Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - After going 2-2-0 on their week-long road trip, the Buffalo Sabres return home on Tuesday to play Dylan Cozens and the Ottawa Senators.
This is Cozens' first trip back to Buffalo since being traded ahead of the NHL Trade Deadline for Josh Norris. In eight games with the Senators, Cozens has three goals and four assists for seven points.
When reflecting on the trade on Tuesday, Cozens was shocked and emotional when he got word that he was traded.
“My name was out there for a while, and I thought a lot of it was talk and rumors. I never really thought it would actually happen,” admitted Cozens. “When I found out it was real, it still came as a shock. It was sad, but exciting at the same time.
“I was sad to leave Buffalo. I had a lot of great experiences here. This is where I started my career with a lot of great friends, and a lot of great memories.”
“I wanted to be here, I committed to being here, I wanted to be part of the solution in helping things turn around here and it’s sad that it didn’t work out.”
Cozens never lost the belief that he was part of the solution in Buffalo, and they would get it figured out soon enough.
“I wanted to be here,” Cozens said. “I committed to being here. I wanted to be part of the solution in helping things turn around here. It’s sad that it didn’t work out.”
Cozens has thought about playing in this building against players he called teammates and friends he said,
“There’s no exact answer,” Cozens said. “I think they have the pieces here to do it, they’ve got the players, they’ve got the skill. It’s just getting over that hump. Once you get over it once, I think it’ll open the flood gates for them. But I know everyone in the room wants to win so bad here and be a successful team here, and it’s tough losing repeatedly. It wears on you, and I wish those guys nothing but the best.”
Cozens has already thought about playing in this building against players he called teammates and friends.
“The start’s going to be a little weird, but I’ll settle in pretty quick,” he acknowledged. “I just want to block out all the stuff and just look at it as another game. Not overthink it and just focus on it being another hockey game.”
Players on the Sabres have experienced 14-straight years of negativity, losing and the notion that by Jan. 1, the hope of playoffs are out of the question.
Cozens is now with a team in the Eastern Conference’s No. 1 Wild Card position and are in the playoffs by five points over the New York Rangers and New York Islanders. Cozens has been drawing off a different energy in Ottawa since his arrival.
“Positive energy does a lot, and there was definitely a lot of negative energy here over the years, which takes a toll on you. It takes a toll on everyone,” Cozens said. “No one can block that all out, so it’s nice to be on a team that’s in a good spot right now. And there’s a lot of good energy and good positive vibes in the room, which makes it easier to show up every day.”
Related
Ottawa comes in to Tuesday’s contest 8-2-1 in their last 11 games, and 13-7-1 in their last 21.
Anton Forsberg will be in goal for the Senators on Tuesday. He’s 9-10-1 this season with a 2.74 goals-against average and an .898 save percentage.
The Sabres are 2-0-0 against the Senators this season, outscoring them 9-1.
Ryan McLeod has five points in those two games against Ottawa.
Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff wouldn’t confirm following the morning skate, but James Reimer was in the starter’s net after his spectacular performance on Sunday in Winnipeg. This would be Reimer’s third game in four contests.
In the other two games, he has stopped 60-of-66 shots for a .909 save percentage.
Overall this season, Reimer is 3-8-2 with a 3.00 goals-against average and an .897 save percentage.
I asked Ruff if he was sending Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen a message that he needs to play better, but the Sabres head coach said he doesn’t send messages, and he’d leave it at that.
Sabres forward Jiri Kulich is returning to the lineup on Tuesday after being in concussion protocol, which forced him to miss four games.
Jordan Greenway is out after suffering a lower-body injury in Winnipeg. Ruff says it had nothing to do with him blocking a shot earlier in the contest.
Ruff added that winger Sam Lafferty skated on his own, and his groin injury is better than expected.
Meanwhile, Norris is frustrated that he can’t be out there with his new teammates.
“He’s dealing with something that he had previous to coming here, and is trying to work his way through it,” Ruff said of the center.
“It’s the type of injury that only the player knows how it feels.”
Related
As for Norris, he says he’s feeling better and hopes to be back soon.
“It’s something that I’ve been dealing with throughout the year and reaggravated it, so being smart about it,” he said.
According to Norris, the reaggravation came from an accumulation of games.
Buffalo has a power play goal in 5-out-of-6 games, and have killed 11-of-12 penalties in their last five games.
Forward Isak Rosen has been called up from the Rochester Americans, while winger Brett Murray has been sent back down to the AHL.
Join Pat Malacaro, Brian Koziol and myself for pregame coverage on WGR starting at 6 p.m. when we'll have a special roundtable discussion. You’ll also hear from Ruff and Cozens.
The interview with Norris will run both during the game and the postgame.