BUFFALO, N.Y. — Jiri Kulich made a significant impact on the game by scoring two goals, including a crucial go-ahead goal with just 2:04 remaining. This helped the Buffalo Sabres secure a thrilling 4-3 victory over the Nashville Predators on Friday night.
In this contest, the Sabres initially built a 2-0 lead in the first period but then allowed the Predators to net three consecutive goals. Alongside Kulich, Jason Zucker and Ryan McLeod also contributed by scoring for Buffalo. Goalkeeper Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen was instrumental as he recorded 28 saves throughout the match.
Nashville got strong performances from Brady Skjei, who scored a goal and provided an assist, along with Luke Evangelista and Tommy Novak chipping in with goals of their own. Justus Annunen was in net for Nashville, stopping 23 shots but still fell short in the game.
Zucker played a pivotal role in leveling the score at 3-3 with 7:34 left in the second period, deftly redirecting Alex Tuch’s centering pass. The decisive goal came from Kulich when Tage Thompson perfectly set him up with a pass after slowing down at the right point. Kulich received the pass on the fly as he skated up the left wing, beating Annunen on the near side.
Defenseman Rasmus Dahlin further distinguished himself by assisting on two goals, raising his career total to 257 assists. This achievement places him ahead of Mike Ramsey for second-most assists among Sabres defensemen, as he ties Ramsey for second in career points at 329 for Buffalo blue-liners.
In terms of statistics from the game, the Predators’ current record shows that their 18 wins through the first 50 games matches the second-lowest in the franchise’s history, a notable comparison to their 17 wins during the 2002-03 season.
On the other hand, the Sabres improved their record to 15-12-5 this season when scoring the initial goal of the game, but they still hold the NHL’s worst record with 17 losses.
A significant moment prior to the game was the Sabres’ honoring of former player Rob Ray, who was inducted into the team’s Hall of Fame during a pregame ceremony. Ray, known for his enforcer role, spent 14 of his 16 seasons with Buffalo and ranks sixth on the NHL’s all-time list with 3,207 career penalty minutes.
In terms of individual achievements, Predators captain Roman Josi made his 955th appearance for Nashville, just one game shy of tying the franchise record held by David Legwand.
Looking ahead, the Predators will conclude a two-game road trip against their fathers and sons at Pittsburgh on Saturday. Meanwhile, the Sabres will continue their four-game homestand, facing off against New Jersey on Sunday.
