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Matthew Fairburn

@matthewfairburn.bsky.social

9K followers 320 following 1.2K posts

Writing about the Buffalo Sabres and NHL for The Athletic. Occasionally writing about the Buffalo Bills as well.

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Matthew Fairburn @matthewfairburn.bsky.social · Jun 2

How did Kevyn Adams earn Terry Pegula’s trust and how has he kept it?

After conversations with 10 people in and around the Sabres the last decade-plus and a lengthy sit down with Adams, a story on a record playoff drought.

“They’re on a hamster wheel.”

www.nytimes.com/athl...

Terry Pegula’s ownership, Kevyn Adams’ rise and the ‘hamster wheel’ of Sabres’ record playoff drought

Buffalo's 14-season playoff drought is tied with the New York Jets for the longest postseason famine in major North American sports.

www.nytimes.com

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Matthew Fairburn @matthewfairburn.bsky.social · 23m

An Alex Lyon shutout, another strong game from Josh Doan and more thoughts from the Sabres’ second straight win:

Sabres thoughts: Newcomers Alex Lyon, Josh Doan fueling Buffalo’s turnaround

Buffalo's rough start to the season felt like a distant memory Saturday as Doan scored two goals to propel the Sabres to a 3-0 win.

www.nytimes.com

Matthew Fairburn @matthewfairburn.bsky.social · 1h

Brad Marchand lost his cool against the Sabres, mauling Rasmus Dahlin and then stealing his helmet and ripping the straps off before throwing it onto the ice. In the process, he contributed to the Panthers' fourth straight loss:

Brad Marchand steals, destroys Rasmus Dahlin’s helmet during Panthers-Sabres game

Marchand ripped Dahlin’s helmet off and took it with him to the penalty box.

www.nytimes.com

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Matthew Fairburn @matthewfairburn.bsky.social · 2h

Jacob Bryson is in concussion protocol, according to Sabres coach Lindy Ruff.

Matthew Fairburn @matthewfairburn.bsky.social · 2h

Sabres coach Lindy Ruff on Buffalo's physicality in this game: "It was a pack mentality and a team effort."

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Matthew Fairburn @matthewfairburn.bsky.social · 3h

Sabres win 3-0. That’s two straight impressive wins after the sluggish 0-3 start to the season. Buffalo plays next in Montreal on Monday.

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Matthew Fairburn @matthewfairburn.bsky.social · 4h

The Sabres will take a 3-0 lead into the third period. Buffalo playing a solid all-around game in this one and once again getting solid goaltending from Alex Lyon.

Matthew Fairburn @matthewfairburn.bsky.social · 4h

Owen Power scores to put the Sabres up 3-0. Alex Tuch with a slick feed, and Power finished it.

Matthew Fairburn @matthewfairburn.bsky.social · 4h

Loud boos for Brad Marchand as he exits the penalty box. We'll see what Marchand has in store for the rest of the game. He was heated enough after that altercation to head to the penalty box with Dahlin's helmet. He then threw it onto the ice.

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Matthew Fairburn @matthewfairburn.bsky.social · 4h

Josh Doan gets a power play goal, his second of the game. Right at the net front. Think that guy is going to make a decent living with goals like that. Sabres up 2-0.

Matthew Fairburn @matthewfairburn.bsky.social · 4h

Rasmus Dahlin got under Brad Marchand's skin a bit with a hit, and Marchand went after him. Marchand ends up with two minutes for interference and two for roughing. Tage Thompson, who jumped in to defend Dahlin, got two for roughing. Sabres go to the power play.

Matthew Fairburn @matthewfairburn.bsky.social · 5h

Sabres head to the first intermission with a 1-0 lead thanks to a strong period from the penalty kill and a power play goal from Josh Doan.

Matthew Fairburn @matthewfairburn.bsky.social · 5h

After starting the season 0-11 on the power play, the Sabres have now converted on four straight power plays.

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Matthew Fairburn @matthewfairburn.bsky.social · 5h

Special teams carrying the day for the Sabres so far. After killing off two penalties, the Sabres score on their first power play of the game. Josh Doan gets the goal, deflecting a Tage Thompson shot. Sabres up 1-0.

Matthew Fairburn @matthewfairburn.bsky.social · 5h

Jacob Bryson isn't on the Sabres' bench. Went to the locker room.

Matthew Fairburn @matthewfairburn.bsky.social · 5h

The Sabres killed off the first penalty, and now they're back on the penalty kill after an interference penalty against Bowen Byram. Mason Geertsen was mixing it up after the whistle. They got him for games like this one.

Matthew Fairburn @matthewfairburn.bsky.social · 6h

Sabres and Panthers drop the puck for an afternoon tilt in Buffalo, and Zach Benson gets a tripping penalty nine seconds into the game. Sabres on the penalty kill early.

Reposted by Matthew Fairburn

Matthew Fairburn @matthewfairburn.bsky.social · 1d

The Sabres parted with VP of ticket sales and service Frank Batres-Landaeta this week after an evaluation of their operations:

Sabres part with VP of ticket sales and service after evaluation of operations

The Sabres have struggled with attendance in recent seasons largely due to the team’s record playoff drought.

www.nytimes.com

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Matthew Fairburn @matthewfairburn.bsky.social · 1d

The Sabres parted with VP of ticket sales and service Frank Batres-Landaeta this week after an evaluation of their operations:

Sabres part with VP of ticket sales and service after evaluation of operations

The Sabres have struggled with attendance in recent seasons largely due to the team’s record playoff drought.

www.nytimes.com

3 1 5

Matthew Fairburn @matthewfairburn.bsky.social · 1d

Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said Justin Danforth will be out more than a month with a lower body injury. Michael Kesselring had a rehab skate this morning. Mattias Samuelsson should be good to play tomorrow.

Matthew Fairburn @matthewfairburn.bsky.social · 1d

Sabres lines at practice

Benson-Kulich-Thompson
Doan-McLeod-Tuch
Zucker-Krebs-Quinn
Dunne-Kozak-Malenstyn with Greenway (no-contact jersey) rotating in.

Byram-Dahlin
Power-Timmins
Samuelsson-Bryson
Geertsen-Metsa

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Matthew Fairburn @matthewfairburn.bsky.social · 1d

No sign of Justin Danforth at Sabres practice. He didn't finish the game on Wednesday.

Matthew Fairburn @matthewfairburn.bsky.social · 1d

Mattias Samuelsson is practicing for the Sabres. He's in a regular jersey, which is a positive sign.

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Reposted by Matthew Fairburn

Matthew Fairburn @matthewfairburn.bsky.social · 1d

Spoke to Alex Tuch yesterday about the Sabres’ slow start, his contract talks and how he’s trying to make sure those contract talks don’t distract him from getting Buffalo going in the right direction

Alex Tuch won’t let contract talks distract from trying to turn Sabres around on the ice

The risk of leaving Tuch unsigned into the season is that each rough stretch for the Sabres raises questions.

www.nytimes.com

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Matthew Fairburn @matthewfairburn.bsky.social · 1d

Alex Tuch won’t let contract talks distract from trying to turn Sabres around on the ice

The risk of leaving Tuch unsigned into the season is that each rough stretch for the Sabres raises questions.

www.nytimes.com

1 1 9

Matthew Fairburn @matthewfairburn.bsky.social · 2d

Wrote this on Zach Metsa and his journey to pro hockey when he joined the organization in 2023.

Can Sabres prospect Zach Metsa take his underdog story all the way to the NHL?

With the Sabres’ lack of defensive depth in their prospect pool, Metsa could have an opportunity to carve out a professional career.