Dahlin - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Tage Thompson dynamic in win, enjoys one of greatest nights in Sabres history

BUFFALO – Sabres center Tage Thompson stood at his locker following the best outing of his career, a dynamic three-goal, six-point effort in Monday’s 8-3 victory, and it was hard to tell if he had done anything in the game.

Thompson’s slow start this season already feels like a distant memory. Prior to center Dylan Cozens’ third-period goal against the Detroit Red Wings, he recorded a point on eight straight Sabres goals over two games, ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Buffalo adds defenseman; Jacob Bryson seizing leading role

BUFFALO – Just nine games in, the Sabres have already dipped deep into their defense reserves. Hours before Monday’s 8-3 win over the Detroit Red Wings, they recalled Jeremy Davies from the Rochester Americans.

Davies, 25, is the ninth defenseman who has been on the roster this season.

“We’re banged up on the back end and that’s the need, pressing need right now,” Sabres coach Don Granato said Monday prior to Davies’ recall.

They summoned ... Read the full article

Ilya Lyubushkin out again; Sabres plan to add new defenseman

BUFFALO – After forward Riley Sheahan clears waivers or is claimed this afternoon, the Sabres plan to recall a defenseman from the Rochester Americans.

“We’re banged up on the back end and that’s the need, pressing need right now,” Sabres coach Don Granato said this morning.

Right now, having lost three defensemen – Henri Jokiharju, Ilya Lyubushkin and Mattias Samuelsson are all injured – the Sabres sorely help.

Their options, however, are limited. They’ve already ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Tage Thompson scores twice, buoys OT win: ‘Just a matter of time’

BUFFALO – Hours before Tage Thompson’s clutch two-goal performance in Saturday’s 4-3, come-from-behind overtime victory, Sabres coach Don Granato gave his struggling center a simple message: relax.

Thompson, fresh off a breakout 38-goal season, admittedly demands a lot from himself. After scoring just once in the first seven games, he began feeling pressure to produce.

So Granato told Thompson, who turns 25 today, to stop trying to score the perfect goal and overthinking things. Just ... Read the full article

Defense injuries offer Kale Clague early opportunity with Sabres

BUFFALO – Having shuttled between the NHL and minors for four seasons, Sabres newcomer Kale Clague understand his role as a depth defenseman.

Despite enjoying a strong training camp, Clague, 24, started the season with the Rochester Americans as the eighth or ninth defenseman in the organization.

Given the rugged nature of the position, it seemed likely the Sabres would need Clague at some point, and sure enough, the Sabres recalled him on Sunday after ... Read the full article

Sabres rookie Owen Power acclimating to NHL, making special plays

BUFFALO – As the seconds ticked down and the crowd grew restless, Sabres rookie Owen Power stayed calm, displaying poise that belies his age.

Power, 19, said he initially wanted to shoot when winger Victor Olofsson passed him the puck above the left circle. But he had a little space, and when he saw a seam open up, he adroitly fed Rasmus Dahlin, his defense partner, in the right circle.

“So many guys feel ... Read the full article

Sabres showcase energy, generate offense in loss to Canadiens

BUFFALO – The Sabres, one of the NHL’s early-season darlings, are suddenly on a two-game skid, having lost to two lightweights.

Three straight road wins last week raised expectations and signaled that perhaps the Sabres had finally arrived as serious playoff contender.

Then in a three-day span, they dropped games to the Seattle Kraken and Montreal Canadiens. Yikes.... Read the full article

Sabres’ Rasmus Dahlin named NHL’s First Star after record-setting week

A record-setting stretch in which Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin extended his season-opening goal streak to five games has earned him NHL First Star honors for the week ending Sunday.

Dahlin, 22, scored in all three games last week and compiled five points and a plus-5 rating, helping the Sabres open their four-game road trip 3-0-0.

In last Tuesday’s 4-2 win over the Edmonton Oilers, Dahlin became the first NHL defenseman since the Tampa Bay ... Read the full article

Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin scores another goal, sets NHL record

Right now, you might be watching Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin take his first steps into superstardom.

Dahlin, 22, scored again in Thursday’s 6-3 road win over the Calgary Flames, slipping into the slot and beating goalie Jacob Markstrom 10:49 into the game.

In putting the Sabres up 2-1, the Swede made history, becoming the first NHL defenseman to score a goal in each of his team’s first four games to start a season.... Read the full article

Sabres, Panthers plant seeds of fierce rivalry in heated early-season game

BUFFALO – If you’re wondering, following Saturday afternoon’s entertaining 4-3 loss to Matthew Tkachuk and the Florida Panthers, the Sabres don’t play their budding Atlantic Division rival again until Jan. 16.

That three-month wait is too long for coach Don Granato, who loves the grit and tenacity the Sabres displayed while refusing to back down to the Panthers, one of the NHL’s heavyweights.

Saturday’s heated affair at KeyBank Center looked more like a late-season contest ... Read the full article