OTTAWA – Coach Lindy Ruff hardly wanted to criticize defensemen Bowen Byram, the best player on the ice in the Sabres’ 3-2 overtime victory that extended their win streak to seven games and moved them within two points of a playoff spot.
Byram performed dynamically throughout the night in the Canadian Tire Centre, scoring twice and assisting on Buffalo’s other goal.
But when he released the puck from the top of the right circle – the Sabres had killed off the final nine seconds of winger Alex Tuch’s hooking penalty – Ruff estimated goalie Linus Ullmark was likely expecting a shot around 80 to 90 mph.
“He got one probably in the low 50s,” Ruff said. “So, yeah, I think that change of pace, Ullmark was coming across for a shot that was going to be ripped and just got ahead of it.”
Byram acknowledged it “wasn’t the hardest shot in the world” that beat Ullmark 31 seconds into overtime.
“But lucky enough to go in,” he said following perhaps his best performance since joining the Sabres in 2023-24.
The Sabres’ recent run, their longest since their 10-game win streak in November 2018, has been anything but lucky.
A team given up for dead two weeks ago has quickly roared up the standings, often grabbing leads and grinding out games. In developing a tighter, more mature style, they’ve showcased their depth and found different ways to win.
“Just consistency, I think that’s been our key,” Tuch said. “… Even if we’re not playing or not feeling our best, we’re looking to play the right way. Playing the right way on a consistent basis, and when we’re feeling it, going out there and playing, not thinking.”
Heading into a three-day Christmas break, the Sabres rank 13th in the Eastern Conference but have moved into the thick of playoff chase having earned 40 points.
On Tuesday before a capacity crowd of 17,753 fans, the Sabres led 1-0 and 2-1 but the Senators, who entered the night on a four-game win streak, kept answering.
“I think the game tonight really felt like a … playoff game,” Ruff said. “A real tight game. Both teams were trying to play real tight defensively. Both teams broke through a couple times.”
The Sabres, of course, own an NHL-record 14-year playoff drought. But if they keep playing like they have over the past two weeks, that embarrassing run could end.
“We’re all playing within the system,” Tuch said. “I think we’re confident, but we’re keeping it under control. I don’t think we’re playing too loose out there. We’re making sure that when we get the opportunities, we’re trying to cash in on them but we’re not doing anything crazy, overextending shifts.
“I think our management there has been great. Just the little details that mature teams do to win hockey games. I think we’ve been good at all that.”
Byram was good all night, consistently joining the rush in perhaps his most active game with the Sabres.
“He was unbelievable tonight the way he was possessing the puck, just breaking the pucks out, moving it through the neutral zone, he was in a couple rushes,” Tuch said. “That’s one of his best games of the year.”
Byram opened the scoring 15:22 into the game when he moved up to the crease and connected on winger Jordan Greenway’s cross-ice pass.
Ridly Greig tied the game 17:13 into the first period before rookie winger Noah Ostlund tipped Byram’s shot in 6:11 into the second, his third goal in the last five games.
Tim Stutzle’s power-play goal knotted it again 9:27 into the second period.
In a tight third period, Sabres goalie Alex Lyon stopped a shot from the slot and the rebound almost 18 minutes in. He made 24 stops overall in his sixth win during the streak.
“I think a lot of these games, we haven’t had our best, and we’ve still found ways to win, whether that be goaltending or just playing simple, stupid, whatever it might be,” said Byram, who has scored eight goals this season. “And when guys start to buy into that and you start to get some momentum, I think it’s contagious. …
“Something that we’ve lacked in the past, is a ‘B’ game, and I think we’re finally starting to find one.”
After that critical late kill, center Ryan McLeod found Byram in overtime, and he did not quite get everything on it.
“Rocket of a shot, huh?” Tuch joked. “Great game.”
