Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - After a successful California road trip that saw the team earn wins in all three games against the Los Angeles Kings, Anaheim Ducks and San Jose Sharks, the Buffalo Sabres are back on home ice, looking to continue their winning ways in front of the hometown faithful heading into Thanksgiving Weekend.
The Sabres needed strong defensive performances in all three of their games on the West Coast, which is different from the style of play they are accustomed to playing. Two of the three wins for Buffalo came in comeback fashion, with the team battling back in the late stages of each contest.
"You do gain some belief and some resilience through going through those things together, believing that we're going to find a way," said Sabres assistant coach Seth Appert during his appearance on the "Jeremy and Joe Show" on Tuesday. "Whether we're playing great that night or just OK, let's hang in there, let's stay in the fight, and then we're going to find a way. I thought we played a great defensive game in L.A., the penalty kill was outstanding that night, and we found a way to win a 1-0 game. But what's really important is the moments of those games on the road, especially when you're not playing as good, or when the other team is outplaying you. You hunker down, and you survive those moments and give your team a chance."
Heading into a Wednesday night matchup with the Minnesota Wild back at KeyBank Center in Downtown Buffalo, one item on the minds of most Sabres fans is the status of forward Tage Thompson. While Thompson made the trip with the team out West, he did not play in any of the three games.
The good news for the Sabres is Thompson was back on the ice for Tuesday's practice, and is expected to return to the lineup from his five-game absence.
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"You never want a player of his caliber out of your lineup," Appert said with Jeremy White and Joe DiBiase. "At same point in time out West, we were in Games 19, 20, and 21, and you want to be smart with your players, and making sure you don't put them in a situation that the injury can become longer. Those are constant conversations between our medical team, our trainers and our coaching staff."
With the Sabres back home from their four-game road trip, they'll play seven of their next eight games on home ice, but will welcome some fierce competition, squaring off with some of the top teams in the NHL.
"Winnipeg [Jets] and Minnesota are off to great starts. Both teams are playing fantastic hockey. Vancouver [Canucks] was one of the best teams in the NHL last year, they're a really good team. [New York] Islanders are a heavy team, Colorado [Avalanche] is Colorado. So you have a lot of high-end Stanley Cup contending teams and heavier teams on the schedule here in the next couple weeks. Those are going to be good challenges for us," Appert acknowledged.
Faceoff for Wednesday night is slated for 7 p.m. EST, with pregame coverage on WGR starting at 6 p.m. EST during "Schopp and the Bulldog".