BUFFALO – Goalie James Reimer was within earshot following his splendid 33-save performance in Tuesday’s 3-0 win over the Carolina Hurricanes, so winger Alex Tuch playfully needled the Sabres’ oldest player.
“So steady, so calm,” Tuch said after Reimer earned his seventh straight victory, setting a new career high. “It’s like he’s been doing it for, like, 20 years or something.”
Actually, Reimer, 37, has been tending goal in the NHL since 2010-11, and a strong argument can be made the veteran journeyman is enjoying the best stretch of his 15-year career.
“It really gives us a lot of confidence,” Tuch said after Reimer recorded his 31st career shutout. “… He’s been playing unbelievable. He’s been our best player the last handful of games, and it’s great. I mean, one more year maybe? What do you think?”
While Reimer, who usually serves as Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen’s backup, isn’t the long-term answer in net, his recent exploits might convince the Sabres to re-sign him for another season.
“He just looks calm, looks totally under control,” Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said. “He’s got himself in a good place and he’s just continuing to roll, not unlike a goal scorer when they get going in the right direction. I think Reims is feeling it now and he’s on a heater.”
Reimer credited his teammates for his first shutout since last season.
“Whenever a goalie gets a shutout … everyone looks at a goalie, right?” he said. “And I’m sure I made some good saves tonight, but it’s a combination of we’re playing good and I’m getting bounces and your teammates putting a heck of an effort in front of you.”
Reimer has emerged as the Sabres’ backbone during a significant stretch the team hopes will be a harbinger for next season.
The Montreal Canadiens’ 4-1 win over the Detroit Red Wings officially eliminated the Sabres from the playoffs, extending their NHL-record streak to 14 seasons.
Still, the Sabres, who have won five straight games for the first time since January 2023, are creating some optimism.
They’re 10-3-0 in their last 13 outings. They’ve won seven straight games at home for the first time since Oct. 22 to Nov. 24, 1999. They’re 15-4-0 at home since Jan. 1.
The Sabres’ inability to transform KeyBank Center into a rink opponents detest visiting has factored heavily in their long run of futility.
Finally, that’s starting to change.
Home or road, the Sabres have played some terrific games lately, showcasing a tighter, more mature style.
Against the Hurricanes, the Sabres played patiently and waited for their opportunities while pumping just 18 shots on goalie Pyotr Kochetkov.
“I think it’s something we’re getting real good at,” Ruff said after notching his 899th win behind an NHL bench. “We’re comfortable in a tight game, we’re comfortable when there’s not a lot going on. Managing the puck better inside that period of time. Then when we made a couple of poor plays, the guys understand.”
So, what’s changed recently? Well, a lot.
“We’ve had a few changes in personnel, you can see the difference it’s made to our team,” Ruff said when asked about how the Sabres have beaten a slew of playoff-bound teams. “We’ve made a couple of adjustments to the way we play that we feel is better for our club, and we’re getting rewarded for a lot better puck management, a lot tighter play.
“We’re sacrificing what could be a great individual play for what might be a lesser play on the ice at a certain time in the game.”
The Sabres put the Hurricanes away in the second period, getting goals from winger Tage Thompson at 1:32 and Tuch at 16:45.
Thompson has a career-best five-game goal streak and is up to 44 goals this season. He has scored a whopping 10 times in his last eight games. His 37 even-strength goals lead the NHL.
Tuch, meanwhile, scored his NHL-leading sixth short-handed goal and extended his seven point streak to seven games. He has compiled seven goals and 12 points during that torrid stretch.
Winger JJ Peterka scored the Sabres’ other goal 1:58 into the third period, putting the game away before the crowd of 13,709 fans.
