BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Victories have been too few during the longest postseason sabbatical in NHL history. Yet in recent seasons, the Sabres have found it in themselves to play winning hockey on special occasions
Be it the banner night for Rick Jeanneret and the beloved broadcaster’s last call, the retirement of all-time great Ryan Miller’s jersey and the send-off for another goalie Craig Anderson, the Sabres honored their foreskaters with a triumphant ending. They brought the same energy on emotional nights following deadly blizzards and Damar Hamlin’s heart-stopping collapse, as well as more joyous celebrations like the return of the goat head sweaters.
Fan favorite Rob Ray’s induction into the team’s Hall of Fame can now be included among those Sabres cultural capstones.
Feel-good win
Jiri Kulich scored two goals including the winner with 2:04 left in the third period as the Sabres rallied for a 4-3 win against the Nashville Predators on Friday night at KeyBank Center following the ceremony recognizing Ray, the popular enforcer who played 889 games for the Sabres from 1989 to 2003, further rooting himself in the community through charitable endeavors and as part of the team broadcast for the past two decades.
Ryan McLeod and Kulich had goals within the first nine minutes to give the Sabres a 2-0 lead. After the Predators scored three to pull in front, Jason Zucker tipped in Alex Tuch’s shot for the tying goal toward the end of the second. Rasmus Dahlin assisted on the first two goals, moving him past Mike Ramsey for second all-time among Sabres defenseman with 257 assists in 479 career games. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 28 saves in Buffalo’s second consecutive win.
“Really all I talked about after the game was what Rayzor was and he was the ultimate team player,” Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said. “And on a night like this, to win that way and have really what I felt was a really good team game —you got to feel good about it.”
Meaningful presence
Sabres co-owner Kim Pegula was in attendance, making her first appearance at the arena since experiencing a debilitating cardiac arrest in June, 2022. She watched from a suite with her husband Terry, and was shown clapping for Ray in video on the team’s social media.
“It’s great that she was able to get here,” Ray said. “And knowing everything, just to make that effort to come, I think it’s awesome. I think it’s great, and I appreciate it 100%. It meant a ton to me.”
Kulich comes through
With his parents in the building for the first time in his NHL career, the 20-year-old Czech became the youngest Sabres player with multiple games scoring twice since Jack Eichel did it six times in the 2016-17 season. Kulich now has four goals and seven points in five game since returning from injury to center Buffalo’s top line.
“He’s unbelievable,” said Dahlin, the Sabres captain. “I think he’s going to be one of the best in the league. At that age he is right now and doing the stuff he’s doing out there, it’s pretty special. It’s fun to watch, honestly.”
Up next
The Sabres host the New Jersey Devils on Sunday.
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Jonah Bronstein joined the WIVB squad in 2022 as a digital sports reporter. The Buffalonian has covered the Bills, Sabres, Bandits, Bisons, colleges, high schools and other notable sporting events in Western New York since 2005, for publications including The Associated Press, The Buffalo News, and Niagara Gazette. Read more of his work here.