Sabres' JJ Peterka: Strikes on power play Saturday
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Peterka scored a power-play goal on four shots in Saturday's 3-1 loss to the Bruins.
Peterka has broken out of a slump, racking up two goals and five assists over his last six games. Notably, he's done much of it on the second line, though his role on the first power-play unit should help stabilize his offense. The 22-year-old winger is up to 10 goals, 24 points (seven on the power play), 65 shots on net and a minus-10 rating through 32 appearances this season.
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Sabres' J.J. Peterka: Two points Friday
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Peterka posted one goal and one assist in Friday's 6-3 loss to the Maple Leafs.
Peterka tallied the team's first goal before setting up Mattias Samuelsson's marker, both in the second period. Peterka has recorded points in three straight games and is one of the most productive players for the struggling Sabres. On the season, the 22-year-old is up to nine goals and 23 points across 31 games while also adding 61 shots, 16 hits, five blocked shots and a minus-9 rating.
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Sabres' John-Jason Peterka: Two helpers in loss
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Peterka recorded two assists, two PIM and a minus-2 rating in Sunday's 5-3 loss to the Maple Leafs.
Peterka had a mixed bag Sunday. He set up both of Jack Quinn's goals, including one on the power play, but Peterka continues to have some problems with being on the ice when the opponent scores. The 22-year-old winger is at 20 points, 59 shots on net, eight PIM and a minus-9 rating through 29 appearances this season, playing mainly in a top-six role.
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Sabres' John-Jason Peterka: Snags assist after benching
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Peterka posted an assist, three shots on goal and two blocked shots in Wednesday's 3-2 loss to the Rangers.
Peterka made some mistakes and was benched for most of the second period. He was back in action in the third and helped out on a Tage Thompson tally in the final minute. Peterka has struggled lately with two points over his last 11 outings despite seeing top-six minutes throughout that span. He's at eight goals, 10 helpers, 58 shots on net and a minus-6 rating through 27 contests. Peterka's still just 22 years old, so there will be some things head coach Lindy Ruff will want to instill in his game. With the Sabres in the midst of an eight-game skid, it appears the bench boss is turning to tough-love techniques to get his message through to the players.
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Sabres' John-Jason Peterka: Snaps slump in loss
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Peterka scored a goal on two shots in Tuesday's 5-4 loss to the Avalanche.
Peterka gave the Sabres a 3-0 lead just 6:50 into the game. It snapped a six-game dry spell for the winger, who had posted a six-game point streak prior to his slump. He's had some trouble generating offense from the second line, though he's still seeing significant usage at even strength and on the power play. Peterka has eight goals, nine helpers, 49 shots on net and a minus-5 rating through 23 outings this season.
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Sabres' John-Jason Peterka: Extends point streak to six games
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Peterka logged an assist, four shots on goal and two hits in Saturday's 5-2 loss to the Flyers.
During his six-game point streak, Peterka has three goals and five assists. The 22-year-old winger has flown under the radar to an extent this year, though he's been steady when healthy while playing on the Sabres' top line. He's up to seven goals, nine helpers, 36 shots on net and a plus-3 rating through 16 appearances. Peterka is in line to shatter his career-best mark of 50 points from last season.
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Sabres' John-Jason Peterka: Nets goal in loss
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Peterka scored a goal on three shots in Monday's 7-5 loss to the Canadiens.
Peterka stretched his point streak to four games, a span in which he has accumulated three goals and three helpers. The winger is exceeding expectations early in 2024-25 with seven goals, seven assists, 32 shots on net and a plus-5 rating over 14 appearances. He's earned four of his points on the power play and continues to see top-six minutes, averaging 17:54 of ice time.
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Sabres' John-Jason Peterka: Three-point effort against Sens
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Peterka scored two power-play goals and added an even-strength assist in Tuesday's 5-1 win over the Senators.
He opened the scoring early in the first period, shoveling a Jason Zucker feed past Linus Ullmark from the side of the Ottawa net, then scored the night's final tally midway through the third on a one-timer from the faceoff dot. The power-play goals were Peterka's first of the season, and the 22-year-old is up to six goals and 11 points in his 11 games as he races toward a breakout campaign.
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Sabres' John-Jason Peterka: Game-winner, assist against Chicago
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Peterka scored the game-winning goal, dished an assist, added two PIM and went plus-2 in Saturday's 4-2 win over the Blackhawks.
Peterka set up Tage Thompson on the opening tally at 8:39 of the first period, and the two reversed roles just under 30 minutes of game time later. Peterka's tally was the game-winner, his first such goal this season. The 22-year-old winger has four goals, two assists, 10 shots on net and a plus-3 rating through five contests. He's off to an excellent start on the Sabres' top line, making him a worthwhile addition for fantasy managers in need of offensive firepower.
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Sabres' John-Jason Peterka: Lights lamp twice in return
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Peterka scored two goals on four shots with a plus-3 rating in Wednesday's 6-5 overtime loss to the Penguins.
