Kulich scores first goal in 11 months, Sabres edge Blackhawks in home opener

BUFFALO -- Jiri Kulich scored the go-ahead goal in the third period, and the Buffalo Sabres rallied for a 4-3 win against the Chicago Blackhawks at KeyBank Center on Saturday.

Kulich, who only played 12 games last season because of a season-ending blood clot, called for the puck from Owen Power low in the left circle and snapped it short side past Spencer Knight at 13:20 during 4-on-4 play.

“That was probably the main thing I was dreaming about the whole year (after) not playing,” Kulich said. “After that one, it was a lot of emotions. So, yeah, that one is going to be special for sure.”

The forward last scored on Oct. 24, 2025, in a 5-3 win against the Toronto Maple Leafs. His last game of last season was Nov. 1, and he returned on Thursday in the Sabres’ season opener, a 6-3 loss at the Columbus Blue Jackets.

“It's unbelievable,” Buffalo captain Rasmus Dahlin said. “It's hard to put into words how much he's been grinding and how much he's really been around and wanting this. I'm super happy for him just being able to play hockey again. And he does it so well. Super mentally strong, he just comes back and plays his game. It's fun to watch; I'm sure he's going to have a hell of a career after this.”

Tage Thompson had a goal and an assist, and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 12 saves for the Sabres (1-1-0).

“Our first 5 to 10 (minutes) of the first was a little sloppy,” Thompson said. “After the first 10, I thought we really got to our game and kind of wore them down. I think that's something with our group, we know if we play the way we're supposed to, we'll get our offensive looks.”

Ryan Donato, Tyler Bertuzzi and Oliver Moore scored for the Blackhawks (0-3-0), who were outscored 11-2 in losses to the Vegas Golden Knights (5-2) and Utah Mammoth (6-0). Knight made 24 saves.

“I thought our compete and our kind of swagger was way better,” Chicago coach Jeff Blashill. “That's more the standard that we want to play with. Obviously, you're going to make mistakes, and you want to learn and grow, and that's what we'll focus on.”

Dahlin tied it 3-3 at 6:10 of the third period for the Sabres, taking a pass from Peyton Krebs at the right hashmark off the rush and beating Knight with a snap shot stick side.

Donato gave Chicago a 1-0 lead at 7:59 of the first period. Alex Vlasic carried the puck down the left side to the net before sending a centering pass to Donato in the slot.

Bertuzzi finished off a tic-tac-toe passing play to make it 2-0 at 11:24. Anton Frondell drew Luukkonen to him as he took a feed from Teuvo Teravainen in front and quickly passed it to Bertuzzi, who put it into the open net from the left side.

Jack Quinn’s wrist shot from above the slot went top right corner to cut it to 2-1 at 16:24.

“I think he could have had three tonight easy,” Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said of the forward, who has scored in each of Buffalo’s first two games. “He’s really skating well. Talked a lot about last year, he had that segment where he really was snakebit. Just couldn't buy one, but for him to have him start going in right now, I think it’s a great sign for us.”

Thompson tied it 2-2 at 5:41 of the second period. He won a face-off back to Louis Crevier at the right point and then went to the net to deflect Crevier’s shot past Knight. 

Moore, fresh out of the penalty box, put the Blackhawks in front 3-2 when his wrist shot from low in the right circle on a 2-on-1 rolled through Luukkonen’s pads into the net at 18:18.

“Just take what we did well in this game and continue that moving forward,” Vlasic said. “I think we've learned from our mistakes in the first couple of games and there's no point in dwelling on it. … We're trying to get this thing on the right track and make sure that everything that we're doing is for one another. We’ve got to make sure that we're playing a game that's selfless and just a little bit more detailed.”

NOTES: Blackhawks defenseman Bowen Byram did not play because he was tending to a family matter. Byram was traded to Chicago in June with forward Jordan Greenway and a second-round pick for Crevier and the No. 4 pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. … Vlasic and Frondell each had two assists. … Buffalo has won seven straight against the Blackhawks. … Luukkonen is 7-0-0 in his career against Chicago.