BUFFALO – Right now, as the Sabres try to avoid losing their first four games and a full-blown crisis, they might be wise to lean on veteran newcomer Jason Zucker a bit.
Having played 700 NHL games – he reached the milestone in Thursday’s 3-1 loss to the Los Angeles Kings – the winger has experienced a lot over the years.
“Games played in this league is always a great thing, kind of shows longevity,” Zucker said following Friday’s practice in KeyBank Center. “I don’t think you can get to some of the higher-ups, the 1,000 games, by a fluke happening.”
Zucker, 32, is Sabres’ oldest and most seasoned player. He joined the Minnesota Wild late in 2011-12 after leaving the University of Denver. No one else on Buffalo’s roster is older than 29 or entered the league before 2016-17.
On a team stumbling out of the gate – the Sabres have mustered just one goal in each of their three losses entering Saturday’s home game against the Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers – the six-time 20-goal scorer offers a unique perspective.
It’s easy to say, but he hopes his teammates, fresh off a game in which they outplayed the Kings and generated loads of scoring chances, simply “let it go.”
“That’s the way works,” Zucker said. “It’s not an easy league. It’s not for the faint of heart. You got to be able to shake it off and … learn from the mistakes but take the positives and use those as like momentum and motivation to keep going.”
Zucker, of course, understands that if the Sabres examine the league-wide stats, they might spot the goal totals and feel like they’re falling behind.
In Thursday’s third period, Kings star Anze Kopitar scored three times, equaling the Sabres’ season total in less than 20 minutes.
“It makes you feel like you’re chasing the guys,” Zucker said. “Now, a guy like Kopitar’s got three goals. You got some guys that have three or four goals already. It’s like, ‘Ah (crap), I got to catch up.
“But ultimately, you got to keep playing your game. You got to keep shooting the puck. Volume, for me, is typically where you’re going to make it up.”
Zucker, who signed a one-year, $5 million contract as a free agent July 1, registered one shot on goal against the Kings.
The night would’ve been memorable regardless of the outcome because his son, Hendrix, 6, and daughter, Stella, 5, watched in the stands.
But he might never forget some of what he endured on the ice.
In the first period, Joel Edmundson throttled Zucker in front of the net. After staying on the ice, he skated off gingerly and returned. Later in the period, he leveled Brandt Clarke into the end boards and turned down a fight from Tanner Jeannot.
Late in third period, Zucker received a roughing penalty for a clean hit on Clarke. He was so upset about the call he also earned a 10-minute misconduct.
Zucker acknowledged the roughing penalty shocked him.
“Yeah, I felt differently,” he said.
After Sabres defenseman Mattias Samuelsson went off for slashing, Kopitar scored the go-ahead goal on a two-man advantage.
Before his night ended a bit prematurely, Zucker enjoyed a solid outing at right wing on the third line alongside center Ryan McLeod and Jordan Greenway. Less than a week into the season, the trio began showcasing chemistry.
Zucker said McLeod’s “skating is second-to-none.” He knows the 6-foot-6, 231-pound Greenway from their days as teammates in Minnesota. He said “his size, his strength, his speed” make him a unique talent.
“Being able to be that big and strong and still be that fast and skill that he has,” Zucker said. “… (We’re) trying to just harness that as much as we can and use it to our advantage.”
Sabres coach Lindy Ruff has also utilized Zucker, who has scored 196 goals in his 14-year career, on the top power-play unit. Ruff likes the experience he gives the group.
“Probably a guy that can find that open moment, whether that’s a bumper play, whether that’s under high-speed duress,” he said. “… He can hang onto pucks under pressure and make that next play.”
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Winger JJ Peterka, out since suffering a concussion last Saturday, practiced Friday. The Sabres said they would know more later about his status for Saturday’s game.
Meanwhile, Greenway and defenseman Owen Power had maintenance days Friday.