Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR 550) – The Buffalo Sabres had over 15,000 fans come to see the home opener on Thursday, and they went home with a 4-1 win over the Ottawa Senators.
Craig Anderson was the star of the game, making 35 saves, including three of four breakaways. Time-and-time again, Anderson was there to make the big save at the big time.
JJ Peterka was one of the few Sabres that was on his game in the first period, and he kept it up throughout. Peterka struggled in training camp and in the preseason games, but he really showed up to play and was rewarded with his first NHL goal.
The goal was a great play between Peterka and Dylan Cozens, as they worked a give-and-go to perfection. Their speed up ice is what produced the opportunity and when left alone, Peterka will convert more times than he won’t.
Peterka had four shots on goal, and along with Cozens and Peyton Krebs, they were Buffalo’s most effective line.
Cozens led the Sabres in preseason scoring, and his game didn’t drop off in the opener. In the final 40 minutes, he helped push the pace to get the Sabres to their game. He was also tough to play against in those 50/50 wall battles.
Jacob Bryson only played 12:19 in this game, but when he was on the ice, I thought he was strong on the breakouts.
Rasmus Dahlin played over 24 minutes and scored the game-winning goal, thanks to some great play. Dahlin cut in front of Anderson and brought the puck all the way up ice. He gained the zone, and Kyle Okposo got the puck in deep. He gave it to Krebs, who went behind the net while Dahlin kept going to the net. Krebs put the puck right where it needed to be, and Dahlin did the rest for the game-winning goal.
Tage Thompson had an interesting game. The only time I noticed him was when the Sabres were killing off a 49 second 5-on-3. He used his reach to get the puck and send it down ice to end the threat.
Thompson wasn’t particularly dangerous with the puck or around the net during this game. It just didn’t seem to be his night.
What impressed me the most is Buffalo didn’t have its game at all in the first period and did fall behind 1-0. They got better in the second period, and just stayed with it and found a way to win. They absolutely wouldn’t have won without Anderson, who made numerous big saves at big times in the game.
The Sabres will get a much stiffer test Saturday afternoon when the Florida Panthers come to town. The Panthers beat the New York Islanders, 3-1, on Thursday night in Long Island.
