(WGR 550) – The Buffalo Sabres got a record-setting night from defenseman Rasmus Dahlin and a hat-trick from winger Alex Tuch on Thursday to beat the Calgary Flames, 6-3.
Eric Comrie also became the first Sabres goaltender to ever have back-to-back 40-save wins.
This game was different from Tuesday's win over the Edmonton Oilers, as Comrie was under siege, stopping numerous point-blank shots in a 46-save win. The Flames did have quite a few shots from the outside, in addition to some heavy pressure at times.
Buffalo had their best game, by far, at moving the puck and using their speed. That led to three first period goals, which chased goalie Jacob Markstrom, who made just eight saves.
Dahlin scored to make the score 2-1, which set the NHL record for a defenseman, as he’s scored a goal in each of the first four games of the season. The goal was another brilliant read by Dahlin to break down the slot. Vinnie Hinostroza fed him a perfect pass, and it was past Markstrom in no time.
Hinostroza has only played two games and has four assists in those six periods of work.
Buffalo gave up the first goal of the game when the Dylan Cozens line got hemmed into their own zone. That led to an Andrew Mangiapane goal for the Flames.
What was great to see was that goal was unacceptable to Cozens. Just 2:13 later, he crashes the net with JJ Peterka and Hinostroza, and taps one past Markstrom that was just sitting in the crease behind him.
Casey Mittelstadt had his best game this season, by far, netting a shorthanded goal, a power play assist and even hit one of four posts the Sabres hit. He was an absolute momentum killer for Calgary, as he stretched things to 3-1 when he took off shorthanded, pulled away from the defense and roofed a backhand for the shorthanded goal.
Buffalo gave up 16 shots in the first period, but they were very good in their puck movement, and used their speed to create chances of their own. They were playing fast, which is exactly what head coach Don Granato wants.
Buffalo didn’t get squirrely hoping to hold a two-goal lead. Just 46 seconds into the second period, Tuch flew down the slot and beat goalie Dan Vladar, who had just come into the game, to make it 4-1.
Buffalo was superb with its puck movement, especially in the second period, generating numerous chances and 14 shots.
Tage Thompson was creating offense, as his one-timer from the left circle on the power play hit the crossbar. He also had a breakaway and missed the net.
Buffalo got a horrible break to end the second period, but again, they didn’t let it break them. With 1.6 second left in the period, a puck hit the referee just off to the side of Comrie. The ref reacts by kicking the puck away from Jacob Bryson and right in front, where Trevor Lewis scored.
To open the third period, Mikael Backlund parked in front of Comrie, who never saw Nikita Zadorov’s shot at 1:09. All of a sudden, it was 4-3.
That’s when Mittelstadt drew Zadorov into one of his famous dumb penalties, and Tuch's power play tally got the two-goal lead back.
Tuch would complete his first career NHL hat-trick after Vladar was pulled for the extra attacker.
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Henri Jokiharju left the game after getting hit in the face with a puck. He only played four shifts and 2:39 of ice time.
Granato went pretty much with four defensemen and worked Casey Fitzgerald in. Dahlin played 35 shifts and 25:15, Mattias Samuelsson played 34 shifts and 25:02, Bryson played 34 shifts and 22:25, while Owen Power played 32 shifts and 20:55. Fitzgerald had 22 shifts and 15:04 of work.
In four games, the Sabres have found a different way to win in three of them. Yet, the Atlantic Division is still showing how competitive it is, as the Boston Bruins are 4-1-0. The Sabres and Florida Panthers are both 3-1-0, the Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs are 3-2-0, while the Detroit Red Wings are 2-0-1.
The Sabres are fourth in the league, averaging 4.25 goals per-game, and sixth in the league with a goals-against average of 2.50.
Tuch and Dahlin have six points in four games, which has them 18th in league scoring. Tuch’s five goals is third in the league, while Dahlin’s four goals has him sixth. Dahlin leads the NHL at plus-6. His four goals and six points lead all defensemen.
Peterka is second in rookie scoring with four points in four games.
The Vancouver Canucks have lost all five of their games, but they host the Sabres on Saturday for their home opener, which I’m sure they’ll be fired up for.
