OTTAWA – Two weeks ago, having just lost to the feeble Calgary Flames for the second time in three weeks, the Buffalo Sabres appeared to be barreling toward another postseason DNQ.
Their third consecutive defeat as they began a six-game road trip kept them mired in last place in the Eastern Conference, eight points out of the second wild card spot.
At that point, the Sabres had just two road wins all season, including zero in regulation. To have any hope of climbing into the chase and ending their NHL-record 14-year playoff drought, they had to immediately start rattling off wins.
A funny thing happened after that embarrassing 7-4 loss in Calgary. Suddenly, the Sabres started winning. Right now, they’re the NHL’s hottest team.
They carry a six-game win streak into Tuesday’s contest against the Senators, a team they trail by two points. Based on tiebreakers, a regulation victory at the Canadian Tire Centre would move them ahead in the standings.
Their longest run of victories since their 10-game win streak in November 2018 has vaulted them into the thick of the postseason race.
Entering Monday’s schedule, the Sabres stood in 14th place in the conference, just three points out of the second wild card spot.
Crazy, huh? Remember, the Sabres fired general manager Kevyn Adams last Monday and replaced him with Jarmo Kekalainen.
“We said if we’re going to get back in this – we’ve got healthier, got more bodies – that we have to put a run together,” Sabres coach Lindy Ruff told reporters in New Jersey following Sunday’s 3-1 win against the Devils.
Those healthy bodies have helped, most notably center Josh Norris, who’s expected to face the Senators for the first time since they traded him on March 7 in the blockbuster deal that sent center Dylan Cozens to the Canada’s capital.
Norris’ two-goal, three-point outing in his return Dec. 1 from a 24-game absence was a harbinger. Overall, he has registered at least one point in seven of his eight games this month and scored four goals and 10 points.
Adding a first- or second-line pivot during the season can do wonders for a team, and the Sabres are 5-3-0 in games Norris has played this month.
But contributions up and down the lineup – “Our our lines are deeper,” Ruff said – in all aspects of the game have buoyed the Sabres during their streak.
They’ve scored at least one power-play goal in four of the five games in which they’ve had an opportunity (they had zero Sunday). Meanwhile, they’ve killed 82.4 percent of their penalties.
Since their streak began Dec. 9 in Edmonton by beating the Oilers 4-3 in overtime, they’ve allowed an NHL-low 12 goals.
Alex Lyon has morphed into perhaps the NHL’s hottest goalie, compiling a 5-0-0 record with a 2.31 goals-against average and a .931 save percentage over the last two weeks.
On Sunday, Ruff gave Lyon a breather, and goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen performed splendidly in his first start since getting yanked Dec. 8 in Calgary, making 26 saves in just his fifth win this season.
“He stayed ready and he took his opportunity,” Ruff said. “I love it. He played one hell of a game for us.”
Strong goaltending has helped the Sabres hold leads. Yes, they blew a 3-0 advantage in the third period in Edmonton and the New York Islanders tied Saturday afternoon’s game late before the Sabres won 3-2 in a shootout.
Still, they’ve been up entering the third period in each of their last six games.
Their ability to grab leads and grind out wins illustrates they might be starting to grasp Ruff’s expectations and develop the competitive and relentless identity Kekalainen wants them to play.
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The Sabres had Monday off. Tuesday is their final game before a three-day Christmas break.