Sabres fans may have been saying, “Oh, here we go again” when they trailed the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday, but it wasn’t meant to be.
Every now and again, one rookie will just take over a game. And that’s what happened in what was a comeback win for the Sabres over their expansion brethren, the Vancouver Canucks. In case you missed it, Tage Thompson opened the scoring with an assist from Jiri Kulich, but the Canucks scored two unanswered goals and led the Sabres going into the final frame.
But midway through the third period, Kulich landed his eighth goal of the season with helpers from JJ Peterka and Rasmus Dahlin. But Kulich wasn’t done yet, as he returned the favor with an assist in what became the game-winning goal from Peterka.
Overall, Kulich’s three points and his goal were enough to earn him First Star honors in this contest, bringing him one step closer to enjoying a productive role with the Sabres. Kulich shined last night, and if this continues, maybe he’ll transform into that top-six talent the Sabres still need.
Other candidates are out there, too, especially among the game’s younger and proven players outside of Buffalo. But Kulich now has 12 points in 33 games, and eight of those points are goals. It may not seem like a lot, but he’s rocking a double-digit shooting percentage and has averaged over two shots on goal per contest.
Jiri Kulich’s outstanding performance could give him and the Sabres a spark
Kulich’s 73 shots on goal this season amazes me more than anything else, and it shows that he’s more than willing to force the puck through traffic and toward the net. A high-energy, fearless player like Kulich is what the Sabres have been lacking among their youthful forwards this season, or at least they haven’t been consistent.
Against a good team like the Canucks, Kulich has also proven he can play and perform well against some of the league’s best players. Yeah, Vancouver is in a state of turmoil with so much drama plaguing the franchise, but it doesn’t mean the team is any less talented.
That said, for a rookie with only 33 games of NHL experience going into last night to emerge as the game’s First Star, that alone is special, and it deserves recognition. It’s also a confidence booster for Kulich, as it’s shown him that yes, he can play, and play well on the road and in a hostile environment that Vancouver fans always provide.
Now, let’s see if Kulich has an encore performance in the making as the Sabres continue their road trip this week. If he does, then Kulich might just be in the running for a Star of the Week.
