Boston, Mass. (WGR 550) – Isak Rosen looks to be feeling his way in his first stint in the NHL. After five games, the light seemed to go off for Rosen on Tuesday against the Detroit Red Wings, where had five shots on goal and was dangerous all night.
Rosen was on a line with his Rochester Americans teammate Brandon Biro, and says he felt good on Tuesday.
"I was more comfortable," said Rosen following Wednesday's practice. "I know what to expect, and if it’s there, I need to make plays too. And we played great. Biro won every faceoff, and we started with the puck all the time. I think that’s what got it going.
"We also won a lot of puck battles, and we created some chances from there. We should’ve had some goals too."
Of course, when you’re a young kid and it’s your first time in the NHL, you have to experience things.
"At first, you don’t know what to expect. Is it fast? And I got to thinking too much," Rosen said. "Last game I didn’t think, I just went out and played my game.
"It was nice to feel that I should’ve scored in that game, because that was the first time I felt that way. But I feel I can do even more. I had the puck more, and it felt more like a Rochester game.
"I think I could do more things with the puck. I was still thinking too much, and I think I could do even more stuff."
Rosen says the biggest adjustment between the AHL and the NHL is the speed.
"You’ve got one guy on you all the time, so you have to be ready to make a play when you get the puck," he said. "But now I know a little bit more, and what to expect."
The Sabres are 2-17-3 in their last 22 games against the Boston Bruins, and have picked up only three of the last 22 points available against this club. In the last three games against Boston, add it up and the score is 19-3, Bruins.
I think what’s worse is as those games went on, the Bruins players were just laughing at, and toying with the Sabres.
As for the Sabres, they’ve won 3-of-12 games, and are in the same really bad spot they were last season. As a matter of fact, they’ve regressed, and it's worse.
Buffalo is six points behind the Toronto Maple Leafs for the Eastern Conference’s final playoff spot, but the problem is they have to leapfrog six teams to get there. What are the chances that six teams go into the tank so the Sabres can get to No. 8?
All six teams have games in-hand on Buffalo, and all but the Montreal Canadiens and Pittsburgh Penguins have multiple games in-hand.
Eric Robinson made it to Boston from Columbus after the Sabres acquired him on Wednesday from the Blue Jackets. He says he was pretty happy when he heard he was coming to the Sabres.
"I was really excited to be joining a team with a lot of skill, and a lot of good players," said Robinson following Thursday's morning skate.
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Robinson wasn’t playing as much in Columbus, so he had a feeling something may happen.
"We had a bit of a logjam at forward in Columbus, so something had to give," Robinson said. "You’re still caught off guard, and a bit of a head spin, but its been good to get here."
During the morning skate, Robinson skated on left wing with Peyton Krebs and Kyle Okposo.
Granato is looking forward to getting Robinson into Thursday’s game.
"He’s got good size, plays a very direct, straight line game. He’s a natural competitor," said Granato on Thursday. "He’s full throttle compete, and his size and strength on a puck are key. It’s a good addition for those reasons."
Granato changed the practice habits by quite a bit when he became head coach, but he said lately, it hasn’t been good enough.
"It can always get better, and it needs to," Granato said.
One thing that has been better for the Sabres lately is the power play. Since Nov. 19, Buffalo is fourth in the NHL with seven power play goals. Their 25.9% during that time ranks eighth in the league.
Overall, the Sabres are still 25th in the NHL with the extra man.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen didn’t make the trip to Boston, as he’s still ill. Rasmus Dahlin missed practice on Wednesday and Thursday, but Granato says he’s a game-time decision.
Devon Levi will start in goal for the Sabres. He’s 3-4-1 this season with a 3.73 goals-against average and an .876 save percentage.
Levi told me Thursday morning the NHL has told him a can no longer get on his knees and meditate in the slot during stoppages. That area needs to be shoveled off. That's why he will now kneel and meditate on the faceoff dots.
Boston’s penalty kill is No. 1 in the NHL at 89%. They are also tied with the New York Rangers for the top spot in the league with a points percentage of .771.
Jeremy Swayman has been lights-out in goal, going 9-1-2 this season with a 2.08 goals-against average and a .932 save percentage.
Former Sabres goalie Linus Ullmark hasn’t been bad either, going 8-3-1 with a 2.65 goals-against average and a .918 save percentage.
For the most part, those two tend to alternate in net, and Swayman played Boston’s last game against the Blue Jackets.
David Pastrnak is fourth in league scoring with 14 goals and 22 assists for 36 points in 24 games. His 14 goals ranks him ninth, and his 22 assists ranks him 10th.
Boston is five points ahead of the Florida Panthers for first place in the Atlantic Division.
Join Mike Schopp and the Bulldog for pregame coverage on WGR starting at 6 p.m. EST when you’ll hear from Granato, Rosen, Robinson and Connor Clifton.
