MONTREAL – As coach Lindy Ruff closed his remarks following Tuesday’s 5-3 win, he congratulated the Buffalo Sabres’ slick new line of neophytes for a “hell of a night,” then reached into his pocket and tossed rookie Konsta Helenius the puck for his first NHL point, an assist on Noah Ostlund’s early goal.
As Helenius’ teammates cheered, Ruff dug back into his pocket and lobbed Helenius the puck he whistled by Nashville Predators goalie Jusse Saros bar down from the slot for his first goal 17:24 into the game.
“We knew that Helly’s got a great wrist shot,” Ruff told reporters in Nashville following the Sabres’ 16th win in their last 20 games (16-3-1). “When he walked down the pipe, there’s not many guys that can score that goal.”
After catching that second puck, a smiling Helenius, 19, accepted the team’s player of the game award – this year it’s a championship wrestling belt emblazoned with the Sabres logo – from center Tage Thompson and briefly addressed his teammates.
“Great game,” Helenius, the belt proudly slung over his shoulder, told his teammates in a video the Sabres posted on their website. “Let’s do it again in Montreal.”
Helenius, who sat out two games following his recall, will almost certainly play again in Thursday’s critical Atlantic Division contest against the Canadiens at the Bell Centre.
In between scoring his first big league goal and assist in Nashville, he created Ostlund’s second tally of the night by shooting from above the right circle.
That’s one heck of an opening period for a teenager less than a week into his NHL career.
“You always dream about scoring a goal in the NHL, and now you have it,” Helenius told reporters. “So it’s a really good feeling.”
The Finnish prospect, the 14th overall pick in 2024, became the first player in franchise history to enjoy a three-point outing within his first two games.
“He played a hell of a game,” Ostlund told reporters.
Held it together for the dub 😤 pic.twitter.com/I0iGG7EFk0
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) January 21, 2026
Helenius, a natural center, has spent most of his first recall skating at right wing alongside Ostlund, another rookie, and Zach Benson.
Ostlund, 21, is the oldest member of the line. Benson, 20, possesses the most NHL experience of the trio, having played 182 games.
Many coaches wouldn’t utilize three youngsters together on a line. Ruff, however, has confidence in them.
“I think the world of Ostlund, the way he plays down low and how smart he’s been,” he said. “Just trust them to play. Give them the opportunity, trust them to play, and I think if you keep getting thrown out there, you feel good about your game.”
The linemates combined for nine shots against Nashville, including four from Helenius.
“They were the best line by far – skated well, made every play,” Ruff said. “Every time they were on the ice they were in the offensive zone, six, seven shots on goal. That’s the type of energy you need.
“I think when you look at the schedule and you look at back-to-back games, some guys have a little more than others. They had a lot of energy and they made a lot of great plays.”
Ostlund, who scored both of his goals at the net, said he and his linemates “try to play a quick game, hang onto pucks and play with our speed.”
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The Sabres, who trail the Canadiens by four points in the standings, had Wednesday off.