The Buffalo Sabres overcame a sluggish first period to score an impressive 3-1 road win over the New Jersey Devils on Sunday night. It marked the club's sixth straight victory, which is the franchise's longest winning streak since December 2022.
Zach Benson, who scored his third goal in the past five games, summed up why the suddenly red-hot Sabres are finally stacking up wins.
"Our belief level is super high," Benson told reporters. "We know the skill we have in this room. We know if we bring it every night we have a very good chance to win hockey games, and you're seeing that of late."
Buffalo head coach Lindy Ruff agreed with that assessment, praising his players for elevating their performance over the final 40 minutes.
"We talked in between periods about the level of compete," Ruff said. "We had to hit a new level. We weren't supporting the puck enough (in the first period). We weren't winning enough foot races. I thought the guys really dug in."
The Sabres' record now stands at 17-14-4. Their 38 points are three behind both the Tampa Bay Lightning, who own third place in the Atlantic Division, and the Devils, who sit in the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.
Buffalo's playoff odds, which dipped into the single digits during its early-season struggles, stand at a more promising 32.3%, according to MoneyPuck.
Now the Blue and Gold, who've struggled with consistency problems for years, have to prove they can maintain the improved play over the long haul.
Let's dive into the latest edition of our Sabres player grades series as the organization attempts to finally end its 14-year playoff drought.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen delivers dazzling display in the Buffalo Sabres' Dec. 21 victory over the New Jersey Devils
Sabres player grades
Player | Grade (1-10) |
|---|---|
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen | 9 |
Josh Norris | 8 |
Owen Power | 7 |
Rasmus Dahlin | 7 |
Noah Ostlund | 6.5 |
Alex Tuch | 6.5 |
Ryan McLeod | 6 |
Zach Benson | 6 |
Tage Thompson | 5.5 |
Bowen Byram | 5 |
Peyton Krebs | 5 |
Zach Metsa | 4.5 |
Jack Quinn | 4.5 |
Beck Malenstyn | 4 |
Josh Dunne | 3.5 |
Isak Rosen | 3.5 |
Michael Kesselring | 3 |
Josh Doan | 3 |
Mattias Samuelsson | 2.5 |
Buffalo Player of the Game: Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
UPL's game-stealing performance shows why the Sabres are struggling to bring an end to their three-goalie rotation despite Ruff and new general manager Jarmo Kekalainen having both said it's not an ideal setup for the remainder of the season.
Every time you're about to write off one of Buffalo's netminders, whether it be Luukkonen, Alex Lyon or Colten Ellis, they show why they could be the solution between the pipes. That said, they've each had their clunkers while trying to overcome a lack of practice and game time in some streches, too.
So, while trading UPL feels like the best answer, especially in terms of clearing out the logjam for the future, it wouldn't come without risk. He still occasionally showcases the form that allowed him to compile a .910 save percentage across 54 games in 2023-24.
Sunday night was one of those moments as he stopped 26 of 27 Devils shots. Lyon's recent run to jump-start the club's winning streak should ensure him more starts in the immediate future, but UPL earned another appearance coming out of the holiday break.
In turn, it seems like Ellis, who recently cleared the NHL's concussion protocol, may be the odd man out. That label has changed hands several times already this season, though.
Sabres quick hits
- Owen Power bounced back nicely after a rough night Saturday against the New York Islanders.
- Peyton Krebs finally scored his first goal of the season, albeit into an empty net. The Sabres will hope it sparks his typically dormant offensive game.
- We've said it countless times recently, but here's one more for good measure: Kevyn Adams sending Noah Ostlund to the minors put the former GM's roster-building failures on display one last time before he was fired last week. Ostlund has been one of Buffalo most reliable players.
- A quiet night for Isak Rosen in his return to the lineup.
- Michael Kesselring still doesn't look up to full speed after a pair of early injuries. He should become more impactful over time for Buffalo.
- A rare off night for Mattias Samuelsson, who did block some shots but spent most of the night hemmed in his own zone.
- Next up for the Sabres is a visit to the Canadian Tire Centre on Tuesday night (7 p.m. ET) for a battle with the Atlantic Division rival Ottawa Senators (18-13-4). The NHL then takes its holiday break until Saturday night.