JONES CALLED UP AGAIN BUT DOESN'T PLAY ... AND SABRES ALMOST BLOW 4-0 LEAD

 Of Things Hockey and Football ...

Their franchise-record-tying 10-game winning streak 

ended 5-1 by Columbus, the Buffalo Sabres should be 

active in the trade market, still hoping to prove the critics 

wrong by snapping an NHL record of 14 straight years 

without qualifying for the playoffs. Who knows, they 

might even move Richmond’s ZAC JONES who leads 

AHL Rochester in scoring (30 points, 28 assists in 28 

games)… as a defenseman, believe it or not.

Jones was recalled by the Sabres Tuesday (Jan. 6) in time 

for a night game at home with the Vancouver Canucks. It 

marked the third time the 5-11, 190 pounder had been 

summoned … and he still hasn’t suited up for the parent 

club. 

In two previous callups, Jones spent the entire time as a 

healthy scratch – Oct. 19-21 and Nov. 7-14. He signed a 

two-way contract with Buffalo as a free agent July 3. The 

Sabres put Jones, 25, on waivers Sept. 28 for the purpose 

of sending him to Rochester.

Going into Tuesday night’s games, only Winnipeg (34 

ponts) had a worst record than Vancouver (37) which 

dropped a 5-3 decision to the Sabres (22-15-4) who tried 

to blow what was a 4-0 lead in spectacular fashion.

Through little to no fault of their own, the Canucks scored 

three goals in fewer than three minutes and, pulling their 

goalie for a sixth skater, had numerous chances to even 

the score … before JOSH DOAN’ 166-foot, empty-net 

goal with 1:24 remaining was enough to overcome a 

suddenly-awful defensive effort by Buffalo, now 15-5-2 

on home ice.

Even ZACH METSA, a 5-9 defenseman, with limited 

ability but nevertheless a favorite of coach LINDY 

RUFF, scored for Buffalo, his first in the NHL, for what 

proved the game-winner.

Meanwhile, the power play (0-14 the six previous 

games), continued to struggle despite the healthy-scratch 

presence of Jones, who has been exceptional with the 

man advantage … as a majority of his 28 assists in 

Rochester would attest.

**** The New York Rangers are in deep trouble … 

without IGOR SHESTERKIN, their goaltender and 

team MVP (by far) who was put on injured reserve 

Tuesday after suffering a non-contact leg injury in the 

first period of Monday’s 5-1 loss to Utah. The 30 year old 

Russian, in the first season of an eight-year, $92 million 

contract, was joined on IR by defenseman ADAM FOX, 

recipient of the 2022 Norris Trophy … who just returned 

from an extended stay and isn’t expected back any time 

soon.

**** GUESS IT wasn’t DAN QUINN’S fault that your 

Washington Commanders finished 5-12 after all. As 

expected defensive coordinator JOE WITT JR., was let 

go Tuesday. Unexpected was the removal of OC KLIFF 

KINGSBURY … by “mutual consent.”

This time a year ago, with the Team Formerly Known as 

Redskins bound for the conference-championship game, 

Kingsbury was The Next Great Offensive Mind for his 

work with Heisman Trophy-winning rookie QB JAYDEN 

DANIELS, the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year who 

spent most of 2025-26 injured.

Chances are Commanders’ ownership knew it was about 

to lose Kingsbury to a head coaching job elsewhere, so 

why not send him on his way?

Sure enough, he already is listed the favorite to become 

the next HC of the Cleveland Browns who fired KEVIN 

STEFANSKI on what could only be described as Black 

Tuesday that saw a bunch of coaches dismissed … among 

them JOHN HARBAUGH, fired by the Ravens after 18 

competitive seasons.

His availability might lead Washington to dump Quinn, 

what do you think? The New York Football Giants could 

be front-runners.

Until next time …