The Buffalo Sabres hit the road tonight for a pivotal Game 3 against the Boston Bruins at TD Garden. With the series tied 1-1, the Atlantic Division champions are looking to reclaim the momentum they established early in the playoffs. However, the Sabres will have to do it without a key piece down the middle. Morning Skate Updates: Roster Shuffle The biggest news out of Thursday’s morning skate involves the forward group. Head coach Lindy Ruff confirmed that Josh Norris is unavailable for tonight’s contest due to an injury. Ruff stated that Norris is currently considered day-to-day. Consequently, Noah Ostlund will draw into the lineup to take Norris’s spot on the third line. Despite recently dealing with an upper-body injury, Ostlund was in high spirits following the morning session. He told reporters he feels great and is eager to jump right into the playoff intensity. Additionally, we are seeing a tweak on the fourth line. Tyson Kozak will slide in...Read More

It was a night to forget for the Rochester Americans at Coca-Cola Coliseum. In a Game 1 that felt uphill from the opening draw, the Amerks fell 5-0 to the Toronto Marlies, stifled by a lack of discipline and an even more glaring lack of even-strength offense. The tone was set early when Trevor Kuntar headed to the box just over a minute into the contest. While the Amerks managed to kill that initial minor, the constant pressure in their own zone eventually broke the dam. Michael Pezzetta opened the scoring at 7:07 of the first after the Marlies sustained possession through two full line changes, eventually beating Devon Levi with a far-side snipe. The bleeding didn’t stop there. Despite some big saves early from Levi, the rebound control and net-front presence favored Toronto. Benoit-Olivier Groulx doubled the lead at 14:33, and Vinni Lettieri began his dominant night with a power-play one-timer in the final minute of the frame to...Read More

TORONTO — The playoff path was anything but certain, but after a grueling 72-game schedule that came down to the final minutes, the Rochester Americans are officially dancing. Following a high-stakes three-game weekend to close the year, the Amerks cross the border tonight for Game 1 of their best-of-three North Division First Round series against the Toronto Marlies at Coca-Cola Coliseum. The Road to the Dance Rochester’s postseason fate hung in the balance until the dying moments of Sunday’s finale in Hershey. Needing a single point to secure the 23rd and final AHL playoff spot, Carson Meyer delivered a clutch game-tying goal late in the third period. Though the Amerks eventually fell 5-4 in overtime, the point earned punched their ticket for a fifth consecutive season—the franchise’s longest postseason streak since the 1990-2005 era. Devon Levi was instrumental in the clinch, turning aside 26 shots, including a pair of critical second-period breakaways. The Amerks finished their 70th-anniversary campaign with a...Read More

The energy inside KeyBank Center was absolutely electric at puck drop. Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen was pounding the pre-game drum, slamming a beer, and whipping the home crowd into an absolute frenzy. Unfortunately for the Buffalo Sabres, that pre-game electricity simply did not translate into a full 60 minutes of playoff hockey. Despite a late third-period surge, the Sabres dropped Game 2 by a final score of 4-2. The Bruins chased starting goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen from the crease early in the third period, reclaiming home-ice advantage as the series heads back to Massachusetts tied at one game apiece. JA17 gets things kicked off with banging the drum and chugging a beer. #LetsGoBuffalo #NHLBruins #BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/I7nsM5AZ9u— Buffalo Hockey Moments (@SabresPlays) April 21, 2026 Strong Start Erased by Struggles at the Dot Buffalo came out firing against Bruins netminder Jeremy Swayman. The Sabres heavily dictated the early pace, outshooting Boston 6-1 in the opening four minutes. Luukkonen also stood tall early....Read More

The 15-year wait is finally over. The Buffalo Sabres have officially reintroduced themselves to playoff hockey. After a thrilling Game 1 victory, the Sabres are back on the ice at KeyBank Center tonight. They are looking to push the Boston Bruins to the brink with a 2-0 series lead. With the morning skate wrapped up and the energy building in the 716, here is everything you need to know ahead of tonight’s 7:30 p.m. puck drop. The Mentality: Expecting a Desperate Boston Squad Game 1 was a tale of two games. First, Buffalo found themselves in a 2-0 hole early. However, they completely flipped the script with a massive four-goal surge in the final eight minutes. According to the Sabres’ communications department, that outburst occurred in just 6:46. As a result, it ranks as the third-fastest four-goal stretch in franchise playoff history. In fact, it was the fastest since 1998 against Philadelphia. Despite the comeback, the locker room understands they...Read More

