Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550/WBEN) - I’ve probably seen all 483 games that Rasmus Dahlin has played in the NHL, but Saturday’s 8-2 win over the New York Rangers was the best game I’ve ever seen him play with the Buffalo Sabres.
It wasn’t just the two goals and three points he had on the day. It was how fast he played, how well he was moving, and how well he was reading plays, which led to killing plays.
Before the game on Feb. 8 against the Nashville Predators, Dahlin hadn’t scored a goal since Nov. 23.
He scored in Nashville, he then scored in Team Sweden’s game against Finland during the 4 Nations Face-Off, and scored two goals against the Rangers on Saturday.
Following Saturday's game, Dahlin admitted he wasn’t able to shoot the puck before due to injury.
Dahlin was fully engaged in this game right from the start.
Jordan Greenway was playing in his first game Saturday since Dec. 15 due to injury. He said he’s been excited about getting back to game action all week.
Greenway showed why he’s so valuable to this team when he went barreling into a battle on the left wing wall. He got the puck, skated all the way across the ice to the right point, where Dahlin read the play perfectly and rotated to the net. Dahlin tipped in Greenway’s shot to make it 2-0, Buffalo.
In his last 21 games, Dahlin has three goals and 23 assists for 26 points.
In the second period, a puck got through Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and was sliding behind him through the crease and toward the empty net. Dahlin got there in time to sweep the puck out.
The Sabres did everything head coach Lindy Ruff spent this week asking for during practice. They defended well, which caused turnovers and turned defense into fast offense.
Usually when this team plays the way Ruff wants them to, they’re a good team and they win. Had we seen more efforts like this throughout the season, Buffalo would likely be in playoff position.
By 18:21 of the first period, Buffalo had a 5-0 lead, and for the second time this season, they chased Igor Shesterkin from the net.
On Nov. 7, Buffalo got rid of him 33:11 into the game after scoring five goals on 12 shots. Shesterkin played 18:21 on Saturday and gave up five goals on 16 shots.
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In two games, that’s a goals-against average of 11.76 and a save percentage of .643.
Tage Thompson had two goals and an assist, giving him nine goals and eight assists for 17 points in his last 11 games.
Ryan McLeod had two goals, giving him eight goals and four assists for 12 points in 11 games.
Jason Zucker had three assists, and in his last 29 games, he has 13 goals and 17 assists for 30 points.
Luukkonen was solid in goal for Buffalo, making 26 saves on 28 shots.
The first goal was steered by him, and the second he made a great arm save when Mika Zibanejad steered a puck towards him, but the Rangers center batted the puck out of the air for the goal.
It was a good bounce-back game for Luukkonen after the loss to Nashville before the break.
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So after going 4-1-0 in their last five-game segment, the Sabres start the next five-game segment with a win. The next four to complete the five games are home against the Anaheim Ducks, on the road against the Carolina Hurricanes, and then a home-and-home series with the Montreal Canadiens.