Buffalo, NY (WGR Sports Radio 550) – The Buffalo Sabres have found themselves on a six game win streak and playing meaningful games in December for the first time in a long time.

They look to continue their win streak under general manager Jarmo Kekalainen and head coach Lindy Ruff against an Ottawa team who is on a win streak themselves, having won four in a row.

Ruff joined Joe DiBiase on the Jeremy and Joe show earlier this morning to comment on the upcoming matchup and the state of the team. Ruff said the vibes have been very good as of late.

“I think the vibe has been, very good. We’ve managed the emotions of not trying to get too high and put the wins away and get ready for the next game. We’re looking at a game tonight against Ottawa. Ottawa is on a four game winning streak and playing really well. So we know we’re in for a real tough contest here with this last game before the holiday.”

Ruff also touched on something that Kekalainen has since he was appointed the general manager, excuses. Specifically in their last matchup.

“You can always use excuses, but you need to find reasons to win a game after the first period. We lost the compete game in the first period. So we talked about how we’re going to win that compete. Coming to the puck, getting tighter connected, three guys closer in the offensive zone, shortening up the shifts, trying to get higher energy in a shorter period of time, and winning more foot races. That’s the compete inside the game that you have to win.”

Ruff was asked what had changed since the switch at general manager was made. According to him, not too much has.

“Not a lot has changed. When Jarmo came in as the advisor. He would sit with us almost every day. We have an open door policy. So he sat in on a lot of conversations we would have as coaches in the morning. He was in there after games. He’s doing what he does and and I think the conversations are the same. The normal GM coach conversations take place, whether we’re talking about how players played, about the upcoming lineup. There’s times you have to look a little bit ahead in the lineup, and we’ve discussed some of those things. But really, the normal conversations that a GM and coach would have, they’re all taking place.”

Puck drop against Ottawa is set for 7:00 p.m. tonight and you can catch all of the game action on the radio home of the Buffalo Sabres, WGR Sports Radio 550.

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