Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR 550) – The Buffalo Sabres will play their final home game of the 2023-24 season on Thursday night against the Washington Capitals.
When Kyle Okposo was traded to the Florida Panthers at the NHL Trade Deadline, Buffalo no longer had its captain.
Rasmus Dahlin has worn an "A" on his sweater for the past two seasons, and you can see the growth in him on and off the ice as a leader. He says being this team’s next captain is a responsibility he’s ready for.
"100%. I’ve got to learn a few things still, but I’m ready for the opportunity. We’ll see what happens," said Dahlin on Thursday after practice.
All of a sudden, the Sabres turned their season around at the end of the home schedule, as they’re 6-2-0 in their last eight games. Their overall home record still isn’t good enough, as they’re 20-19-1 this season.
Zemgus Girgensons has been in Buffalo his whole NHL career, which spans 10 seasons. He’s on an expiring contract and nobody knows the future, but he’s not thinking about if it’s his last home game as a member of the Sabres.
"It’s the same thing as the trade deadline and the same conversation, it’s a conversation to be had after the year. I’m not going into the game thinking like that," said Girgensons on Thursday.
Girgensons has played 10 years and 685 games in his career, but he has still yet to appear in a playoff game.
"Any player wants it, but then again, what I do is based on a game-to-game basis," Girgensons said. "I try putting my best effort in game-to-game, and I don’t worry too much about the outcome. But then again, it’s something that every player wants to do."
The Sabres were eliminated from playoff contention on Tuesday in Dallas, but Girgensons doesn’t feel that should have any effect on the team in these final three games.
"This is a tough time to play, especially being eliminated, but it can show some guys' character when nothing really matters. What can you still bring? It’s a big night for the fans just to show them that the guys do care here," he said.
Dahlin will always have that competitive fire burning, and says it will be right through Game 82.
"I’m not going to give up. I’m never not going to work as hard as I can," Dahlin said. "I want the Buffalo Sabres in the playoffs, and I’m never going to give up."
There was so much optimism after last season, and it put heavy expectations on this group.
"Last season was close. This season was definitely not good enough," Girgensons said. "This season was more disappointing than last season just because the internal expectation was higher."
Bo Byram will not play on Friday due to a personal matter. He will meet the team in Florida for the final two games of the season.
Kale Clague will play in Byram's place.
Buffalo is 1-0-1 against the Capitals this season. Washington won at home in overtime, 4-3, while the Sabres won in Buffalo on April 2, 6-2. In their last seven games against Washington, the Sabres are 3-0-4.
In the two games against Washington this season, JJ Peterka has three goals and four points, while Dahlin has a goal and three assists.
In his last 14 games, Alex Tuch has 14 assists and 18 points. He also has nine points in six games.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen comes into the game with a 26-22-3 record this season, a 2.58 goals-against average and a .910 save percentage.
Washington actually has a harder time scoring goals than the Sabres do. Buffalo is 22nd in the NHL at 2.96 goals per-game, while the Caps are 29th at 2.64.
Alex Ovechkin needs 43 goals to pass Wayne Gretzky as the NHL’s all-time goal scoring leader. Gretzky scored 894 goals in his career.
Ovechkin had a slow start to the season, but he’s been red-hot lately, scoring 22 goals in his last 32 games. He now has 30 goals on the season, which is a record 19th season in which he's eclipsed this mark.
Washington broke its six-game losing streak on April 9 in Detroit. Before that, the Caps had won 6-of-7.
Tune in during "Schopp and the Bulldog" for pregame coverage on WGR starting at 6 p.m. ET when you’ll hear from Granato, Dahlin and Girgensons.
