OTTAWA – By Sunday night, after Buffalo Sabres defenseman Zach Metsa completed a grueling stretch of the three games in three days with the Rochester Americans, he was spent.
“Just mentally and emotionally, you’re just kind of drained after the third game,” the defenseman told the Times Herald prior to Thursday’s game against the Senators in the Canadian Tire Centre.
In his brief return to the minors, Metsa, 27, received the full AHL experience, playing last Friday in Rochester, Saturday in Syracuse and Sunday back in the Flower City.
The short weekend stint – with Conor Timmins healthy again, the Sabres planned to scratch Metsa, so they figured he should go play – offered him an opportunity to skate big minutes.
“It builds a little more confidence,” said Metsa, the Amerks’ captain. “You just get more puck touches, just more reps.”
On Monday, the Sabres recalled Metsa, perhaps for the final time. The rookie likely has a spot in Buffalo for the rest of the season.
In Tuesday’s 4-3 win over the New York Islanders and Thursday, Sabres coach Lindy Ruff awarded Metsa a little time penalty killing.
“I have watched him kill in practice, and … I just say, ‘There’s no reason he can’t kill in a game,’” Ruff said.
Metsa’s assignment to Rochester riled up a fan base that loves his smart, efficient game. They wanted him in the NHL lineup.
While he skates limited minutes on the third defense pair, entering Thursday’s game, at five-on-five, he had been on the ice for 23 goals for and just two goals against.
During Saturday’s 3-2 shootout win over the Seattle Kraken, some fans even chanted, “We want Metsa.”
Metsa said he has heard a little bit about the support.
“It’s cool,” he said. “… It feels like I’m doing something right. It means the world.”