Sabres Notebook: Game in Utah is a chance for first road winning streak of '25

KEARNS, Utah – The Buffalo Sabres broke their eight-game road winless streak Monday in Boston and now comes a new task: Forging a real live winning streak away from KeyBank Center.

The Sabres meet the Utah Hockey Club on Thursday night in Salt Lake City's Delta Center, looking for two straight on the road for the first time in 2025. They haven't won back-to-back away contests since beating the New York Islanders on Dec. 23 and St. Louis on Dec. 29.

Utah is just 13-13-7 on the season at home, but has finally found some traction in its new digs by going 5-1-1 in its last seven games.

The Sabres overcame Boston in overtime on Alex Tuch's deflection, and have won three of their last four games overall after an 0-5-1 slide. After this game, they have toughies at Minnesota and Winnipeg.

"It was huge," Sabres forward Jason Zucker said Wednesday after practice at the US Olympic speedskating oval. "Obviously, we haven't been very happy with our road record this year, and I think it's an emphasis for us this last 20-game stretch. It was a good start (to the trip). I think we played a pretty good game, but now we've got to follow that up."

"It was a nice way to start this off," defenseman Owen Power said of the Boston game, which saw him post his second three-point night of the season. "We all know we've got to be way better on the road, so to be able to get the first one out of the way and get the win is nice. Hopefully it starts us on a good trip."

The Sabres are 10-19-3 on the road, the worst record in the Eastern Conference and ahead of only West bottom-barrels San Jose (8-20-7), Nashville (8-21-5) and Chicago (7-23-5).

Buffalo has a minus-24 goal differential on the road, which is 26th in the NHL. The Sabres are only minus-1 at home.

Getting a look

After a hard practice Wednesday, the Sabres ordinarily would dial things back on game day with an optional morning skate. But coach Lindy Ruff said it will be a full-go Thursday morning so the players and coaches can get a complete look at Delta Center, a venue that's new to all of them.

They couldn't practice there Wednesday because the Utah Jazz were hosting the Washington Wizards in an NBA game matching the last-place teams in each conference.

"We haven't been in the arena, have to get a feel for it," Ruff said. "We'll get 15 minutes in and get our touches and get everybody comfortable with being in the building. I think you look at the glass. If there's any crazy kicks off the glass, how active it is down low, what the ice is like, how fast. Guys will always comment like 'great ice' or 'seems a little slow.'  So we'll find out."

Forward JJ Peterka (lower body) will return to the lineup after missing three games. He skated on the top line Wednesday with Alex Tuch and Tage Thompson, and took his regular turn on the power play.

DeSimone has been Utah scratch

East Amherst native Nick DeSimone was claimed on waivers by the Utah Hockey Club on Jan. 5 after starting the season in New Jersey. The 30-year-old defenseman has four assists and an even rating in 14 games, but has been a healthy scratch for every game since the 4 Nations break.