Kulich caps the comeback: Sabres rally past Blackhawks 4-3 in home opener
Jiri Kulich's first goal in 11 months — after a blood clot cost him most of last season — completed Buffalo's third-period rally and dropped Chicago to 0-3-0.
Some goals matter beyond the standings. Jiri Kulich's third-period winner in the Buffalo Sabres' 4-3 comeback over the Chicago Blackhawks at KeyBank Center on Saturday was his first in 11 months, after a blood clot wiped out most of his previous season. "That was probably the main thing I was dreaming about the whole year," Kulich said, per NHL.com.
How Buffalo clawed back
Chicago controlled the early scoreboard. Ryan Donato opened at 7:59 of the first and Tyler Bertuzzi finished a tic-tac-toe sequence from Teuvo Teravainen and Anton Frondell at 11:24. Jack Quinn answered before the intermission, and Tage Thompson tied it in the second by deflecting a Louis Crevier point shot — but Oliver Moore's 2-on-1 finish late in the period sent Chicago to the third up 3-2.
Then the game tilted. Rasmus Dahlin tied it at 6:10 of the third off the rush from Peyton Krebs, and at 13:20, during 4-on-4 play, Kulich converted from Owen Power. According to the Chicago Sun-Times, the winner came after a Patrick Kane turnover, on a night Buffalo piled up a 37-19 edge in scoring chances. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen needed only 12 saves; Spencer Knight made 24 for Chicago.
What it means
For Buffalo (1-1-0), this is the template: the stars — Thompson, Dahlin, Power — all on the scoresheet, and a feel-good return story to build around. The Sabres have now beaten Chicago seven straight times, and Luukkonen is a perfect 7-0-0 against them in his career.
For Chicago, an 0-3-0 start to the season-opening trip stings, and coach Jeff Blashill pointed at structure, citing forwards pushing too deep and leaving the defense exposed in transition. The Sun-Times also noted new defenseman Bowen Byram missed the game for a family matter, while Crevier — sent to Buffalo in the Byram trade — signed a four-year extension with the Sabres.