After missing the prior two games due to a concussion, Peterka roared back onto the ice with his first two tallies of the season. The 22-year-old led all Buffalo forwards in even-strength ice time as he reclaimed his spot on the top line with Tage Thompson and Alex Tuch, and if he stays healthy, Peterka could build on last season's breakout 28 goals and 50 points.
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Sabres' John-Jason Peterka: Playing Wednesday
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Peterka (concussion) will be in action versus the Penguins on Wednesday, Bill Hoppe of the Olean Times Herald reports.
Peterka will return to the lineup after missing the previous two games due to a concussion. Prior to getting hurt, the 22-year-old winger had generated just one assist to go with one hit and two shots. In addition to lining up on the top line, Peterka should be in the mix for power-play opportunities.
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Sabres' John-Jason Peterka: Questionable against Penguins
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Peterka (concussion) will be a 50/50 call ahead of Wednesday's matchup with Pittsburgh, Bill Hoppe of the Olean Times Herald reports.
Peterka looks close to getting back in the lineup after missing the Sabres' last two matchups due to his concussion. If given the all-clear, the 22-year-old winger should be in line for both a top-six role in addition to linking up with one of the power-play units. If Peterka remains sidelined, Zach Benson figures to make his third straight appearance in the lineup.
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Sabres' John-Jason Peterka: Practicing Friday
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Peterka (concussion) practiced Friday, according to Lance Lysowski of The Buffalo News.
Peterka was injured Saturday in Prague and missed Thursday's game versus Los Angeles. It appears that Peterka has a chance to return to the lineup Saturday against Florida, as this is his third straight practice this week. Should Peterka return, he is likely to be back on the top line, alongside Tage Thompson and Alex Tuch.
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Sabres' John-Jason Peterka: Not playing Thursday
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Peterka (concussion) will not play Thursday versus LA, according to Joe Yerdon of Bleacher Report.
Peterka suffered his concussion early in the first period Saturday against the Devils. The Sabres used Jordan Greenway in Peterka's place on the top line with Tage Thompson and Alex Tuch the rest of the way Saturday but it's Jiri Kulich who looks set to take that role Thursday. Peterka could return as early as Saturday versus Florida.
Peterka suffered an upper-body injury in the first period Saturday versus New Jersey and will not return.
Peterka took a big hit from Brenden Dillon in the neutral zone and stayed down for a while before leaving the ice. Dillon received a minor for interference and a five-minute major for fighting after Alex Tuch came to the defense of Peterka. The Sabres will leave Prague after the game and more information may not be available until Buffalo returns home. Peterka started the game on the top line alongside Tage Thompson and Tuch before being replaced by Jordan Greenway following his exit.
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Sabres' John-Jason Peterka: Snags assist Friday
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Peterka logged an assist, two shots on goal and a minus-2 rating in Friday's 4-1 loss to the Devils in Prague.
Peterka is a breakout candidate this year after producing 50 points (seven on the power play) despite the Sabres' down year as a team in 2023-24. While they lost their 2024-25 regular-season opener, Peterka was able to contribute by setting up Owen Power's third-period goal. Peterka is getting the first chance to fill the vacancy on the top line created by the Sabres' buyout of Jeff Skinner over the summer, and that spot alongside Tage Thompson and Alex Tuch could be a fruitful one.
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Sabres' John-Jason Peterka: Scores game-winner
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Peterka scored the game-winning goal in Sunday's 4-1 win over Calgary.
Peterka scored his 24th goal of the campaign, bringing him into a tie with Jeff Skinner for the team lead, although Peterka's played eight more games. He's putting together an impressive run in his second full season.
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Sabres' John-Jason Peterka: Chips in with assist
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Peterka logged an assist and two shots on goal in Monday's 6-2 win over the Kraken.
Peterka took a shot that deflected off multiple players and a post before Owen Power knocked in a rebound from the left side of the net. This was Peterka's third point in the last four games. The winger is up to 21 goals, 20 assists, 180 shots on net and a plus-6 rating through 69 appearances this season while mainly playing in a middle-six role.
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Sabres' John-Jason Peterka: Sets career mark in points
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Peterka scored two goals Saturday in a 5-2 win over San Jose.
He was J.J. on the spot on his first goal, stuffing in a rebound after Kaapo Kahkonen stopped Dylan Cozens' wraparound. Cozens set Peterka up in the third period for a one-timer from the right circle on a 3-on-2. Peterka's two-goal performance Saturday gives him a career-high 34 points through 49 games this season. He delivered 32 points in 77 games during his 2022-23 rookie campaign. The play of Peterka has been a bright spot for the Sabres this season.
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Sabres' John-Jason Peterka: Three points in comeback win
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Peterka scored twice on four shots, added an assist and went plus-4 in Wednesday's 5-3 win over the Kings.
This was Peterka's best game of the season, as he scored the Sabres' first two goals before setting up Dylan Cozens for an insurance marker. Peterka hadn't earned a multi-point effort since Nov. 19. The winger has produced seven points over 10 outings in January, offering steady offense in a middle-six role. He's at 16 goals, 16 assists, 128 shots on net and a plus-6 rating through 48 contests, production that's roughly in line with what he did over 77 outings last season.
