BUFFALO – Sabres rookie Isak Rosen understands the opportunities he has recently enjoyed are difficult to earn.
Rosen, the Rochester Americans’ leading scorer, has been recalled three times this month as the Sabres deal with a depleted forward corps.
They’re giving the Swede, the 14th overall pick in 2021, a chance to showcase the talent that has helped him score 27 goals and 54 points in 55 games this season.
Rosen, 22, knows he must do more with it. He registered zero points in his first 11 NHL games. He recorded his first point, an assist, in the second period of Thursday’s 7-3 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins, feeding defenseman Mattias Samuelsson in the right circle.
“It’s been a lot of up and down, so just focus on today,” Rosen told the Times Herald prior to Thursday’s game in KeyBank Center. “I think today’s going to be a game where I need to show some more, and I feel like really show what I can do, really, what I feel I have in my game.”
He entered the evening having registered just two shots on goal this season.
“I need to play better, and I know I can,” Rosen said.
Thursday’s contest marked the first time this season he played consecutive games with the Sabres. He has usually skated short minutes, including in Tuesday’s 3-2 win over the Ottawa Senators, when he played just 8 minutes, 26 seconds.
The toughest part of moving up and down, Rosen said, is the difference in styles between the AHL and NHL.
“Just (a) different game,” the prospect said. “But I … can’t blame it on that.”
Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said he wants Rosen to possess the puck more and display more composure with it.
“I think we’ll get to see a little bit more,” Ruff said. “I think there’s times he’s kind of deferring to plays that don’t allow him to have the puck as much.”
After playing right wing alongside center Tyson Kozak and Beck Malenstyn in Tuesday’s 3-2 win over the Ottawa Senators, Ruff shifted Rosen to left wing with center Peyton Krebs and Alex Tuch for Thursday’s game.
While Rosen has emerged as one of the AHL’s elite scorers and a top-liner winger for the Amerks, he has usually skated on the Sabres’ third or fourth line.
“A player that comes up like Rosy will battle that,” Ruff said. “You don’t go straight to the top line. You don’t take a (JJ) Peterka’s spot. That’s always their battle, is how to show without being like the guy and not being on the first power play and stuff like that.
“He’ll have those opportunities and moments inside the game to use his skill, use his speed, and that’s what he has to take advantage of.”
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— Buffalo Hockey Moments (@SabresPlays) March 28, 2025
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Sabres winger Jason Zucker missed Thursday’s game because a family matter, Ruff said.
Ruff hopes Zucker will be available for Saturday afternoon’s road game against the Philadelphia Flyers.
Meanwhile, winger Sam Lafferty, who took reps on a line Thursday morning missed his third straight game with a groin injury.
Center Josh Dunne moved into the lineup and skated at right wing alongside Kozak and Malenstyn. The Sabres recalled Dunne shortly before Tuesday’s game but scratched him.
In his first appearance with the Sabres this season, a 4-0 loss March 8 in Florida, Dunne fought the Panthers’ A.J. Greer.
“Plays hard,” Ruff said of Dunne. “He’s got some physicality to him, has played well down there.”
Dunne has compiled nine goals and 26 points in 58 games with the Rochester Americans this season.
The Sabres also scratched defenseman Jacob Bryson (healthy), winger Jordan Greenway (lower body) and center Josh Norris (mid-body).