Sabres coach Lindy Ruff might have been better off declining penalties Thursday night. Scoreless on a season-high six power-play chances, the Sabres gave up a pair of shorthanded goals in a 5-2 loss in Calgary against a Flames team that came in ranked 30th in the NHL on the penalty kill.

The message was sent Tuesday and, for once in this utterly bizarre Buffalo Sabres season, it was actually heard.

The Sabres earned a commanding 58-40 lead in 5-on-5 shot attempts and drew seven minor penalties, the first of which saw Jonathan Huberdeau open the scoring on a shorthanded breakaway. Rasmus Dahlin had attempted to break up a clearing attempt, but the puck banked off his stick and toward Huberdeau as he exited the Calgary zone.

The Sabres were properly pleased with their 5-on-5 play but were as aghast as they should have been with their power play -- which went 0 for 6 in the

The Sabres are still in last place in the Eastern Conference and currently sit nine points out of a playoff spot.

Buffalo Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff joined the “Jeremy and Joe show” as the Sabres continue their west coast trip following a 3-2 win over the Vancouver Canucks.

The Penguins snapped a three-game losing streak, improving to 19-20-8. The Sabres, now 17-23-5, will look to address their defensive and penalty-kill issues. Earlier this season they lost 11 straight games and have lost five of their last eight games.

Thursday night the Buffalo Sabres will confront the hometown hockey heroes in Cowtown, encountering the Calgary Flames.  Puck drop is slated for 9 pm ET live from the Scotiabank Saddledome.

Buffalo Sabres goalie prospect Devon Levi is putting together a terrific season in the AHL. He’s 12-3-2 with a .913 save percentage, 2.33 goals-against average and two shutouts. He was named to the AHL All-Star Game. At that level, the 23-year-old has looked the part as one of hockey’s most promising goalie prospects.

The Buffalo Sabres beat the Vancouver Canucks 3-2 on Tuesday night with a spirited third-period comeback. Jiri Kulich had a goal and two assists while centering the top line, and JJ Peterka played one of his best games of the season. In a different context, Tuesday’s game would have been a major bright spot.

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen will start in goal after resting during Monday’s game due to what Ruff described as “nagging issues.” With Luukkonen available, the Sabres recalled forward Tyson Kozak and loaned goaltender Devon Levi to Rochester.

With trade speculation swirling about Buffalo Sabres center Dylan Cozens, 20-year-old Jiri Kulich impressed coach Lindy Ruff on the first line.