Lindy Ruff said he’s probably been more patient than he’s ever been while trying to figure out the Buffalo Sabres’ players in his first year as coach. But that patience ended Saturday when a loss at the Detroit Red Wings extended the Sabres’ losing streak to three and put their season record at 4-7-1.
Monday at practice, Ruff’s tone change was notable. “We’ve got to win games,” he said. “That’s the key. Raise the standard. Raise the expectation. … Don’t accept what went on in Detroit as OK. OK hockey is not good enough.”
He backed up those words with action when he filled out his lineup card for Buffalo’s Tuesday game against the Ottawa Senators. Henri Jokiharju and Mattias Samuelsson, who had played every game this season, were healthy scratches. Ruff met with both players and made it clear their level of play isn’t where it needs to be.
“We’ve discussed what is necessary to win hockey games,” Ruff said. “I’ve probably been more patient than I’ve ever been just trying to figure these guys out. But there’s a standard you have to play to. The standard hasn’t been good enough.”
Ruff replaced them with Connor Clifton and Dennis Gilbert, two of Buffalo’s hardest hitters. And his message to the group before the Senators game was clear.
“Get emotionally involved in the game,” Ruff said. “We were emotionally involved in the game right from the start.”
The Sabres came out with an intent to hit the Senators early and often. Beck Malenstyn and Dylan Cozens made big bodychecks in the first period. Then, six minutes into the game, Jordan Greenway crushed Senators star forward Tim Stützle along the boards. Brady Tkachuk took exception to the hit and instigated a fight with Greenway.
“It’s not an easy job,” Sabres defenseman Bowen Byram said. “Tkachuk is a tough dude, and he plays that role well. But Greener is tough as well, and he can handle business. It’s a tough job, and I don’t know if people really realize the pressure or what you’re feeling when you’re in that situation. Greener did awesome, and that’s why we love having him on our team. He’s a big, strong dude that plays hard, and he’s always got our back.”
Because Tkachuk got the instigator penalty, the Sabres got a power play and cashed in with a goal from JJ Peterka. That ended up springboarding the Sabres to a 5-1 win in one of their most complete performances of the season.
Tkachuk sat in the box for most of the first period. That mattered because the Senators had 71 percent of the expected goals when he was on the ice at five-on-five. He led the game with six hits and had an assist on Ottawa’s lone goal, but the Sabres managed to hold him without a shot on net or an individual scoring chance at five-on-five.
“Brady plays a hard game,” Sabres center Tage Thompson said. “He’s physical; he’s in your face. When his team isn’t really going or they don’t feel they have it, he’s doing what he does best, and that’s running around hitting guys and stirring stuff up.”
But the Sabres were the aggressor Tuesday. Six Sabres players had at least three hits, with Malenstyn and Cozens leading the way with five apiece. Late in the game, when Tkachuk was trying to initiate more extracurricular activity after the whistle, Gilbert stepped in to shut it down.
“That’s the kind of pack mentality you have to have as a group, especially in your own building: that we’re not going to get pushed around,” Thompson said.
The Sabres had every reason to come into this game desperate. With a 4-7-1 record entering the matchup, the Sabres had a chance to be in last place in the NHL with a regulation loss. They were amid a three-game losing streak, and their season was at an early turning point. This stretch of November games, starting with the Senators, feels like Buffalo’s best chance to put itself in a position to push for the playoffs. That might seem premature to talk about on Nov. 5, but in the NHL, a high percentage of teams that are in a playoff position by American Thanksgiving make the playoffs. If you want to be a playoff team, you better find yourself within a few points of a seat at the table by the end of the month.
And Buffalo’s schedule is favorable. In the nine games before Thanksgiving, the Sabres play the New York Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers, Los Angeles Kings, Anaheim Ducks and San Jose Sharks on the road and host the Calgary Flames, Montreal Canadiens, St. Louis Blues and Minnesota Wild. Of those teams, the Rangers and Kings are the only two that qualified for the postseason last year. The Wild are also off to a hot start. But if there’s a time to stack points, it’s now.
“It’s really hard to look at points in October and November and realize how important they are in March and April,” Malenstyn said. “You have to have that mindset that every time we step onto that sheet, those 2 points are going to be valued, whether they’re the last game of the season, the first game of the season or anywhere in between.”
Quick hits
1. Ruff spoke before the game about the Sabres needing more big saves from their goalies. They got a few from Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, including a sensational stop when two Senators broke in alone. The Sabres were up 1-0 at that point, and Luukkonen helped them keep the lead. Luukkonen stopped 37 of 38 shots in his best game of the season in terms of save percentage and goals saved above expected.2. Byram scored twice for the Sabres. One was on a beautiful pass from Ryan McLeod, and the other was on a shot Byram threw on net from the point. Senators goalie Linus Ullmark probably could have stopped either goal, but Byram’s involvement in Buffalo’s offense has been significant, especially since he’s been paired with Rasmus Dahlin. He now has 8 points in 13 games. The Sabres have only 39 percent of high-danger chances when Byram is on the ice at five-on-five, so he’s giving up some the other way. But Ruff loves what Byram brings with his skating and creativity.
3. Peterka had two power-play goals, and it was the first time all season that the Sabres had two power-play goals in a single game. The top line didn’t need the man advantage to shine against the Senators, though. The Sabres had a 15-2 advantage in scoring chances when Peterka, Thompson and Alex Tuch were on the ice at five-on-five. Thompson led the Sabres with 11 shots on net. He also scored a greasy goal when Tuch’s shot hit Thompson’s shoulder while he was sprawling on the ice. It was the type of dirty goal Ruff has wanted to see more of early in the season.