Where do the Buffalo Sabres go from here? Heading into a Thursday night game against the Carolina Hurricanes, the Sabres have won six of their last seven games and seven of their last 10. But their playoff chances are still hovering around 2 percent,

It was another ugly night for the Sabres, who were taken to task by frustrated head coach Lindy Ruff after their loss to the Sharks.

Improving the Sabres' faceoff win percentage was one of Lindy Ruff's priorities when he returned as coach in April. Buffalo finished last in the NHL in each of the previous two seasons.

Lindy Ruff is continuing to keep his eye on the standings as the Buffalo Sabres embrace the steep climb ahead of them coming out of the 4 Nations Face-Off break. Ruff has targeted seven points in every five-game stretch – a 3-1-1 record – as a path to climbing back into contention.

It was another ugly night for the Sabres, who were taken to task by frustrated head coach Lindy Ruff after their loss to the Sharks.

Other than those connections, the Sabres represent a completely new experience for Norris – and an unexpected one at that. The 24-year-old said he had “no idea” he would be traded by Ottawa, where he spent the first six seasons of his career and played alongside his childhood friend in forward Brady Tkachuk. But it’s an experience he’s embracing.

Josh Norris is a top-six center with 20 goals this season, but are the Sabres better after the blockbuster trade?

Guentzel’s second goal of the game cut it to 5-4 at 17:43, scoring from close range off a pass from Brayden Point. He completed the hat trick at 18:46 with a power-play goal to tie it 5-5, a one-timer from the right circle off a pass from Brandon Hagel.

It took until roughly 48 hours before the NHL trade deadline, but Jordan Greenway and the Buffalo Sabres were able to reach a contract extension. And despite it happening so close to the deadline, Greenway said Thursday he was always confident the two sides could come to an agreement.

Norris is looking to get past the “initial shock” of being traded, saying goodbye to good friends in Ottawa and having to settle in Buffalo.

On what was deemed "Buffalo Bills Night," the Sabres did nothing to honor western New York's most popular sports franchise. Instead, they found a new rock bottom.The Sabres got blown out 6-2 at home Tuesday against the NHL's last-place San Jose Sharks to pick up their fourth straight defeat.

The Sabres have lost seven games this year when leading by two or more goals at some point. Four of the seven have been in regulation.