eight contests. He's seeing even-strength time on the second line, but the 31-year-old remains on the top power-play unit.

OCTOBER 28, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

JJ Peterka - Lights lamp in loss Peterka scored a goal in Friday's 5-4 loss to the Devils.

Impact Peterka snapped a three-game drought with his first-period tally. The 21-year-old winger has struggled to find consistency while playing on the third line this season, but he's managed to pot three goals through eight contests. He's also picked up 15 shots on net, two PIM and an even plus-minus rating. Peterka doesn't play an overly physical game, so he'll have to score to get on the fantasy radar in redraft formats.

OCTOBER 28, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Dylan Cozens - Deposits goal in loss Cozens scored a goal in Friday's 5-4 loss to the Devils.

Impact Cozens tied the game at 4-4 in the third period, but the Devils took the lead for good 1:42 later. The 22-year-old struggled early in the season, but he's gotten on the scoresheet in six straight contests, accumulating all seven of his points in that span. The 22-year-old forward has added 19 shots on net, 10 hits, 16 PIM and a minus-2 rating through eight appearances.

OCTOBER 28, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Rasmus Dahlin - Puts away first goal Dahlin scored a goal and blocked five shots in Friday's 5-4 loss to the Devils.

Impact Dahlin's second-period tally tied the game at 3-3. The defenseman extended his point streak to seven games with his first goal of the year. He's up to eight points, 19 shots on net, 17 hits, 17 blocked shots, six PIM and a minus-4 rating through eight contests. The slow start in the goal-scoring department means Dahlin will have an uphill battle to record his third straight season with double-digit goals -- he scored in five straight contests to open 2022-23.

OCTOBER 28, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Tage Thompson - Strikes for goal in loss Thompson scored a goal on two shots and added two hits in Friday's 5-4 loss to the Devils.

Impact Thompson briefly put the Sabres ahead 2-1 in the first period with his third tally over the last two games. The 25-year-old sputtered early in the season, but he's managed four goals and one helper through eight outings. The center has added 34 shots on net, seven hits and a minus-4 rating while playing in his usual top-line role.

OCTOBER 28, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen - Takes loss Friday Luukkonen stopped 18 of 21 shots in relief of Eric Comrie (lower body) in Friday's 5-4 loss to the Devils.

Impact Luukkonen entered the game midway through the third period, and he ultimately ended up with the loss. The 24-year-old never had a lead to protect. He's now appeared in two straight games, allowing seven goals on 59 shots. With Comrie hurt and Devon Levi (lower body) also working his way back from injury, Luukkonen may be the man in goal for a short spell. The Sabres' next game is a challenging home matchup against the Avalanche on Sunday.

OCTOBER 28, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Connor Clifton - Set for hearing Clifton will have a hearing Saturday after his check to the head on Nico Hischier in Friday's loss to the Devils.

Impact Clifton was given a match penalty and logged just 4:28 of ice time before the incident. Assuming he's slapped with a suspension, Jacob Bryson will likely slide into the lineup in Clifton's stead. Clifton has one point with a minus-6 rating through eight games.

OCTOBER 28, 2023 • ROTOWIRE