Rasmus Dahlin had three assists Saturday. ©2024, Micheline Veluvolu

Sabres notes: Rasmus Dahlin feeling like himself; Nicolas Aube-Kubel set to return from injury

BUFFALO – It’s pretty easy to tell when Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin is playing at his best. Look for him to be smiling and laughing.

“That’s when it’s more freedom out there, no thinking and I move my feet,” Dahlin said following Sunday’s practice in KeyBank Center.

In the weeks after Dahlin, 24, returned from a mid-body injury he suffered minutes into the first session of training camp – he mentioned he injured his back – he wasn’t playing very freely.

But over the past few games, the ultra-talented defenseman has looked more like himself, creating offense and zooming around the ice. That smile has reappeared.

It’s no coincidence the Sabres have a three-game winning streak entering tonight’s home game against the Florida Panthers.

Dahlin said after he recovered from his injury, it became “more of a mental thing there at the end.” Now, he said he’s back to normal.

“When I’m involved, that’s when I play best,” he said.

In Saturday afternoon’s 5-3 win over the Detroit Red Wings, Dahlin recorded three assists, tying his career high, and also blocked four shots during a team-high 23 minutes, 33 seconds of ice time. He also made an ill-advised pass inside the Detroit blue line on the power play, creating a short-handed goal for the Red Wings.

“The first signs were really three games ago, where he really started to skate, really started to get involved,” Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said of when the Swede began showcasing his regular form. “He looks more like himself now. I thought (Saturday), besides not shooting it on the power play that ended up costing us, I thought his skating, his breaking pucks out was very good.”

Sabres winger Nicolas Aube-Kubel, out since suffering a lower-body injury in the season opener Oct. 4, practiced again Sunday and is expected to return against the Panthers.

Aube-Kubel, who has missed the last eight games, began practicing again last week. He skated at left wing Sunday on the second line alongside center Dylan Cozens and Jack Quinn. Cozens and Quinn have combined to score one goal this season.

Throughout camp and in his only regular-season appearance, the gritty Aube-Kubel played on the fourth line alongside Sam Lafferty and Beck Malenstyn.

Ruff said they wanted “to look at” Aube-Kubel on the second line Sunday. It’s unclear where he’ll play tonight.

“(He has) speed, one of the strongest guys we have on the puck,” he said. “(He) was really playing well coming out of (camp). It could be a look that the Panther team is hard, they’re heavy, physical. It could create a little bit more forecheck pressure for us.”

Meanwhile, defenseman Owen Power, who left Saturday’s game early, practiced Sunday.

Ruff said Power did not play after the 2:49 mark of the third period because he was sick.

“It was debatable whether he would get out this morning, and our medical staff thought it would be OK if he got out,” he said. “I believe he’s doing better. He got through practice.

“But we know playing against a Florida team, we need 100 percent. (Leaving the game) put us in a little bit of a jam with only five, but I thought the five D played really well in the third period.”

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *