BUFFALO – With about 80 seconds remaining in Wednesday’s 1-0 loss to the Minnesota Wild and the Sabres pressing for the tying goal, winger Alex Tuch created a juicy rebound by tipping center Tage Thompson’s shot on net.
Winger JJ Peterka, who was lurking nearby, quickly pounced on the loose puck between the left circle and crease and narrowly missed tying the game.
“Just jumped there, tried to hit the net and I just missed it by a couple centimeters, I guess,” Peterka said following Thursday’s practice in KeyBank Center.
That splendid opportunity marked the eighth of nine shot attempts Peterka registered on the night. Just one hit the net. The Wild blocked seven of his attempts.
“They did a hell of a job blocking shots,” he said after the Sabres prepared for this afternoon’s home game against the Vancouver Canucks. “I think their goalie played a really, really good game, and their D just went on one knee, two knees just to try to block everything.”
Naturally the 6-foot, 189-pound Peterka, whose goalless streak reached six games, said “it’s hard to not get frustrated with that.”
“Just keep shooting and hope that something gets through,” he said.
If Peterka, 22, keeps earning chances, especially in close, he will almost certainly start scoring. Despite his recent struggles – he also has a four-game point drought – his seven goals and 16 points rank second and fourth, respectively, on the Sabres.
Paying a greater price and getting to the net should ignite him. In recent outings, he has generated most of his chances from the outside.
“I think there’s more to JJ’s game, and I think he believes that, too,” Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said. “I’ve had conversations with (him). If you can remember (at) the start of the year, (he was) around the net more, like tighter into the net. He’s getting some chances. Those chances are further out.
“So the opportunities you get in that 10-foot range around the net, maybe tipping the puck, he has to get in on more of those.”
Ruff said playing alongside Thompson, who returned from a lower-body injury Wednesday, and Tuch gives Peterka “an opportunity to be there.”
“We used this phrase, ‘When it’s your turn to be around the net-front, you have to be there,’” he said. “And I think he’s seen some video. I’ve had discussions with him about where he needs to get sometimes. But he believes his game’s got to be better, too.”
Peterka has scored just one goal in the last nine games. The Sabres, however, have gone 6-3-0 in those contests.
“Just trying to stick with it,” the German said. “I mean, team obviously comes first, and it’s good we had such a successful road trip (last week) even though I couldn’t find the back of the net.”
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Ruff said Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin left Thursday’s practice early for “just a little bit of maintenance.”
“So I don’t believe it’ll affect him but you never know until tomorrow,” he said.
Dahlin, the Sabres’ top defenseman, has played all 22 games this season. The Swede, however missed most of training camp after injuring his back in the first session.