Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR) - Last season, Buffalo Sabres forward Jiri Kulich played 12 games before missing the rest of the year with a blood clot issue.
To start this year, head coach Lindy Ruff started him on a line with Sam Carrick and Beck Malenstyn, making him have to earn his way to the top-nine forwards group.
In Saturday's 4-3 win over the Chicago Blackhawks, Ryan McLeod was struggling, being on the ice for all three goals-against. Ruff took the opportunity to put Kulich in McLeod's place between Peyton Krebs and Konsta Helenius, and the 22-year-old took advantage.
First, captain Rasmus Dahlin tied the game when he joined the rush and came open down the slot. Krebs found him, and Dahlin tied the game at 3-3.
Kulich did his job covering up for Dahlin as he went up ice, giving the captain confidence that he could just go.
Just 7:10 later, Kulich went in on a partial breakaway on Blackhawks goalie Spencer Knight, but had the puck slide away from him.
Kulich stopped at the net, and Buffalo's leading scorer - Owen Power - found him in space. If you give Kulich two glorious opportunities like that, he's usually not going to miss them both.
It was Kulich's first goal since last year on Oct. 24.
In addition, Kulich won 7-of-9 faceoffs in the game.
Ruff also trusted the young forward enough to have him on the ice for the final 1:07 of the game, protecting a one goal lead.
This was a game where Knight stood on his head for as long as he could, but the Sabres stayed with it.
Chicago had a 2-0 lead, but Jack Quinn has spent two games putting forth a supreme effort and it's paying off for him. He had some great chances before he put the Sabres on the board late in the first period.
That goal showed the team if they stay with it for the final 40 minutes, they should be able to secure two points.
Defenseman Louis Crevier was playing against the team that traded him to Buffalo, and he became a factor when he ripped a shot from the point that was tipped in by Tage Thompson.
Ruff and Dahlin both know the Sabres won't get away with the defensive effort they've put forth in the first two games when they host the Minnesota Wild, Dallas Stars, Utah Mammoth and Florida Panthers next week.
