Buffalo Sabres players and Lindy Ruff addressed concerns about the lack of response to a hit that injured Tage Thompson earlier in the week, which prompted a leadership rumor.

The Buffalo Sabres were raked over the coals on Sunday when they failed to step in after star forward Tage Thompson was rocked with a dirty hit from New Jersey Devils forward Stefan Noesen. No Buffalo Sabre standing up for Tage Thompson here is unbelievable and unacceptable #sabrehood pic.

The Buffalo Sabres’ toughness and togetherness has been called into question, and it is up to this group of players to prove people wrong, writes .