Buffalo Sabres center Dylan Cozens often plays his best when he’s ticked off, so it wasn’t surprising he responded by scoring a power-play goal for Team Canada in Sunday’s 3-2 win after Team Switzerland’s Kevin Fiala kneed him.
Shortly after Fiala, a winger with the Los Angeles Kings, was ejected, Cozens scored his second of the game and sixth of the World Championship in Czechia.
The Yukon native, of course, just endured a difficult year with the Sabres, scoring 13 fewer goals and 21 fewer points than in 2022-23. He took his underwhelming season hard, saying last month he disappointed a lot of people, including himself.
So far, Cozens, 23, has rebounded well, enjoying a terrific stretch for the Canadians. Through six games, he’s tied for the tournament lead in goals. His eight points rank ninth.
Cozens. Again. Power play. Again.
Encore une fois, Cozens marque sur l’attaque massive! #MensWorlds | #MondialMasculinpic.twitter.com/uElGz8mEeD
— Hockey Canada (@HockeyCanada) May 19, 2024
In the past, the World Championship has infused him with confidence and helped buoy his success. In 2022, fresh off his second NHL season, he scored seven goals and 13 points in 10 games as Canada earned the silver medal.
He followed up with a breakout 31-goal, 68-point season for the Sabres.
Canada, which is 6-0 in Group A, plays Czechia today.
Here are some updates on other Sabres participating in the tournament:
– Winger JJ Peterka has scored five goals, the tournament’s 10th-highest total, and eight points in six games for Team Germany.
– Defenseman Rasmus Dahlin has registered one goal and four points in six games for Team Sweden, which is 6-0-0 in Group B.
– Defenseman Bowen Byram has recorded one goal and four points in five games for Canada. He received a one-game suspension for slashing Team Finland’s Jesse Puljujarvi.
– Defenseman Owen Power has registered one goal and four points in six games for Canada.
– Winger Victor Olofsson, who almost certainly won’t be re-signed by the Sabres, has recorded one goal and three points in five contests for Sweden.
