Ruff made the playoffs eight times as head coach of the Sabres, including an appearance in the 1998-99 Stanley Cup Final along with three trips to the Eastern Conference Final in 1997-98, 2005-06, and 2006-07. The Sabres finished with a franchise-record 53 wins and 113 points in 2006-07, claiming their only Presidents’ Trophy in team history.

If the Buffalo Sabres haven’t hit rock bottom this season, they’re starting to creep awfully close. After scoring two goals in the first three minutes Sunday against the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Sabres would go on to blow another lead,

Lindy Ruff has been in charge of an NHL bench for more than 1,800 regular-season games. The Buffalo Sabres head coach knows hockey inside and out. He's also never felt the stress and strain of a stretch like this.

John Tavares scored a natural hat trick with three straight goals -- two of them 1:10 apart in the second period -- and the Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the visiting Buffalo Sabres 5-3 on Sunday night.

The Toronto Maple Leafs and Buffalo Sabres treated fans to a high-octane showdown, with the Leafs emerging victorious 6-4. The game saw stellar performances from both sides, but it was John Tavares who stole the spotlight with a hat trick,