AP

‘“It’s just mental toughness at the moment,″ he said. “We lost multiple individual battles that cost us the game. We have to continue to work. There’s no magic fix when you’re in a funk like this. I don’t feel a quit in the group.”’

‘“He understands the situation we’re in is unacceptable, and the players do, everybody does,” Adams said of the second-year coach.’

‘“It was a very bad game,” Ristolainen said. “I feel like every time we were kind of getting back at it, getting the momentum in their zone, and getting some good shifts then we made a mistake. I made unfortunately a lot of mistakes today that cost us the game.”’

‘Buffalo pulled Hutton for an extra skater with about 1:40 remaining, but couldn’t get the tying goal.’

‘“The guys have stuck together. No one’s turned on each other and it’s a positive mindset. It’s just currently not working for us,” Eichel said. “No one feels sorry for us in this league. We don’t feel sorry for ourselves. We just need to dig ourselves out of this and find a way to feel good about our game.”’

‘Elliott improved to 5-1 this season and upped his career record to 15-2-2 with four shutouts against the Sabres, including a 40-save outing in a 3-0 win on Jan. 19.’

‘Veteran backup Carter Hutton will take over and start both games of Buffalo’s weekend series against the Flyers, with minor league callup Jonas Johansson serving as backup.’

‘Skinner skated on the Sabres’ fourth line in practice Friday, which was a promotion after he worked out with the team’s taxi squad members a day earlier. Krueger would only say Skinner would be available to play Saturday.’

‘With Buffalo up 2-1, the game’s complexion turned 2:58 into the third period when Hall was penalized for high-sticking Wood while battling for the puck in the Devils corner.’

‘“The way I think about it, it’s just a bump in the road, and it’s going to make me tougher and better,” Ristolainen said during a video conference call Thursday in his first comments since sharing his experience with the Finnish newspaper Ilta-Sanomat last week. “Right now, I feel really good. Energy level has been getting better every day.”’