Johan Larsson has thrived in a checking role. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres’ Johan Larsson, aka ‘Grumpy Larry,’ frustrating opponents

BUFFALO – The scouting report on Johan Larsson, the tenacious center Sabres coach Dan Bylsma often charges with shadowing the opposition’s top forwards, is short and straightforward.

“He’s grumpy, miserable, hard guy to play against,” Bylsma said Tuesday after the Sabres prepared for tonight’s tilt against the Detroit Red Wings at KeyBank Center.

Wait, the quiet Larsson, an affable, well-liked teammate known as “Larry,” is grumpy? How often does that word appear in scouting reports?

“They call him ‘Grumpy Larry’ for a reason,” Bylsma explained. “He’s a hard guy to play against. He plays a gritty game and he bites at your heels and he’s got a lot of terror in him. That’s how he plays. He’s embraced that role and he’s playing it very well for us.”

Sabres winger Marcus Foligno, Larsson’s linemate most of the last year, said: “He’s very responsible in his defensive zone. He’s physical. He doesn’t back down from anybody. That can frustrate a lot of people.”

Larsson, 24, usually pivots a checking line beside Foligno and captain Brian Gionta, a trio that quickly became the Sabres’ steadiest last winter.

With top center Ryan O’Reilly injured and Sidney Crosby in town Saturday, Bylsma promoted Larsson to the No. 1 line to help stymie the Pittsburgh Penguins superstar. The Swede mostly held hockey’s biggest talent in check all night – he skated a season-high 22 minutes, 26 seconds – as the Sabres’ 2-1 shootout win ended a six-game losing streak.

“It takes the best out of you,” Larsson said about facing the opposition’s best. “You focus every time they’re out there. You know they’re dangerous. So it kind of brings my game to the top, too, so I like it.”

In Monday’s 4-2 win against Calgary, Larsson scored the go-ahead power-play goal and also went head-to-head with top Flames forwards Mikael Backlund and Sean Monahan.

“He had the same kind of grumpy demeanor and sniping at Backlund and Monahan,” Bylsma said. “I think he cherishes and relishes … going against the top guys and being a hard guy to play against, getting in their way, getting in their face, getting in their shorts.”

Barely a year ago, Larsson couldn’t get into his own uniform. He had thrived during his brief run as the Sabres’ No. 1 center at the end of 2014-15, scoring five goals and 14 points in the final 19 games. But he struggled early last year as he tried to adjust to a lesser role under Bylsma, who scratched him three times before November ended.

Larsson finally scored his first goal Dec. 14, his 28th appearance. By the wintertime, Larsson began developing into a sturdy and clutch two-way presence. Incredibly, seven of his last 13 goals have been game-winning scores.

“Starting at about the 35-game mark, the 40-game mark he grew into the role and the player he can be and is being for us right now,” Bylsma said.

What helped Larsson morph from a fringe player into a reliable presence?

“Coach had a little bit of confidence in you and my confidence grows a little bit,” Larsson said. “It’s just mostly opportunity. Opportunity’s there and that helps me.”

Sabres newcomer Kyle Okposo said he didn’t know much about Larsson, his new linemate, before coming to Buffalo this season.

“He’s one of those guys you don’t really noticed him too much when you’re on the other team,” Okposo said. “But when you’re playing with him, you realize how good he is and how many little plays he makes.

“Just thinking about it last year, I didn’t get a whole lot of chances when we were playing Buffalo, and he’s probably a big reason why.”

Larsson’s run on the top line could end tonight. O’Reilly, out the last five games with an oblique injury, skated in the Sabres’ optional practice Tuesday and could return.

If that happens, Larsson might go back between Foligno and Gionta, a place he feels comfortable.

“I’m really confident,” Larsson said. “We’ve played with each other for a lot of games. I think we play really well together. We know each other’s game.”

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