Buffalo Sabres Week in Review (Dec. 1 - Dec. 7)

Breanna McNeill
Dec 8
5 min read

Photo Credit: Buffalo Sabres Multimedia Photo Galleries

The Sabres opened the week on a high note with an electric 5-1 home win over the Winnipeg Jets on Monday, highlighted by Josh Norris’ three-point return after missing 24 games. But the momentum didn’t last as Buffalo dropped its next two contests, being outscored 9-3, and their ongoing struggles on the road continued to loom large.

The Sabres haven’t won a road game in regulation since April 1, 2025 – and no, that’s not an April Fools’ joke. Since Lindy Ruff returned behind the bench, Buffalo has managed just 15 wins in 53 road games, a glaring weakness as they embark on a six-game trip through the West.

Notable Player Performances:

Josh Norris – 3GP, 2G, 3A
Jason Zucker – 3GP, 3G
Josh Doan – 3GP, 3A
Bowen Byram – 3GP, 2G

Upcoming Schedule:

Tonight: vs. Calgary Flames (11-15-4)
Tuesday: vs. Edmonton Oilers (13-11-5)
Thursday: vs. Vancouver Canucks (11-15-3)
Sunday: vs. Seattle Kraken (11-9-6)

With all four opponents currently dealing with their own struggles, this stretch represents a prime opportunity for Buffalo to collect crucial points in the Atlantic Division standings. The question is whether they can finally shake off their road woes and capitalize on favourable matchups.

Here is a more detailed breakdown of the three games last week:

Buffalo Sabres vs. Winnipeg Jets – Dec. 1st, 2025

Final: 5 (BUF) – 1 (WPG)

Josh Norris, returning to the lineup after missing 24 games with a lower-body injury sustained in the season opener, made an immediate impact with two goals and an assist as the Buffalo Sabres rolled past the Winnipeg Jets, 5-1, on Monday night.

Jason Zucker opened the scoring on a power play early in the first period. Norris set up Josh Doan with a backdoor pass, and although Eric Comrie stopped Doan’s redirection, the rebound slipped through his pads and sat in the crease, where Zucker buried it for a 1-0 lead.

Just 15 seconds later, Bowen Byram doubled the advantage. On a 3-on-1 rush, Jack Quinn fed him a cross-ice pass, and Byram ripped a shot over Comrie’s blocker from the left circle to make it 2-0.

Norris struck later in the period to extend the lead to 3-0. After taking a feed from Tage Thompson along the goal line, he cut to the net and flipped a backhand that deflected off a Jets defenseman and in.

Winnipeg got on the board midway through the second period when Kyle Connor redirected Josh Morrissey’s point shot through Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen’s five-hole to cut the deficit to 3-1. But Buffalo answered quickly: Alex Tuch’s initial shot from the right circle was stopped by Thomas Milic, who had replaced Comrie at the start of the period, but Tuch gathered his own rebound and banked in a sharp-angled finish to restore the three-goal cushion.

Norris showcased his offensive skill again just 41 seconds into the third period. Taking a touch-pass from Zach Benson, he broke in alone and slipped a backhand five-hole on Milic for his second goal of the night, sealing Buffalo’s 5-1 victory.

Luukkonen finished with 23 saves for the Sabres. Comrie surrendered three goals on 14 shots before being pulled, while Milic stopped 15 of 17 in relief.

Three Stars:

#1. Josh Norris (BUF) – 2G, 1A

#2. Josh Doan (BUF) – 2A

#3. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (BUF) – .958 SV%

Buffalo Sabres vs. Philadelphia Flyers – Dec. 3rd, 2025

Final: 5 (PHI) – 2 (BUF)

The Buffalo Sabres opened their six-game road trip with a tough 5–2 defeat to the Philadelphia Flyers, undone by a stunning first-period surge and missed opportunities on special teams.

Buffalo struck first when Jason Zucker scored on the power play, but the Flyers seized control with three goals in just 59 seconds.

Travis Konecny tied the game at one with a power-play blast from above the left circle through an Owen Tippett screen. The Sabres challenged for goaltender interference, but the goal stood, leaving Buffalo shorthanded. On the ensuing power play, Trevor Zegras’ pass deflected off a Sabres forward and slipped past Colten Ellis to give Philadelphia the lead. Moments later, Bobby Brink buried a rebound from the side of the net to make it 3-1.

Noah Cates extended the Flyers’ advantage early in the second period with a net-front redirection. Bowen Byram answered for Buffalo with his second goal in as many games, firing from the right face-off dot to cut the deficit to 4-2. However, Owen Tippett restored the three-goal cushion soon after. The Sabres thought they had closed the gap again with a shorthanded tally from Zach Benson, but the goal was overturned on an offside review.

Buffalo’s power play faltered, finishing just 1-for-6, including two third-period chances that produced only a single shot. Discipline also proved costly, as captain Rasmus Dahlin was assessed a five-minute major and game misconduct for boarding Zegras in the second period, though no further suspension followed.

Ellis stopped 30 shots in the loss, while Samuel Ersson turned aside 27 for Philadelphia.

Three Stars:

#1. Noah Cates (PHI) – 1G, 1A

#2. Trevor Zegras (PHI) – 1G

#3. Sean Couturier (PHI) – 1A

Buffalo Sabres vs. Winnipeg Jets – Dec. 5th, 2025

Final: 4 (WPG) – 1 (BUF)

For the second time in a week, the Buffalo Sabres met the Winnipeg Jets, but this time it was Winnipeg who controlled the game, handing Buffalo a 4-1 defeat.

Kyle Connor opened the scoring early in the first period, burying his own rebound in the slot by sliding the puck under Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. Buffalo answered later in the frame when Jason Zucker jammed home a rebound from a Josh Norris one-timer on the power play, marking his third straight game with a man-advantage goal.

The Jets regained the lead early in the second period when Tanner Pearson capitalized on a turnover near the blue line and finished a breakaway to make it 2-1. Luukkonen, who finished with 19 saves, kept Buffalo close midway through the period by denying captain Adam Lowry on a penalty shot. Still, Winnipeg extended its lead late in the frame as Cole Koepke scored to push the margin to 3-1.

Mark Scheifele appeared to add another in the third, but Buffalo successfully challenged for offside and the goal was overturned. Gabriel Vilardi eventually sealed the win with an empty-netter, securing the 4-1 final.

Despite firing 34 shots, Buffalo managed only Zucker’s lone tally.

Three Stars:

#1. Cole Koepke (WPG) – 1G, 1A

#2. Eric Comrie (WPG) – .971 SV%

#3. Tanner Pearson (WPG) – 1G