The Sabres didn't have a shot on goal for the first 11 minutes of this game but had a 19-7 advantage in the third period and didn't score. Over the final two periods, they had 36 shots on goal, 35 scoring chances and and 12 high-danger chances,

Hopkins' second goal of the game snapped a tie with 11:01 left as the Connor McDavid-less Edmonton Oilers overcame a barrage of Buffalo shots in the final two periods to beat the Sabres, 3-2, Saturday at Rogers Place.

The Buffalo Sabres fell 5-2 to the Calgary Flames on Thursday at Scotiabank Saddledome. Buffalo took a 2-1 lead with an early second-period surge, but the Flames fought back and successfully defended a one-goal lead for much of the final frame. They eventually secured the victory with two empty-net goals.

Despite all the external noise, the Vancouver Canucks (20-15-10) finally won a game, and they will have a great opportunity to stack another 'W' with Tuesday ni

FINAL | Sabres 4 - Hurricanes 2 Lindy Ruff addresses the media Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen addresses the media Dylan Cozens addresses the media Ryan McLeod addresses the media The Sabres conclude their three-game homestand Friday versus the Pittsburgh Penguins. Tickets are available here.

WATCH: Sabres vs. Hurricanes will air nationally on TNT, but fans can also stream it on DirecTV Stream (free trial). Time: 6:00 p.m. ET

With the Buffalo Sabres’ season all but lost at the halfway point, as their play continues to look steadily worse and worse as each game passes, the time eventually comes that they need to assess the talent pool that they have sitting in the minor leagues.

They’ve done so in recent weeks, primarily to condition the five-man defensive unit to handle late-game pressure. But these recent third-period outcomes have emphasized the need for offensive work at 6-on-5, as well. After practice, Sabres coach Lindy Ruff identified the areas needing improvement.

Lafferty notched an assist, two hits and two PIM in Thursday's 5-2 loss to the Flames. Lafferty ended a four-game drought with the helper. The 29-year-old has played on the fourth line this season ...

Lindy Ruff was so upset with what he saw in Monday’s loss in Seattle, he made everybody take Tuesday’s morning skate and used it as a practice. Ruff wanted battles and he wanted players to the net. He got exactly that in the first period.

The Buffalo Sabres found good energy for the third period in Vancouver, and managed to come from behind to beat the Canucks, 3-2. Paul Hamilton shares his postgame thoughts:

McLeod will return to the lineup for the Sabres on Saturday, just in time to make his return to Rogers Place and play his former team, the Edmonton Oilers, for the first time. McLeod has missed the past three games with what he described as a “nagging” upper-body injury.