The Buffalo Sabres are 4-1-1 in their last six games, a far cry from the abysmal 0-3 slump they started the season with. And Elliotte Friedman has one answer to their newfound success.
On the 32 Thoughts podcast Monday, Friedman singled out the Sabres, saying, "Last year, what was one of the big criticisms about the Sabres? They didn't stand up for each other. And who stands up for themselves here? Two of their leadership players, two of their pillars. Tuch and Thompson.
"That says a lot to me, and I don't think it's any coincidence that the Sabres have been playing better since these things happened."
Friedman's right, as it has been ages since the Sabres have stood up for one another in the way that you have seen over the past few games. They showed flashes in the past, but under former head coach Don Granato and even in Lindy Ruff's first season back behind the Sabres' bench, Buffalo was inconsistent, at best, sticking up for one another, and they let opponents routinely push them around on the ice.
Sabres are finally doing something fans have been demanding for years
Fans have been waiting to see the Sabres play with this much edge for years. While the 2024-25 crew was more aggressive than what they saw during the Don Granato era, there were too many times when they looked like they were fine with opponents outmuscling them and delivering cheap shots following the whistle.
The Sabres can still be more aggressive on the ice as they're averaging just 20 hits per game, standing up to opponents will send signals that this isn't the same team that folded in the past. Worse yet, other teams knew a few big hits were all they needed against the Sabres to win the intimidation game, and, at least through recent games, that isn't the case.
The burning question, though, is this: Will the Sabres keep this up for the entire season and not just one month? Fans have been frustrated with the way the Sabres have seemingly moved in the right direction for a month or so, only to revert to the team that looks light years away from breaking its playoff drought.
Getting more aggressive against opponents is one of those X-factors that will make or break a hockey team. If they keep it up for the next six months, then they have something brewing in Buffalo. If not, it will be back to the same old Sabres fans have known since the 2010-11 season ended. Let's hope the likes of Thompson, Tuch, and other cornerstones like Rasmus Dahlin make sure this team doesn't back down to anyone.