Nearly a year after a blood clot ended his season, Jiri Kulich scored the go-ahead goal with 6:40 remaining to lead the Buffalo Sabres to a 4-3 victory over Chicago in their home opener. The 22-year-old forward, who missed the final 70 games of the previous season after surgery at the Mayo Clinic, celebrated emotionally after his first regular-season goal since October 24. Captain Rasmus Dahlin tied the game earlier, praising Kulich’s resilience.
The goal came after a sequence involving Tage Thompson and Owen Power, whose pass set up Kulich in the low left circle. Coach Lindy Ruff trusted Kulich in the final minute against Chicago’s pulled goalie. Kulich, a 2022 first-round pick from the Czech Republic, expressed gratitude for the support and the chance to feel the crowd again.
His brother Jaroslav attended the game, while his parents watched from home.
Source: ESPN NHL · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing