Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR 550) - Watching Mattias Samuelsson's play as of late, it just didn’t seem like he was himself. He was still killing plays, but he wasn't making good puck decisions and ended up turning it over that sometimes wound up in the net.
With Rasmus Dahlin missing Thursday’s game against the Boston Bruins with a lower-body injury, Samuelsson partnered with Owen Power to play a very good game. He blocked nine shots in 25:57 of work, and he and Power finished their night defending a 6-on-5 for three full minutes.
Samuelsson was presented the Sabres' ceremonial game sword by captain Kyle Okposo after the 3-1 win over the Bruins, and the defenseman said it means more when it comes from your teammates.
"I thought I played pretty well," said Samuelsson following practice on Friday. "I battled and yes, I guess getting that recognition from the boys in the room feels pretty good."
Samuelsson says the team played a North-South game.
“We also limited them and I didn’t think they had a ton of opportunities, so it was good team defense all around by all five guys and I thought I was assertive, aggressive and not backing off just trying to take away time and space.”
Getting back to playing three-straight minutes defending a 6-on-5, the forwards on the ice - Dylan Cozens, Casey Mittelstadt and Tage Thompson - were all out there for over two minutes.
"I’ve spoken about efficiency, in that players know how to conserve energy. Last night, in an extended shift in the [defensive]-zone and you can only minimize what you give up, if you’re willing to block shots and knowing when to pounce as a group of five, all five have to be playing together. They did a tremendous job of that," said Sabres head coach Don Granato on Friday.
Samuelsson knew he wasn’t himself before the Boston game.
"There were maybe a couple of games where I was fighting it a bit," Samuelsson admitted. "You’re not going to be perfect all 82, and there’s ups-and-downs to the season. So yes, I was a little off for a week there maybe, but now I feel fine."
Connor Clifton was another defenseman that has struggled to begin the season, and he easily had his best game in a Buffalo uniform on Thursday night. Granato liked what he saw, but he wants to see more.
"He was himself for the first time in a long time," Granato said. "I don’t look at it as what that game could do. I look at it as can he repeat that game? And that’s his challenge. I had a chat with him today, and he has not been himself, but last night was very good and hit the repeat button."
This is a team that has very big wins against the Bruins, New York Rangers, Colorado Avalanche, Tampa Bay Lightning and Toronto Maple Leafs. They’ve also had some very bad losses, where they didn’t even show up.
"I don’t see this as a difficult time. I see it as a challenging time," Granato said. "A difficult time would be you can’t get out of it. This is a challenge and part of a process.
"Expectations rose, we weren’t meeting them. We have to deal with the consequences of not meeting them all at the same time that you’ve never been in this territory. You feel pressure that you shouldn’t, and it clouds what you can do.
"It all boils down to compete. Until we fool ourselves that the problem is something else, like the power play or the penalty kill, it’s compete. Until you look into the mirror and accept that, it’s going to be a tough road."
Rasmus Dahlin and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen didn’t practice on Friday. Granato says Dahlin told him he’s improving and is feeling better, so he’s a possibility for Saturday against the Montreal Canadiens. Meanwhile Luukkonen is still sick and he won’t play.
Granato says there’s a good possibility Levi will be back in goal against the Canadiens. Levi says that would be a dream come true for him.
"I’ve been dreaming of that moment since I was a little kid, growing up in Montreal, going into the building and hearing 'Fix You' as they go on the ice," said Levi on Friday. "That would be a really special moment. I’ve got some buddies on that team too, so it would be fun to get a win against that team."
Levi played with Montreal defenseman Jayden Strubel at Northeastern University. He says he also looked up to goaltender Cayden Primeau, who also played for the Huskies.
Primeau is expected to get the start for Montreal on Saturday.
