BUFFALO – In his seven-year NHL career, Sabres defenseman Henri Jokiharju has scored 19 goals, none prettier than Tuesday’s game winner.
As he carried the puck to the bottom of the right circle almost halfway through the third period, Jokiharju said he did not see Anaheim Ducks goalie Lukas Dostal was offering him a few inches above his left shoulder.
Jokiharju, whose Sabres play a road game Thursday against the Carolina Hurricanes, said he was simply looking to shoot short side.
“It was one hell of a shot, that’s all I know,” coach Lindy Ruff said after the Sabres erased a late two-goal deficit to win 3-2 and earn their sixth consecutive victory at KeyBank Center.
The entire play – moving the puck deep and his adroit shot – illustrates Jokiharju’s burgeoning confidence in the midst of a trying season and uncertain future with the trade deadline coming March 7.
“I don’t have too many goals in this league, so I would say (that’s) probably the nicest one,” Jokiharju said following Wednesday’s optional practice in KeyBank Center.
Perhaps the nicest honor of Jokiharju’s career, a spot on Team Finland for the recent 4 Nations Face-Off, has infused him with some much-needed confidence.
Jokiharju, 25, has recently looked like a different player, scoring in consecutive games for the first time in his career. He hadn’t scored since Oct. 12 prior to his late goal in Saturday afternoon’s 8-2 win over the New York Rangers.
“He’s kept a great attitude, and he’s persevering right now,” Ruff said.
Fresh off a solid season in 2023-24, he seemed like a lock to participate in the best-on-best tournament. Finland, after all, doesn’t have the depth of other countries.
But he has often struggled under Ruff, who took over this season, sitting out 15 games as a healthy scratch. Twice he has sat out six straight contests.
“There’s some things you just can’t worry about and some things that I can’t do anything about it,” Jokiharju said of the ups and downs he has experienced this year. “So just try to keep pushing forward, just wait for a better day.”
When Finland announced its original roster for the 4 Nations, it left Jokiharju off. He later earned a spot as an injury replacement.
He seized his opportunity, however, scoring the Finns’ first goal and earning regular duty as his country finished third.
Jokiharju tried to use his time around the team’s veterans wisely and examine their habits.
“So (I’m trying) to take that all in and work on my game and try to get better,” he said.
Ruff said the experience “could definitely help him.”
“There’s always areas of the game, when you’re playing with the best of the best, it can pick you up,” he said. “All of a sudden, you’re playing with better players. You’re probably playing with your country’s top five or six defenseman, and top forwards that are making elite plays.”
As the trade deadline approaches, Jokiharju, who can become an unrestricted free agent following the season, has possibly upped his value. He signed a one-year, $3.1 million contract prior to the season.
Right now, he said he just wants to “focus in the moment.”
“What I’m really trying to think about right now is tomorrow against Carolina,” he said.
While Ruff is encouraged by his recent outings, he still wants more from the young veteran.
“When it comes to defending, there’s parts of his game I’d like him to be better,” he said. “I think he’s improved. We know offensively he can join, he’s got a good shot, he can make things happen. But mainly, our puck management and our defensive play is the thing that’s kind of hurt us throughout the year.”
Jokiharju said he recently hasn’t “done anything that much different” defensively.
“Just try to be myself out there and just try bring my best game every night out there,” he said.
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Sabres center Jiri Kulich practiced Wednesday sporting the full bubble “fishbowl” shield he put on early in Tuesday’s game after he tipped linemate Tage Thompson’s pass into his face.
The rookie immediately dropped his gloves, put his hands over his mouth and skated off the ice.
“I don’t think a puck’s ever hit me in my face,” Kulich said. “I just felt like missing teeth.”
Kulich, who lost two teeth, also received some stitches.
The injury forced him to keep his mouth closed in the final two periods, so he had trouble breathing.
Kulich said he must wear the shield a couple of more games.
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