Buffalo N.Y. (WGR 550) - After an intense first two games of the season for the Buffalo Sabres, the team now heads out to Western Canada for an early season road trip, starting Tuesday night against the Edmonton Oilers.
Sabres head coach Don Granato loved seeing the drive and the passion from his group, especially in their loss to the Florida Panthers on Saturday afternoon.
Now with a challenging road trip ahead, with both Edmonton and the Calgary Flames finishing over the 100-point mark last season, Granato is looking forward to the challenge.
“I want our guys to be challenged," Granato said on Tuesday during his weekly appearance on the "Howard and Jeremy Show" on WGR. "I just believe in them, and no reason not to believe in them. We’ve seen their growth, and still there’s a lot of growth potential.”
After the tough loss on Saturday against Florida, Granato feels the defeat gives the team confidence that they know they are good enough to win games after a one-goal loss against a Panthers team that won the Presidents' Trophy last year.
Granato feels that the competitiveness is there with the Sabres, and their believability has helped them in these games against tough opponents.
One part of the reason for the Sabres becoming a more feisty team has been the growth and maturity of alternate captain, Rasmus Dahlin.
“I classify him as ultra competitive, also for lack of a better term, he’s a people pleaser," Granato said of his young defenseman with Howard Simon and Jeremy White. "He doesn’t want to disappoint the coach, he doesn’t want to disappoint teammates."
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The Sabres are still a young team, and are still building to reconnect with how they played at 5-on-5 towards the end of last season.
“At [Monday’s] practice, it was unimportant to think about chemistry between linemates. We've gotta get to work, and work four other guys on the ice. Everybody’s job will be easier, and chemistry will follow,” Granato said.
Hear more of Granato’s appearance during the “Howard and Jeremy Show” in the player below:
