BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Tage Thompson scored his 35th goal of the season early in the third period, and Lindy Ruff became the second coach to win 600 games with one NHL franchise as the Sabres came back for a victory 3-2 Tuesday night at KeyBank Center in their first time playing against Dylan Coz ens since trading him to the Ottawa Senators. Ruff's 600th victory came in his 1,235 game coaching the Sabres. Having has also coached the Dallas Stars and New Jersey Devils, Ruff ranks fifth all-time with 893 career wins. James Reimer made 30 saves to win his second game in a row for the Sabres, who also got goals from Jack Quinn and new defenseman Jacob Bernard-Docker scoring against his former team. Bernard-Docker's goal, set up by rookie Tyson Kozak's forechecking, tied it up at 12:59 into the second period after David Perron's power play goal made it 2-1 a few minutes earlier. Brady Tkachuk also scored on a power play in the first. Ottawa Senators center Dylan Cozens (24) skates in the zone during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Buffalo Sabres, Tuesday, March 25, 2025, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes) Catching up with Cozens Dylan Cozens was a symbol of the Sabres’ organizational strategy in the spring of 2021. Cozens wasn’t drafted by Kevyn Adams, but the top rookie on the team roster he took over, central to the general manager’s pivot to building around the players that wanted to be in Buffalo, preparing to move on from Jack Eichel and Sam Reinhart. Four years later, Cozens was traded to Ottawa. In order to “make our team better,” as Adams explained, Cozens, not long after receiving a new contract worth more than $7 million per season, had to go.  Cleaning out his emotional closet in his first time dressing in the visitor’s room, Cozens revealed that even though his name was rumored to be on the trade block, the reality of the deal “came as a shock and it was sad, but exciting at the same time.” “I was sad to leave Buffalo, I had a lot of great experiences here, this is where I started my career with a lot of great friends and a lot of great memories,” Cozens said prior to Tuesday’s game. “I wanted to be here. I committed to being here. I wanted to be part of the solution in helping things turn around here and it’s sad that it didn’t work out.” Cozens acknowledged the crowd and smiled after watching the tribute video, accompanied by the “White Horse” goal song for the “workhorse from Whitehorse.” With an assist on the Senators first goal, Cozens has tallied eight points in nine games since the trade. He had 31 points in the first 61 games of the season.  “Positive energy does a lot and there was definitely a lot of negative energy here over the years which takes a toll on you,” Cozens said. “It takes a toll on everyone, no one can block that all out, so it’s nice to be on a team that’s in a good spot right now and there’s a lot of good energy and good positive vibes in the room which makes it easier to show up every day.” No Norris Bernard-Docker, in the No. 24 previously worn by Cozens, scored his second goal in three games played since coming to Buffalo in the trade, while Buffalonian Dennis Gilbert was a healthy scratch in his homecoming. But the centerpiece of the Sabres’ exchange, centerman Josh Norris, misses his sixth game in a row with an undisclosed injury. “It’s something that I’ve been dealing with throughout the year and reaggravated it, so being smart about it,” Norris said. The Sabres coveted Norris for his two-way skill, but durability has been an issue throughout his career. “He’s dealing with something that he had previous to coming here and is trying to work his way through it,” Ruff said. “It’s the type of injury that only the player knows how it feels.” Up next Buffalo hosts the Pittsburg Penguins on Pride NIght at KeyBank Center on Thursday ...read more read less