The playoff beard is officially back in the Flower City. It came down to the wire, but the Rochester Americans have officially punched their ticket to the Calder Cup Playoffs for the fifth consecutive season. After a hard-fought 5-4 overtime battle against the Hershey Bears in the season finale, the Amerks locked up the fifth and final seed in the North Division. Now, the real season begins. Rochester is set to face a familiar foe in the Toronto Marlies for a high-stakes, best-of-three play-in series. Under second-year head coach Michael Leone, this squad is looking to make some noise and prove that their regular-season resilience translates to postseason success. Round 1: The Schedule Because Toronto finished as the fourth seed, they hold home-ice advantage for this short series. The Amerks will need to steal one on the road or defend the 585 with everything they’ve got to advance. GameDateLocationTimeGame 1Wednesday, April 22Coca-Cola Coliseum (Toronto)7:00 PMGame 2Friday, April 24Blue Cross Arena...Read More

The Buffalo Sabres proved on Sunday night that it isn’t how you start, but how you finish. Despite dominating the shot clock and the physical play for forty minutes, the Sabres found themselves staring down a two-goal hole early in the third period. However, a massive surge led by Tage Thompson turned a potential frustrating loss into a 4-3 series-opening statement win over the Boston Bruins. Dominance Without Reward From the opening draw, the Sabres looked like the faster team. The energy at KeyBank Center was electric, especially after Mattias Samuelsson and Alex Tuch set the tone with heavy hits early in the first. Tuch’s open-ice collision with Viktor Arvidsson signaled that Buffalo was ready for the playoff grind. Despite outshooting Boston 14-9 in the first period, the Sabres headed to the room down by one. A tough block in the defensive zone took an unlucky bounce right to Morgan Geekie, who beat Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen to give the Bruins the...Read More

HERSHEY, Pa. — It was a finish fitting for the 70th season of Rochester Americans hockey. With their entire season on the line and no margin for error, the Amerks battled through a rollercoaster finale at the Giant Center to secure the single standings point they needed. Despite a 5-4 overtime loss to the Hershey Bears, the result was a victory in the big picture. By forcing the game beyond regulation, Rochester successfully leapfrogged the Utica Comets to claim the final playoff spot in the North Division. From a record-setting shot barrage in the first period to a clutch power-play equalizer in the third, the Amerks proved they weren’t ready for their summer to start just yet. Dominant Opening Frame: Amerks Outshoot Bears in Scoreless First The Rochester Americans knew they needed a fast start in their do-or-die finale. They delivered a performance for the record books on Sunday afternoon at the Giant Center. Despite an initial scare where the...Read More

The countdown has officially hit zero. For the first time since late April of 2011, playoff hockey is back in Western New York. Tonight, the Buffalo Sabres will hit the ice at KeyBank Center to open their first-round series against the Boston Bruins, looking to set the tone in what promises to be a grueling matchup. Securing the Atlantic Division crown was no small feat for this group. Buffalo achieved a massive 109-point regular season, becoming just the fifth franchise in league history to capture a division title after trailing by eight or more points in the standings. Now, the real test begins against a Boston squad that finished just nine points behind them in fourth place. Here is everything you need to know ahead of tonight’s 7:30 p.m. puck drop. Broadcast Information Whether you are heading downtown or watching from home, there are plenty of ways to catch the action. Television (Local): MSG Television (National): ESPN Streaming (Local): Gotham...Read More

The script for the 70th season in Rochester Americans history has come down to the final page. After months of grinding through the AHL schedule, the Amerks enter game 72 on Sunday afternoon with their entire postseason fate hanging in the balance. The mission is simple but daunting: earn at least one point against the Hershey Bears, or the summer starts tomorrow. The Playoff Picture The pressure intensified Saturday night following a difficult road trip to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Despite keeping pace in shots early on, the Amerks suffered a stinging 8-0 loss to the Penguins. The shutout was Rochester’s fourth of the year—all of which have occurred away from home—and saw both Scott Ratzlaff and Topias Leinonen struggle in the crease. While Rochester stumbled, the Utica Comets surged, sweeping the Providence Bruins to pull even in the standings. Because Utica holds the tiebreaker, the Amerks find themselves on the outside looking in as they wake up Sunday morning. To reclaim their...Read More