Mark Pysyk scored what might go down as the goal of his career Monday night.
A puck he chipped went over Phoenix Coyotes goaltender Mike Smith's head and stuck into the back of his pants as he slid back into the net, resulting in the game-winning overtime goal for the Buffalo Sabres.
It was one of a rare few memorable moments for the Sabres in calendar year 2013. Through Monday night's game, the team has gone 31-45-9 during the year, and a lot of those losses have been downright ugly. Thirty-eight different skaters have suited up for the team, including a gaggle of teenagers, and few have been able to make an impact on a consistent basis.
All this being said, for diehard Sabres fans, 2013 will still go down as a year to remember for various reasons. Aside from the on-ice highlights, there have been new players to get to know, player departures to come to terms with and—of course—the return of familiar faces behind the bench and in the front office.
The following slides present five players who have been bright spots in Buffalo at one point or another during 2013. Some are gone; others have seemed to fade in and out. But they've all provided memories for us during the past 12 months.