Kulich’s Return Sparks Sabres Comeback
Jiri Kulich fired the tie-breaking goal with 6:40 remaining in the third period on Saturday, vaulting the Buffalo Sabres to a 4-3 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks. The game, which served as Buffalo’s home-opener, saw netminder Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen record 12 saves in the winning effort, while Chicago goalie Spencer Knight stopped 24 shots.
For Kulich, the moment carried weight beyond the scoreline. The 22-year-old forward was playing his first goal in nearly a calendar year, having missed the final 70 games of last season due to blood clot issues. Kulich’s deciding shot came after he initially missed the net; Tage Thompson recovered the puck behind the cage and fed Owen Power in the right circle, who then set up the game-winner to the left of the net.
Early Holes and Tactical Shifts
Chicago looked poised to break their winless streak early. Ryan Donato struck at 7:59 of the first period after Alex Vlasic carried the puck down the left side and centered it to the slot. Tyler Bertuzzi followed at 11:24, finishing a tic-tac-toe passing sequence where Anton Frondell drew Luukkonen out of position before feeding the winger for an open-net goal. While Jack Quinn managed to narrow the gap to 2-1 with a wrist shot from above the slot at 16:24, Oliver Moore restored a two-goal cushion for the visitors. Buffalo’s persistence kept them within reach, and Rasmus Dahlin eventually leveled the score at 3-3 at 6:10 of the third period by beating Knight with a snap shot stick side following a pass from Peyton Krebs.
Blackhawks Stumble to 0-3-0 Start
The loss drops Chicago to 0-3-0 on the season. Following road defeats to the Vegas Golden Knights and Utah, the team has struggled to find its footing, having been outscored 11-2 in those initial contests.
The lineup was further hampered by the absence of defenseman Bowen Byram, who missed the game due to a family matter. Despite the ongoing skid, head coach Jeff Blashill saw signs of progress. “I thought our compete and our kind of swagger was way better. That’s more the standard that we want to play with,” Blashill told NHL.com. “Obviously, you’re going to make mistakes, and you want to learn and grow, and that’s what we’ll focus on.”
Historical Dominance at Key Center
The win coincided with a festive atmosphere in Buffalo, where the franchise unveiled a new banner commemorating their first Atlantic Division title, earned during a season where they also snapped a 14-year playoff drought. The Sabres continue to hold a psychological edge over their opponent; they have not lost to the Blackhawks in regulation since November 17, 2019, boasting a 10-0-1 record against them in that span.
The Sabres prepare to host the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday, while the Blackhawks return home to face the St. Louis Blues.
Context on Roster and Personnel
Off the ice, the matchup highlighted the paths of veteran stars. He ultimately signed a two-year deal with the team where he spent his first 16 seasons.
Addressing the performance of Jack Quinn, who has scored in each of Buffalo’s first two games, Sabres coach Lindy Ruff noted his development. “I think he could have had three tonight easy,” Ruff said. “He’s really skating well.”
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