The lockout-shortened season didn't go the way Drew Stafford planned.

"I had an expectation for myself to carry over from the previous two years and continue to have production goal-scoring-wise," Stafford said. "It just wasn't there this year." He registered 31 goals in 2010-11 and 20 in 2011-12, but found the back of the net just six times in 46 games in 2013. Stafford finished the year with 18 points and a career worse minus-16 rating. He has two seasons left on a four-year, $16 million deal and it isn't clear if he'll be part of Buffalo's rebuilding plan. Stafford hopes to be back though and he wants to rebound with the Sabres.

Drew Stafford scored a goal and added an assist for the Sabres in a 5-4 shootout loss to Florida Thursday.

He has clearly responded to being scratched for two straight games prior to this one and might just be getting back on track toward the end of a miserable season. Nathan Gerbe, Marcus Foligno and Andrej Sekera also tallied for the Sabres in the loss.

Drew Stafford will get back into Buffalo's lineup Thursday whether Thomas Vanek can play or not.

Coach Ron Rolston made that call Wednesday after practice. Stafford has been a healthy scratch for the last two games, but he isn't wondering about being traded. "That's not something I was thinking about. I need to ignore the noise, focus on getting better and improving myself," he said. "Being out of the lineup, my No. 1 priority is focusing on coming back, playing strong and playing hard and helping this team win games. That's all about where my head is at." He has four goals and 11 points in 31 games this campaign.

Drew Stafford will spend Saturday's game in the press box.

"It's definitely disappointing, but it's his decision and something I have to respect," Stafford said. "I have to work my way back into the lineup. It's no secret I haven't been getting on the score sheet." Stafford has just four goals and 11 points in 31 games this season. That's a huge step down from his 31-goal campaign in 2010-11. Maybe have a hot finish to the season following this healthy scratch, but we can't recommend owning him in standard leagues at this time.

Buffalo Sabres coach Lindy Ruff has demoted Drew Stafford to the fourth line for Tuesday night's game.

Stafford has just one goal on the season and is carrying a minus-5 rating and Ruff is hoping a demotion snaps him out of his slump. We don't expect Stafford to stay on the fourth line for long since the Sabres don't have a ton of scoring talent up front. That said, we also don't know when the notoriously streaky Stafford will start scoring again. It might be best in some formats to walk away from him and monitor him from the waiver wire.

Drew Stafford was relieved he scored Friday night ending a 17-game goal drought.

The talented winger had scored 51 goals in the Sabres' last 140 games prior his 17-game goalless streak. "That's something I've been working for, and finally it's nice to get rewarded," said Stafford. "I've been waiting for it to happen. Finally, it went in. It was a good feeling. More importantly, it's not about me in here. It was a great win by the guys, and I was glad to contribute and hopefully continue." As he is a streaky player, we wouldn't be surprised if Stafford went on a bit of roll now that the pressure of scoring is off him.

Drew Stafford ended his 17-game goal drought in Buffalo's 4-2 win over the Bruins on Friday night.

Stafford also had an assist to give him seven points in 15 games this year. The winger has 45 shots on net this season, but a miserable 2.2 shooting percentage, which is obviously something that should improve so long as he continues to generate chances. Christian Ehrhoff and Tyler Myers also both had a goal and an assist, with Cody Hodgson potting in the other. Tyler Ennis had two assists.

Drew Stafford hasn't scored a goal since March 31, a span of 17 games.

Even more amazing: Of the 300 players without a goal this season, nobody has come up empty more times than Stafford, who has 40 shots on goal, good for 29th in the league. "You just have to keep with it, keep working. You can't give up," Stafford said. "You can't let the negativity creep in. You can't show up to the rink the next day and be moping around because that just brings everyone else down. It's times like these that a good thing I like to say is, 'The game reveals your character.' Stafford, who had 51 goals over the last two seasons, is in the second year of a four-year, $16 million deal. He has a mere five assists on the season.

Drew Stafford added four more shots to his season total of 40 in Tuesday's loss to Ottawa.

The Sabres have been struggling on offense beyond their top line and Stafford doesn't have a goal yet this season. He has the most shots among NHL skaters who haven't found the back of the net. Stafford has five assists in 14 games.

Drew Stafford has no goals on 23 shots this season.

Linemates Marcus Foligno and Tyler Ennis have three goals between them, as the Sabres have struggled nine games into the year to secure offense beyond their top line of Thomas Vanek, Cody Hodgson and Jason Pominville. Coach Lindy Ruff had a one-on-one conversation with Stafford and showed video to other players, while placing emphasis on capitalizing on their chances.