TORONTO – In his first game subbing for injured Buffalo Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin, Olen Zellweger performed splendidly, enjoying perhaps his best night in the NHL.
Skating alongside defenseman Mattias Samuelsson for much of Tuesday’s 4-3 shootout loss to the Montreal Canadiens, Zellweger set career highs by scoring two goals and playing 25 minutes, 49 seconds.
No one, of course, can truly replace Dahlin, one of the NHL’s most dynamic defensemen, as he recovers from an upper-body injury he suffered in Monday afternoon’s 5-3 win over the Florida Panthers.
But for one night at least, the speedy Zellweger, 23, came pretty darn close, zooming around the ice and showcasing his elite skating ability.
If Dahlin, who’s day to day, can’t play Thursday against the Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena, expect Zellweger to skate big minutes again.
“Really think his game is coming these last three, four games,” Sabres coach Lindy Ruff told reporters following Monday’s loss in Montreal. “Moving really well, getting the pucks, making a lot of good plays.
“Really what we envisioned (what) we thought he could be.”
On June 26, three days after trading defenseman Bowen Byram, the Sabres made their biggest acquisition of the offseason, sending a second-round pick and forward prospect Anton Wahlberg to the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for Zellweger.
In the 5-foot-10, 193-pound Zellweger, the Sabres have a younger and inexpensive replacement for Byram.
While Zellweger struggled to develop his two-way game in Anaheim – he sat out part of last year’s Stanley Cup Playoffs as a healthy scratch – he possesses terrific upside.
Since recovering from a concussion that sidelined him for the season opener, he has showcased an aggressive style, regularly creating offense by moving up in the rush.
“He’s one of the more elite skaters in the league,” Sabres winger Josh Doan said. “His edge work is phenomenal. He’s a hard player to chase around the ice. … When he gets moving, he’s tough to play against.”
It can be hard to take your eyes off the slick Zellweger, especially, as Doan noted, because his edge work makes him so agile.
He stood out throughout Monday’s win, eclipsing the 20-minute mark for the first time with Buffalo and recording his first point, an assist, when he hit Ryan McLeod in stride as the center entered the Florida zone before scoring.
Both of his goals in Tuesday’s game came off point shots that deflected off Canadiens.
As he begins his career with the Sabres, Zellweger has displayed growth and maturity by knowing when to use his greatest asset. On Monday, for example, he did not take unnecessary risks.
“Real solid game, played really well,” Ruff said following the game. “Moved the puck well, skated well. I thought he was more tentative, just he made sure that when he was gonna join, it was the right time. Made some good decisions that way.”
Zellweger said at his best, he’s “involved a lot, providing that puck movement, adding that extra speed joining the rush, breaking the puck out.”
“Then being reliable defensively,” he told the Times Herald during training camp. “I think when I’m at my best, it’s a two-way street, I’m playing both ends of the ice really well. And I think that in the AHL and junior, I was really offensive. So I’m trying to unlock a bit more of that.
“I think I didn’t quite get there yet in Anaheim, so trying to grow my offensive game picking my spots, moving the puck, playing a smart, high-IQ game. Then using your skating and stuff all comes naturally.”
Notes: Since replacing Colten Ellis in the second period of Monday’s game, Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, who struggled early this season, has compiled a 2.43 goals against average and a .923 save percentage. The Finn made 35 saves against the Canadiens, including an early stop on a two-on-zero break. “Our goalie got us a point,” Ruff said. Luukkonen, however, allowed three shootout goals on three attempts. … The Rochester Americans on Wednesday named veteran center Matthew Peca, 33, captain. … The Sabres had Wednesday off.
Olen Zellweger has his first as a Sabre after his shot bounces off a Canadien and in. 1-0
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Olen Zellweger’s shot bounces off a Canadien’s player and into the net, 3-3
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— Buffalo Hockey Moments (@SabresPlays) October 14, 2026