Montreal, Quebec (WGR Sports Radio 550) - Buffalo Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin was back with his teammates on the ice for the first time since dealing with back spasms.
While Dahlin won’t play Tuesday night against the Montreal Canadiens, he says the plan is for him to take a full practice on Thursday. If Dahlin still feels good after Thursday's practice, he plans to play Friday against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Sabres winger Jordan Greenway left the ice during the morning skate, and head coach Lindy Ruff says he’s doubtful to play.
After Buffalo's loss to the Maple Leafs on Sunday in Toronto, Sabres owner Terry Pegula met with the players, coaches and general manager Kevyn Adams on Monday in Montreal.
All were united in keeping the owner’s message between them, but all that I spoke with were happy that the owner would take the time to come to Montreal and meet with them.
"It’s awesome that he did that, that he came. It was a really good one, fresh air. Now we’re really ready to go, so it was good," said Dahlin following Tuesday's skate.
"It was great. It put us in a good place now, and tonight is a big one."
Tage Thompson is just as big of a leader on this team as Dahlin is.
"I think it’s important that we stick together through this, and I just think that it shows a lot that our owner cares to come out here and talk to us," said Thompson on Tuesday.
"There’s no-one in this room that’s given up, and that starts from our owner showing that he’s committed to us. And it means a lot to everyone in this room that he’s committed, and can come down here to speak to us personally."
The back spasms Dahlin has been dealing with since a loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Dec. 3 have forced him to watch six games from the press box. He feels that would give players a different perspective.
"It's very easy from up top," Dahlin said with a laugh.
He adds he’s seeing them play a different game when things go wrong,
"It’s the momentum swings. One goal turns into one more," Dahlin said. "I mean, we play good here-and-there, but we’ve just got to get it together and play a full 60."
Also after Sunday's loss in Toronto, Ruff said it’s on him and nobody else to help these guys win a hockey game. Dahlin appreciates his coach saying that, but he has a different opinion.
"It’s on us as players. We have to play better," Dahlin said. "We haven’t done good enough, not even close. So it’s all on us. I don’t even think it’s on anyone else, like management or coaches, whatever. It’s the players that are on the ice that have to play better. That’s it."
Thompson also feels it can't just be on Ruff.
"It’s just got to be everyone looking in the mirror. I think as soon as you start to point fingers and look for a solution elsewhere, look for someone else to do the job or fix the problem, you’re lying to yourself, and you’re lying to the guys around you," Thompson said. "Obviously he’s been around the game a long time, and played and coached for a long time. I think that’s why he’s been so successful, because he looks in the mirror. It’s nice of him to say that, but it’s not on him. It’s the guys in this room, starting with myself.
"He can give us everything we need. He can lay out Xs and Os, but he can’t go out and compete on the ice like we can in this room. So at the end of the day, he can take ownership for it, but it’s the guys in this room that lace them up and go out and compete for one another. That starts with me, and trickles down the team."
Thompson was asked why he believes that this group of players can turn this around.
"Why wouldn’t I believe we can accomplish big things? We’re a good team," Thompson responded. "The record doesn’t show that, and I know there’s not a lot of belief on the outside of us doing anything meaningful, but that doesn’t really matter. I think the guys in this room believe that. I believe it, our coaches believe it, our owner believes it. That’s really all that matters.
"All the outside noise and the doubt and negativity, if we believe in here that we can get something special going, it starts one day at a time."
Tuesday’s game features the two worst teams in the Eastern Conference.
Overall, the Sabres are 28th with a .419 points percentage, while the Canadiens are 29th at .417.
Buffalo comes into the game with a 10-game losing streak, while Montreal has lost 3-of-4 games.
Montreal beat the Sabres back in Buffalo on Nov. 11, 7-5.
Related
Join the Bulldog for pregame on WGR starting at 6 p.m. EST when you’ll hear from Ruff, Dahlin and Thompson.