The Buffalo Sabres needed more than a fast start to their night on Saturday. They needed a comeback, and they needed it after staring at another early deficit, this time falling behind 2-0 to the Chicago Blackhawks before settling into a 4-3 win.
That made the victory feel a lot different from Thursday’s season opener, when Buffalo was down 3-1 to the Columbus Blue Jackets. This time, the Sabres dug out of the hole and did it on the same night they raised their division banner from last season.
A lot of different hands helped push the Sabres over the line, including Tage Thompson, who scored his first goal of the season, and Louis Creiver, who picked up his first point with Buffalo. But three players in particular left a bigger imprint on the game.
Jiri Kulich was the biggest one.
He was the Sabres’ player of the game, and not just because he scored the winner. The goal mattered even more because it was his first in almost a full year after he missed most of last season because of blood clots.
Kulich nearly got there a little earlier, too. He had a strong chance that went wide, but Buffalo kept the play alive, Owen Power found him, and this time Kulich finished the job.
His impact went beyond the goal. Faceoffs have been a trouble spot for the Sabres, but Kulich was sharp there, winning seven of nine draws. He’s not going to score every night, but if he keeps helping in areas like that, he gives Buffalo something valuable.
Jack Quinn also kept pressuring Chicago all night.
He’s already opened the season with a goal in each of the first two games, but he could easily have added more. Against the Blackhawks, he led the Sabres with seven individual scoring chances, according to Natural Stat Trick, which was four more than anyone else on the team.
If Buffalo is going to lighten the load on Tage Thompson, Quinn looks like a player who can help do it. A steady scoring threat from him changes the shape of this offense.
Then there was Olen Zellweger, making his Sabres debut.
He had missed the opener while still in concussion protocol, and Saturday was his first chance to get into the lineup. He played just over 15 minutes and spent much of the night alongside Owen Power.
Zellweger moved well, looked quick with the puck, and wasn’t shy about joining the attack. He also got one shot against Chicago. Natural Stat Trick had him at an xGA of only .33, which was the fourth lowest on the Sabres.
It was a strong night across the board for Buffalo, but Kulich, Quinn and Zellweger stood out in a win that came with a little extra weight attached.
In Other News...
Sabres Got The Win But Two Early Concerns Arent Going Away
The Sabres opened their home schedule with a 3-2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks, but the night still left a few familiar questions hanging around. It was a notable first look for Olen Zellweger in a Buffalo sweater and a welcome return for Jordan Greenway, while Jiri Kulich supplied the finishing touch in a game that gave the building something to feel good about.
Even with the two points banked, the performance in net was hard to ignore, as Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen had a rough outing and Buffalos power play never really found a rhythm. Those are the kinds of issues that can get pushed aside after a win in October, but they tend to resurface quickly if they keep showing up. [Read more 🡒]
Jiri Kulich Just Delivered The Sabres Moment Fans Were Waiting For
Jiri Kulichs return to the Sabres has already carried more weight than a simple roster move, but Friday night gave it a moment fans could feel. In Buffalos 4-3 comeback win over the Blackhawks, Kulich found the net for his first NHL goal in 343 days, a milestone that capped a long climb back into the lineup after a difficult absence and gave the Sabres another jolt in a game they needed to rally to win.
The finish also brought out the kind of praise that usually follows hard-earned progress, with coach Lindy Ruff and captain Rasmus Dahlin speaking to Kulichs mental strength and perseverance. Kulich credited teammates Tage Thompson and Owen Power for the assist on the play, a small reminder of how much this goal meant inside the room as much as it did on the scoreboard. [Read more 🡒]
Former Sabres Goalie Suddenly Has A Real Chance In Edmonton
Devon Levis start in Edmonton has gone from a depth-chart curiosity to something worth tracking for Buffalo fans who followed his exit. The former Sabres goalie picked up his second win for the Oilers with a strong outing against Seattle, and his path to this point has already changed since the season began. He opened as a backup, but Edmonton turned to him for a starting opportunity after its loss in the opener, giving him a chance to show he can handle more than spot duty.
For a player who arrived with some uncertainty around his role, the immediate challenge is no longer just getting into games but proving he belongs there for a stretch. Levis early work has put him in a position the Oilers did not necessarily expect this soon, while former Sabres teammates such as Jordan Greenway and Connor Clifton also continue to surface in their own games around the league. For Buffalo, it is another reminder that a familiar name can still matter somewhere else, even if the next step in Edmonton is still playing out. [Read more 🡒]