Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR 550) - The Buffalo Sabres began their 2022-23 campaign on Thursday night at home against the Ottawa Senators at KeyBank Center.
The Atlantic Division rivals had very different offseasons: The Sabres didn't make many new additions to the lineup, while the Senators made a few substantial acquisitions.
Ottawa added two strong veteran players by signing forward Claude Giroux in free agency, and trading for goaltender Cam Talbot from the Minnesota Wild. They also acquired standout winger Alex DeBrincat in a trade with the Chicago Blackhawks at the 2022 NHL Draft.
The team in Canada's capital looked to be vastly improved and ready to compete in a tough division this season.
The Sabres got off to a shaky start early in the first period, struggling to generate shots and scoring chances. Tthey remained pretty sound on the defensive side of the puck, until Brady Tkachuk opened the scoring for Ottawa halfway through the opening frame.
Buffalo's offense came to life in the second period with the help of rookie winger JJ Peterka scoring his first career NHL, followed by defenseman Rasmus Dahlin getting in on the fun just three minutes later to give the Sabres a 2-1 lead.
Buffalo continued to play a strong defensive game into the third period, largely because of a 35-save performance from 41-year-old goaltender Craig Anderson.
Forward Victor Olofsson sealed the game late in the third with not one, but two empty net goals to lift the Sabres to the 4-1 win.
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The Sabres found their legs after a rough start, and powered their way through for their first win of this young season.
Here are this game's three observations:
1.) The kids are alright
The Sabres have one of, if not, the deepest and most talented prospect pools in the entire NHL. With big names such as Owen Power, Jack Quinn, Peterka, Matthew Savoie, and Devon Levi, Buffalo looks poised to be great for years to come.
While it's great to have good prospects, they have to be able to transition to the next level of the game, and so far they appear to be doing so.
Peterka, who the Sabres drafted 34th overall in the 2020 NHL Draft, netted his first NHL goal on a nice give-and-go play with linemate Dylan Cozens down the ice.
Scoring one goal in the NHL is, by no means, the benchmark for these Sabres prospects, but it'll be very exciting to see the way Peterka and other young players like Quinn perform at the NHL level.
Given the way these prospects are playing with the big club in the NHL, the team looks like they're completing the development process of these young stars exactly as they should.
2.) Play your game
The great Herb Brooks said it best in his famous 1980 Olympics speech to the United States hockey team: "Play your game."
During the first period, the Sabres looked like they lacked direction and weren't very confident in their play.
As the game progressed, Buffalo began to gain control of the contest early on in the second period, largely in part to the two goals from Peterka and Dahlin.
The change in play also stems from a new group of leaders emerging. New captain Kyle Okposo, along with alternate captains Zemgus Girgensons and Dahlin, have found ways in the past to rally the team.
Other leaders like Alex Tuch and Craig Anderson have also been key pieces in settling down this young Sabres lineup, helping them get back to basics and control play.
3.) He's still got it
A key factor in this win was stellar goaltending from Anderson, who stopped 35-of-36 shots faced.
Anderson re-signed with the team during the offseason on a one-year deal worth $1.5 million. It was unclear whether or not the 41-year-old would hang the skates up for good, but he decided to make his return in a tandem with new Sabres goalie Eric Comrie.
Facing his old team, Anderson played extremely well down the stretch and remained calm, cool, and collected, as the shots began to pile up in the third. "Young guy Andy," as the team refers to him, has been a big piece of this veteran core on the youngest team in hockey.
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The Sabres continue their early homestand on Saturday as they welcome the Florida Panthers to town for the first time this season. The Panthers finished last season atop the league and won the Presidents' Trophy. However, their season ended in the second round of the playoffs at the hands of the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Puck drop for this game is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET with pregame coverage starting at 12 p.m. ET with Brian Koziol and Paul Hamilton on the radio home of the Buffalo Sabres - WGR Sports Radio 550.
