There is no question that it has been an interesting past few weeks with the news of Jarmo Kekalainen replacing Kevyn Adams as general manager for the Buffalo Sabres overshadowing most. However, the performance on the ice can't be forgotten, and the Sabres are playing some of their best hockey.
They are returning home for a game Thursday night against the Philadelphia Flyers and it will be the first home game for them since December 1st. Over the past few weeks, the Sabres have been on a six-game road trip that started about as poorly as a road trip could.
Over the first three games of the road trip, the Sabres were 0-3 and outscored 16-7 over that stretch. However, the second half of the road trip was a completely different story and the Sabres somehow salvaged the road trip to finish 3-3.
When looking at the entire trip, these were three players who stood out alongside two players who struggled and will want to put this stretch of games behind them.
3 winners and 2 losers for the Buffalo Sabres on their road trip
Winner: Alex Lyon
There has been plenty of questions around the goalie position and the Sabres had all three start at least one game on this road trip. However, Alex Lyon put together the best stretch of games, whether as a starter or stepping in midgame.
It started in the game against the Calgary Flames and Lyon would play the third period after Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen gave up five goals through the first two periods. Lyon finished that game, stopping all four shots he faced.
He would once again be in the net the next game, but that was not the plan as Colten Ellis suffered an injury that forced him to leave. He would play just over two periods in that game and stopped 21 of 24 shots against the Edmonton Oilers.
Lyon finished the road trip starting the final two games, and allowed only three goals over that stretch to help the Sabres beat the Canucks and Kraken. Whether it was the starter or the backup, Alex Lyon showed why he is the most important player at the position on the Sabres during this road trip.
Loser: Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
Since he returned from injury, the Buffalo Sabres have been hoping that Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen could grab the starting job and hold onto it. He seemingly will have one or two good games but then fall apart.
Luukkonen had that chance again entering this road trip after he allowed only one goal against the Winnipeg Jets at home. He would then get the start in the second and third games of this trip against the Jets and the Flames.
Unfortunately, the up-and-down performance continued as he allowed eight goals over those two games and was pulled after the second period in the game against Calgary. He should get a few more starts coming up but mainly due to the injury suffered by Colten Ellis.
However, once Ellis returns, the Sabres are going to need to cut the rotation down and if Luukkonen continues to struggle, he might be the odd man out.
Winner: Josh Doan
One of the most consistent players over this entire season has been Josh Doan and that continued once again on this road trip. He finished the six games with five points, including a two-goal effort against the Edmonton Oilers.
Through 32 games, Doan has already set career-highs in goals (10) and assists (13) and is second in power play goals with four and fourth on the team in points with 23. With Michael Kesselring out due to injury, the performance of Doan has been the Sabres saving grace for the JJ Peterka trade they made this summer.
Loser: Conor Timmins
It has been a tough season for Conor Timmins in his first year in Buffalo, and the road trip might have been the low point. Timmins finished the six-game road trip with a +/- of -5, and according to Natural Stat Trick, he was on the ice for seven high danger goals against and 10 total goals against while not having the Sabres score any goals.
There is no indication that Kesselring is set to return but the timeline was after the road trip. If he is close to returning, the Sabres are going to have to make a hard decision on whether Timmins or Jacob Bryson stays in the lineup. At this point, it probably should be Bryson but only time will tell.
Winner: Tage Thompson
Tage Thompson might be one of the streakier players right now on the Buffalo Sabres but the team should be thankful that he is on one of those hot streaks right now. In November, Thompson had a six-game goal streak but hit a lull towards the end of the month, going six games with only one point (and no goals) during that stretch.
He found the scoring touch on the second part of this road trip and finished with a goal in four straight games while also adding in three assists along the way. One of the reasons for the success might have been a shift by Lindy Ruff to get Thompson back inside at center.
So far this season, Thompson has been at his best at the position and the Sabres need to keep him there as much as they can if they want him to be productive.