Salt Lake City, Utah (WGR Sports Radio 550) - Buffalo Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff decided it might help his team to get to Utah a day early and practice in Salt Lake City on Tuesday.
During his weekly appearance on WGR with Jeremy White and Joe DiBiase on Tuesday, Ruff talked about Jason Zucker and the lengthy illness that has kept him out the last three games, as well as the next three games on the road.
"It’s just one of those crazy viral sicknesses that he hasn’t had any solid food, I don’t think, for nine days and has gone through every type of test," said Ruff on Tuesday. "Weight-wise, I think he’s down a considerable amount of weight. And when he does start feeling better, it’s going to take a good period of time to get him up and running."
One line has been consistently good for the Sabres, and according to "Money Puck" - Josh Doan-Ryan Mcleod-Alex Tuch - and has been one of the seven best lines in the NHL.
In Carolina on Saturday, Ruff shuffled the lines in the third period, and one line dominated play and scored two goals: Tage Thompson-Ryan McLeod-Alex Tuch.
The player driving both of those lines down the middle is McLeod, who, in 15 games this season, has three goals and five assists for eight points. That translates to 16 goals and 27 assists for 43 points, which is down from his career-highs last year in all three categories.
The fact is he’s using his speed to drive his lines, and Ruff has liked what he’s seen.
"He’s a good driver, because his speed through the middle is something that helps create a lot of opportunities," Ruff said after practice on Monday.
"You look at the Thompson in alone play, you look at in the third period where he threw it out wide and got in behind them and missed on his own opportunity, the drive on the Thompson goal. He’s a good driver for offense and that helped those two guys."
McLeod is a very humble man, and doesn’t want the credit.
"I’m just trying to work pretty hard and try to do the little things," McLeod said following Monday's practice. "I still think I can add a lot to my game, but I’ve just got to work on the small details. Me and 'Tuchy' have had some good chemistry now, and it’s been good."
Going into Tuesday’s games, the Sabres have the worst record in the Eastern Conference with a points percentage of .467. Their second three-game losing streak of the season will do that to you.
Buffalo is now four points out of a playoff spot, and has eight teams to leap frog to get there. This thing is starting to slip away quickly, as it usually does at this time of year for them. They must get it turned around now on this four-game road trip, where they’ve already lost one game.
If they come home after Saturday’s game in Detroit against the Red Wings on a six-game losing streak, they will likely be out of it.