BUFFALO – Over the final weeks of a disappointing season in which they will add to their NHL-record playoff drought, the Sabres have quietly been establishing an identity, showcasing a more consistent and sturdier style while defeating some heavyweight opponents.
Saturday’s 3-2 come-from-behind shootout victory against the Tampa Bay Lightning at KeyBank Center extended their winning streak to three games. They’ve won nine of their last 13 games and are 11-2-0 in their last 13 home contests.
Having fallen out of the postseason race long ago, players could’ve checked out. Instead, Ruff said they’ve “wrapped their arms around” some late-season challenges.
“We know where we’re at,” Ruff said. “But to become a better team you’ve got to take every period, every game you’re playing right now and use it as a stepping stone, and I think you’ve got to give them a lot of credit right now for digging in.”
On Saturday, the Sabres erased two one-goal deficits, including in the third period, and beat a team that was 35-1-1 when leading after 40 minutes.
Sabres winger Jason Zucker’s power-play goal 5:07 into the third period tied the game. Wingers Jack Quinn and Alex Tuch both scored in the shootout and goalie James Reimer stopped both Lightning shooters to secure the win.
Reimer extended his winning streak to six games, making 22 saves.
“We have this standard right now that we want to play to in here, and, to a guy, we’re doing it,” Reimer said. “So I think that third period just carried over – how we were playing all game. We were making hard plays. When we made mistakes, guys were bailing each other out.”
Remember, prior to his current run, Reimer, 37, had mustered just two wins all season, the last one coming Feb. 4. The veteran has started seven of the last nine games in place of an ineffective Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen.
“I think it starts in net, Reims has been playing great,” said Sabres winger Tage Thompson, whose goal in the second period, his team-high 40ththis season, tied the game. “He’s been giving us a lot of confidence. When we’re in the D-zone and there’s a breakdown, (he) bails us out.”
But Reimer is just one part of the Sabres’ recent success.
They’ve been managing the puck much better, helping them stifle opponents. Tampa Bay did not register its first shot on goal until 14:12 into the game.
“Through the neutral zone tonight we were great, we kept them to the outside and, I think, frustrated a lot of their top guys,” Thompson said. “Obviously, when that happens, they tend to force pucks, and we were able to capitalize on them.”
The Sabres have also improved their special teams. They killed all three penalties against the Lightning, including a too many men call with one second left in the third period.
Then Zucker tied the game, scoring his first goal in nine games and 20th this season.
Zucker, 33, the Sabres’ oldest and most experienced skater, has seen a noticeable change over the last month.
“I think we’re just trying to buy into the right things and do the right things consistently, and when you do that you give yourself a chance to have success,” he said. “I think early in the year, it felt like we would do it for a game or two and then we would take a night or two or three off. It’s hard to find consistency that way.
“If you just focus on doing the little things right, as cliche as that sounds, it’s what works.”
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Thompson has scored six goals in his last six games and reached the prestigious 40-goal mark for the second time in his career. He registered a career-high 47 goals in 2022-23.
On Saturday, he was the most dynamic player on the ice.
“I thought he was dominant tonight,” he said.
Thompson said he set 40 as a personal goal this season.
“The individual stuff is always second, the team stuff’s always first, and I think individual success is a byproduct of how you play as a group,” he said. “I’ve been fortunate enough to play with a lot of skilled players that have made my life a lot easier and help me get to that plateau.”
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Sabres center Noah Ostlund, 21, made his NHL debut, skating 8 minutes, 37 seconds against the Lightning.
The rookie mostly played between Beck Malenstyn and Sam Lafferty and also skated on the second power-play unit.
“I thought he played well,” Ruff said of Ostlund. “I would have liked to got out there a little bit more. We had him on that second power-play unit, got a little tight down the stretch. They were playing three lines, so we just started playing three lines.
“But he’s gonna play some hockey for us, so it was a great start. Got a win in his first NHL game. I thought he had plays inside the D-zone that you really like. He read the plays well, didn’t get himself in any trouble.
Notes: The Sabres honored Lightning center Zemgus Girgensons with a tribute video during a stoppage early in his first visit back to Buffalo, where he spent 11 seasons. The Latvian received a warm ovation as he acknowledged the crowd of 15,982 fans. The Lightning clinched a playoff spot earlier Saturday, meaning Girgensons, 31, will have a chance to participate for the first time. … The Sabres scratched defenseman Jacob Bryson (healthy) and forwards Jordan Greenway (lower body, six games) Tyson Kozak (hip strain, one game) and Josh Norris (mid-body, 11 games). … Lightning goalie Jonas Johansson, who began his career with the Sabres, made 36 saves. … The Sabres host the Boston Bruins tonight.
