Lindy Ruff Eyes 900th NHL Win as Sabres Face Blue Jackets

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Buffalo Sabres coach Lindy Ruff is on the brink of reaching an impressive milestone as he approaches his 900th NHL victory. The feat may come as the Sabres face off against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena on Thursday night. With Ruff already holding the distinction of most games coached in the NHL, his next win would place him alongside legends Scotty Bowman, Joel Quenneville, Barry Trotz, and Paul Maurice as only the fifth coach in history to reach 900.

Despite the significance of the potential achievement, Ruff emphasized that his focus remains on winning games. “I could care less about 900, seriously. There’s only one thing, we want to win hockey games,” he said. “It’s not about me; it’s about our team needing to consistently win hockey games.” Ruff has led the Sabres to 606 victories, in addition to 165 with the Dallas Stars and 128 with the New Jersey Devils.

Entering Thursday’s match, the Sabres have been on a substantial winning streak, having won five consecutive games—marking their best stretch in over two years. Since March 23, Buffalo has posted an impressive .889 points percentage with an 8-1-0 record, showcasing their scoring prowess with an average of 4.78 goals per game during that stretch. Despite being eliminated from playoff contention, the team remains motivated to end the season on a high note.

“I’m disappointed where we’re at, and we can’t do anything about that,” Ruff continued. “But we can work on our game, and we’re gonna continue to work on our game until it’s over.” Team captain Rasmus Dahlin noted the increasing effectiveness of the team’s strategies and emphasis on discipline, stating, “With a lot of young guys learning this year, it’s finally clicking.”

On the ice, Buffalo’s leading scorer, Tage Thompson, has 44 goals this season, which ranks second in the NHL. His 37 even-strength goals lead the league, while teammate Alex Tuch is not far behind, currently sitting in 17th place in goals with 34. Tuch is in the midst of a seven-game points streak, accumulating seven goals and five assists. Sabres goaltender James Reimer has also found success, currently riding a career-best seven-game winning streak, which contributes to the momentum the team is building.

Conversely, the Columbus Blue Jackets have struggled lately, going 4-9-1 in their last 14 games and finding themselves pushed to the outskirts of playoff contention. Notably, goaltender Elvis Merzlikins has faced significant workload issues, participating in nine out of the last ten games with a 3.18 goals-against average. Forward Zach Werenski leads the Blue Jackets with 75 points this season.

As the clock ticks down to puck drop, anticipation grows for both teams. The game starts at 7 p.m. and can be seen on MSG, with pregame coverage beginning at 6:30 p.m. on WGR 550.