Calgary, Alta. (WGR 550) - The Buffalo Sabres continue their first "Sabres After Dark" trip out West, as they squared off with the red-hot Calgary Flames on Thursday night at the Scotiabank Saddledome.
The Flames had a very busy offseason wheeling and dealing some big pieces from their team. Calgary traded former first-round pick Matthew Tkachuk and a conditional fourth round pick to the Florida Panthers and received forward Jonathan Huberdeau, defensemen Mackenzie Weegar and Cole Schwindt, and a first-round pick that is lottery protected.
Shortly after the trade, the Flames signed both Weegar and Huberdeau to eight-year contract extensions to become long-term solutions in Calgary.
The Flames didn't stop there in free agency. After star winger Johnny Gaudreau left the team to sign with the Columbus Blue Jackets, Calgary snatched playoff standout Nazem Kadri on a seven-year deal.
Both teams got off to a hot start in the first period, where Calgary's Andrew Mangiapane scored his second goal of the season just four minutes into the game making it 1-0 Calgary. Buffalo was quick to answer with one of their own just two minutes later, as Dylan Cozens netted his first goal of the year.
The Sabres scored again near the halfway mark of the period, where defenseman Rasmus Dahlin made the score 2-1, Buffalo. Dahlin made NHL history in the process, being the first defenseman to score four goals in the first four games of the season.
Buffalo forward Casey Mittelstadt capped off the period with a shorthanded goal on a breakaway, making it a 3-1 lead for the Sabres.
The Sabres carried the three-goal momentum into the second period when Alex Tuch scored just 46 seconds into the frame, giving his team a commanding 4-1 lead.
After Calgary managed to close its deficit to 4-3 in the third period, Tuch score not once, but two more times for the Sabres, earning his first career hat-trick to finish off a 6-3 win for Buffalo.
The Sabres were, once again, able to cruise to a win over one of the few remaining undefeated teams in the league.
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Here are this game's three observations:
1.) Passing improvements
The Sabres have had incredible chemistry in the past two games against two very good hockey teams. In the first few games this season, Buffalo had some sloppy moments that all stemmed from poor passing.
This game's dominance was largely in part to the team basically playing keep away from the Flames in the offensive zone. Eventually, after they wore them down enough, a scoring chance would arise and then the cycle would begin again.
Seeing the growing chemistry between these lines is such a fun sight to see that leads to great hockey. With that being said, these lines could be permanent for the foreseeable future.
2.) Special teams
Perhaps the only gripe towards the Sabres so far this season has to be the inconsistencies on the power play. The team had five opportunities in Thursday's game, but was only able to find the back of the net once. It was only the team's second power play goal of the season.
Every coin has two sides, though, and the other side is a consistent penalty kill. The team ranks among the league leaders in penalty kill percentage at roughly 85%, having only two goals-against while down a man.
The fact that the team killed off the one penalty and stayed disciplined against one of the top power plays in the league is a very good sign. Now the next step is to transform the power play.
3.) Stay hot
In sports, momentum is your best friend while you're riding it, and your greatest enemy when you don't have it. The Sabres are rolling through Western Canada on a tear, with their next stop being the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday night.
The Canucks have yet to win a game this year, and have been blowing leads in almost every loss. They're going to be hungry for a win, but are also a very frustrated team that can't seem to keep things together at times.
The Sabres need to make sure they stay on top of things next game, because if they give the Canucks any sort of life line, things could swing out of their favor. As long as they ride the momentum and play as a team, things can continue to roll.
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After a day off on Friday, the Sabres will face the Canucks on Saturday night for a 10 p.m. ET faceoff at Rogers Arena in Vancouver. Pregame coverage starts at 9 p.m. ET on Saturday with Brian Koziol and Paul Hamilton on the radio home of the Buffalo Sabres - WGR Sports Radio 550.
