Buffalo, NY (WGR 550/WBEN) – The Buffalo Sabres just keep playing well game after game, but unfortunately it all started too late as despite Buffalo’s 3-0 win over the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday, the Montreal Canadiens beat the Detroit Red Wings 4-1 to officially eliminate the Sabres for an NHL record 14th straight season.
Buffalo won their fifth straight game for the first time since January of 2023 and their eighth out of nine and 10th out of 13. They also have gone 16-4-0 in their last 20 home games and won their seventh in a row. In their last 15 home games they’re 13-2-0.
“We know where we’re at,” Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said. “I’m disappointed where we’re at and we can’t do anything with that, but we can work on our game and we’re going to continue to work on our game until it’s over.”
Ruff said that much of this is now coming from the players. He said they’re coming off the ice and telling each other when things are wrong or when they’re right. Ruff said that means so much more than when it comes from him. He said often he doesn’t even need to say anything.
Ruff is in his second stint as coach of the Sabres. He was hired in May when he replaced Don Granato. Ruff was the last person to coach Buffalo to the playoffs in 2011 before he was fired in 2013.
James Reimer has been a key part of what’s been going on lately as he won his career best seventh straight game picking up his first Buffalo Sabres shutout. Reimer made 33 saves and two huge saves on famous Sabres killer Sebastian Aho who was open in front. He also got the help of the post thanks to the stick of former Sabre Tyson Jost.
Despite being outshot 33-18, the Sabres didn’t get dominated. I think the Sabres had the better chances and for the most part defended well and kept the shots to the outside.
Part of this learning process is not panicking when things don’t go well. This was a game where they needed to be patient and wait for their chances.
The last goal was a lazy turnover by former Sabre Taylor Hall who did nothing to try to get back after he gave it to Jack Quinn. It’s the same Hall that played for the Sabres. Quinn had a 2-on-1 with JJ Peterka who scored on a layup. Peterka has 14 goals and 16 assists for 30 points in his last 28 games.
The first goal was just another play where Tage Thompson came flying through the neutral zone and backed the defense in. That goal pulled him into second place in the NHL with 44. Thompson has goals in five straight games netting eight. He has 10 goals in eight games.
The second goal was a set play on the penalty kill. The faceoff was outside the Buffalo zone and Ryan McLeod won the faceoff to Bo Byram. Alex Tuch took off and got behind Brent Burns to walk in alone for his league leading sixth shorthanded goal. Tuch has points in seven straight games scoring seven goals and five assists for 12 points.
Overall Buffalo has passed eight teams with a .494 points percentage. In the Eastern Conference they’ve gone ahead of the Pittsburgh Penguins, Boston Bruins and Philadelphia Flyers. They still have a little ways to go if they want to get by Detroit and the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Buffalo’s next game is in Columbus on Thursday.