After a 2-0 first period deficit threatened to make Friday night look like Wednesday night, the Buffalo Sabres found the missing gear in a 5-2 win over New Jersey.

In a game in a situation where the Buffalo Sabres essentially had to win out to keep any semblance of hope for the playoffs alive, Ottawa got out to a 5-0 lead and never looked back in a 6-2 win.

Playoffs or not, the Buffalo Sabres getting one of their best players back is a big deal.

Buffalo’s penalty kill is improved over last season and much improved over where it was earlier this year. It’s also finding offensive chances despite the disadvantage.

With just one win in four games of their five-game road trip, the revived dream of the postseason is all but dead.

The Sabres had a 1-0 lead after the first period and looked in control… but it got out of their hands in the final 40 minutes in a 4-1 loss to Detroit.

Zach Benson scored two goals, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 21 saves for his fifth shutout of the year and, would look at that… Buffalo is three points out of the wild card.

The Sabres bum-rushed the Red Wings with a four-goal first period en route to a 7-3 win to kick off the biggest week of their season.

Buffalo won in overtime on an Owen Power goal with two seconds left… until they didn’t and won 3-2 in a shootout.

The veteran defenseman’s time in Buffalo did not go according to plan.