Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - At the halfway point of the 2024-25 season, the Buffalo Sabres are hopeful to bet getting back on track after a tumultuous stretch of the year recently that saw a 13-game winless streak.
Following a shootout win over the Washington Capitals on Monday night on home ice, the Sabres have gone 4-2-1 in their last seven games, and are only seven points out of the first Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference.
While it will take the Sabres quite a bit to climb back up the standings heading into the second half of the season, all it may take is a run of wins on the schedule. Though it hasn't come easy for this group this year, the Sabres will play Thursday night in Ottawa against the Senators, before a three-game homestand against the Seattle Kraken, Carolina Hurricanes and Pittsburgh Penguins.
Even though the Sabres currently sit at the bottom of the conference standings with 41 games remaining, head coach Lindy Ruff still believes his team can get on the right track and make some noise again in the playoff picture.
"The run is very possible," said Ruff on Wednesday when he joined the "Jeremy and Joe Show" on WGR. "You look at the group of teams we just played against, and I think you judge your team on that. We played four good teams from the West, and we come back and play the best team in the East, understanding there's pockets of our game that have to be better."
One area Ruff knows his team has to shore up in the final half of the year is losing points like the group did in Colorado last Thursday against the Avalanche.
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"This second half, you've almost got to be a team that doesn't give up any points. When you've got a game that you're leading or you're leading late, you can't give up points," Ruff said with Jeremy White and Joe DiBiase. "But I really think it's possible we put ourselves in a position that we're going to play a lot of teams that we need to jump over. Those are games that are going to put us closer. There's a lot of games that can make a difference."
Through this recent stretch of games, forward Jason Zucker has been on a hot streak, with six goals in the five games. This included a hat-trick in that loss to the Avalanche.
Where Ruff feels the veteran has really made a difference is his presence in front of the opposing team's net.
"His work around the front of the net has been real good, dropping off out of that situation for some low plays," Ruff said." Then you've got [Tage] Thompson now, who's rotating in two or three spots, and kind of getting lost and getting more shots. But I think 'Zucks', it's a little bit of a new position for him all of a sudden, around the front of the net. You go back, he's been great at getting his stick on the puck around the front of the net, getting the tips, getting the redirect, screening goaltenders. It's an incredible talent that you can't really take for granted."
One additional change to the lineup of note has been Thompson playing on the wing, rather than at center. Ruff feels his injury is something he can deal with if he plays more on the wing.
"I don't necessarily think it's affecting him too much. He's dealing with something, and he's gonna have to continue to deal with it," he said. "I think through the year, all players deal with different stuff they have to play with. You have to play through some stuff. I don't think every team has guys or key guys that are getting through different situations throughout the year."
The Sabres and Senators drop the puck at 7 p.m. EST on Thursday, with pregame coverage on WGR starting at 6 p.m. EST with Mike Schopp and the Bulldog.