Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - After Saturday’s shootout win over the Vegas Golden Knights, Buffalo Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin talked about how this group of players is finally becoming a team.
Dahlin had a rough day, being on the ice for all three Vegas goals, but he tied the game with 13.6 seconds in regulation to give the Sabres the chance to win.
"It’s a different vibe right now. Guys are stepping up now, being really good leaders, and guys want to be here. We want to make a difference," said Dahlin on Saturday, adding this was happening all behind the scenes in the locker room.
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Sabres winger Alex Tuch is as much of a leader for this team as anybody, and he agrees with the captain.
"You’ve seen it in the last couple of games. We had a tough one in Detroit, but we had some guys step up," said Tuch on Sunday following practice. "Then we had ‘Krebsy’ [Peyton Krebs] step up last game, that was great to see, and ‘Greener’ [Jordan Greenway] too. But it’s not just about the fighting. It’s being in those scrums together, it’s about making sure that not only the other team knows it, also every guy in this locker room knows we have each other’s backs, and we’ll go to battle for them no matter what."
It goes further than fighting. It’s being there to help a teammate if they make a mistake.
"We know where we’re at. We’re trying to create this identity of where we need to be, and how close we need to be as a team. We’re working hard at that part of the game behind closed doors," said Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff on Sunday.
"It’s about what does it mean to be a teammate, and how hard you need to work for each other. I’ll reference the Krebs backcheck on the 2-on-1. That’s a mistake that our D made, but that mistake got covered up because of how hard a teammate worked. That’s a key part of being a good team, that I’m going to do whatever I can to bail you out of this situation."
Ruff says you don’t have to like your teammate, but you have to work for him.
"I can tell you in all these years, not everybody is going to like each other on any team. I don’t care what sport you’re in," he said. "But for that period of time where you put the jersey on, and you’re a Buffalo Sabre for three hours, you’re a teammate. That, for me, is the most important part. You do what you have to do for a teammate, which will make you a good teammate."
With injury problems starting to add up, Buffalo called up Isak Rosen and Brett Murray from the Rochester Americans for the upcoming four-game trip this week. Jiri Kulich, Josh Norris and JJ Peterka all missed practice on Sunday.
"Norris, depending on treatment, will probably make the trip. Kulich is not feeling as well today, so he’s in concussion protocol," Ruff noted.
"JJ is coming and feeling really good, but hasn’t practiced. But got a really good report on him today."
In 52 games with the Amerks this season, Rosen is ninth in AHL scoring with 51 points in 52 games. His 27 goals are third overall in the league.
Rosen is still pointless in 10-career NHL games.
Murray has 23 goals and 17 assists for 40 points in 55 games with the Amerks. The 6-foot-5, 235-pound winger has played in 23 games with the Sabres, scoring two goals and added four assists for six points.
SUNDAY’S LINES:
Forwards:
Greenway – Thompson – Tuch
Benson – McLeod – Zucker
Murray – Kozak – Lafferty
Malenstyn – Krebs – Quinn (Rosen)
Defense:
Samuelsson – Dahlin
Power – Clifton
Byram – Bryson
Bernard-Docker