Jiri Kulich Nets Game-Winner in Return From Blood Clot Issues as Sabres Beat Blackhawks

Jiri Kulich scored the go-ahead goal with 6:40 remaining to lead the Buffalo Sabres to a 4-3 win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday night.

Jiri Kulich scored the go-ahead goal with 6:40 remaining in the third period to secure a 4-3 victory for the Buffalo Sabres over the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday night. Buffalo rallied from a two-goal deficit during their home opener, with captain Rasmus Dahlin tying the game at 3-3 approximately seven minutes before Kulich’s winner. The decisive play developed when Tage Thompson recovered a loose puck and passed to Owen Power in the high right circle, who then found Kulich in the lower left circle for the score.

The goal marked Kulich’s first regular-season tally since October 24, 2023. The 22-year-old forward missed the final 70 games of the previous season due to a blood clot issue that caused dizzy spells 12 games into the year. Following a March surgery at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota to remove the clot, the 2022 first-round draft pick returned to the lineup, recording 13-1/2 minutes of ice time against Chicago.

Coach Lindy Ruff utilized Kulich on both the fourth and third lines during the contest and kept him on the ice during the final minute while Chicago played with an extra attacker. The Czech Republic native previously recorded 15 goals and 24 points in 62 games as a rookie two years ago. The victory marks a successful return to competition for Kulich, who had not played a regular-season game in nearly a calendar year.