The Buffalo Sabres finally have a win on the board, and it came with a little bit of everything: a comeback, a late game-winner from Jiri Kulich, and a two-point night from Tage Thompson. But even with the relief of getting past the Chicago Blackhawks, there’s still a glaring issue hanging over this team as it heads into Tuesday’s matchup with the Minnesota Wild - the goaltending is not where it needs to be.
Thompson was the difference-maker Buffalo needed. After being kept off the scoresheet in the season-opening loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets, he answered with a goal and two points against Chicago.
That kind of performance matters for a Sabres team that needs its top forward to drive the offense if it’s going to match or improve on last season. Thompson is Buffalo’s most dangerous scorer, and Saturday was a reminder that when he’s rolling, the whole attack looks sharper.
Kulich also gave the Sabres a huge moment late in the third period by scoring the winner. That goal carried extra weight considering the 21-year-old missed all but 12 games of the 2025-26 season after being diagnosed with a blood clot. For Buffalo, it was more than just a big goal in a comeback win; it was the kind of lift that can energize a room.
Still, the game didn’t come without concern. Former Sabres defenseman Bowen Byram left due to a family issue, though Buffalo fans were hardly going to turn that into a storyline of their own.
The more pressing problem was in net, where Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen allowed three goals on just 15 shots. Yes, he got the win.
No, that doesn’t erase the fact that his save percentage is sitting at .784 after two games. That number has to climb, and it has to climb fast, because Buffalo can’t afford shaky goaltending to become a theme.
That’s what makes the next game so interesting. Minnesota arrives having won its first two games, and it has done it by beating the Nashville Predators and Boston Bruins while giving up only two goals combined.
So the Sabres are about to find out a lot about themselves. The Wild have stars at every position, and Buffalo has a chance to make a statement by beating them at home.
If not, Minnesota will expose the holes that still make this Sabres group look like a work in progress.
For now, Buffalo can breathe a little easier after avoiding an 0-2 start against two of the league’s worst teams in 2025-26. But Chicago was a game the Sabres needed to have, especially if they’re serious about winning the Atlantic Division for a second straight season. The Wild will tell a bigger story.
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 🡒]